Executive Director, Career Center

Position: Executive Director of Career Services

For the purposes of ACU’s Background Check and Self-Reporting Policy, this position is

Exempt Full Time

The key principles of this job are to:

1. Support ACU’s Mission: Educate students for Christian service and leadership throughout the world.
2. Support ACU’s 21st Century Vision: By 2020, ACU will become the premier university for the education of Christ-centered, global leaders.

Scope: Reports to the Vice President for Student Life. Responsible for planning, developing and implementing the elements of a career development program that is focused on: helping students understand how to apply their God-given gifts in the work place and promoting opportunities that help students accomplish their career and life goals.

I. Basic Responsibilities

A. Provide leadership and direction to an effective team of career services professionals.

B. Develop, promote and provide a range of services and programs that facilitate the career readiness of students and promote the transition from student to professional.

C. Develop and foster relationships with the employer community that provides students with opportunities to develop professional skills, integrate academic learning with work and find meaningful career positions.

D. Develop and foster alumni relations to provide students with opportunities to develop professional skills, integrate academic learning and faith with work and find meaningful career positions.

E. Develop campus-wide relationships and partnerships with academic colleges and departments to provide career development support and information.

F. Establish and implement both long- and short-term goals and objectives as well as monitor and evaluate program effectiveness.

II. Essential Duties include the following. Other duties may be assigned. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals to perform the essential functions.

A. Provide leadership and direction to an effective team of career services professionals.

1. Select and train a team of career services professionals in specified areas.
2. Foster on-going professional development opportunities for staff.
3. Conduct annual performance appraisals for staff.

B. Develop, promote and provide a range of services and programs that facilitate the career readiness of students and promote the transition from student to professional.

1. Conduct workshops on employment preparation strategies. Areas include: job market research/information, resume writing, job search strategies, job interview skills, applying to graduate school.
2. Develop appropriate course-based content (as part of the Discovery Program) that effectively promotes career development and encourages students to take active responsibility for their career decisions within the University Seminar curriculum or related venues.
3. Consult with individual students to assist in their specific career planning needs. Areas include: personal and professional assessment, resume preparation, job search strategies, mock interviews, letter writing, salary negotiations, etc.
4. Stay current with career development literature and active in professional organizations to augment development of “career readiness” component.
5. Collaborate with new student orientation and Welcome Week to facilitate early partnerships with students and their involvement in the career development process.
6. Working with Academic Affairs and other co-curricular programs, develop and manage an e-portfolio program for students.
7. Assist with the preparation, administration, assessment and analysis of data related to the post-graduate career experiences of ACU students.
8. Develop and provide print materials that educate our students and promote career development services on campus.
9. Develop and maintain Internet applications and databases that support and deliver career services to the university, students, alumni and employers.

C. Develop and foster relationships with the employer community that provides students with opportunities to develop professional skills, integrate academic learning with work and find meaningful career positions.

1. Develop and oversee marketing strategies and resources to identify and bring recruiters and potential employers to campus.
2. Identify and develop relationships with companies and organizations who can provide internships and permanent job opportunities for our students.
3. Participate in consortiums with other university career centers to achieve maximum penetration of employers through conducting job fairs, developing employer databases, etc.
4. Supervise the acquisition, maintenance and dissemination of information regarding career fields, employment opportunities and specific employers for internship and career opportunities.
5. Facilitate the process of campus interviews.

D. Develop and foster alumni relations to provide students with opportunities to develop professional skills, integrate academic learning and faith with work and find meaningful career positions.

1. Partner with Alumni Relations to identify key alums who are willing to mentor students, provide internships and/or job opportunities.
2. Develop and implement an alumni mentoring program that allows for alumnus involvement ranging from career mentor via email to job shadowing to a formal internship.

E. Develop campus-wide relationships and partnerships with academic colleges and departments to provide career development support and information.

1. Provide colleges and respective departments with relevant career development information that may benefit their students.
2. Develop and implement a plan to facilitate an exchange of information regarding internships and career opportunities.
3. Work with specific departments to provide career readiness workshops that are tailored to meet the needs of students within a specific discipline.

F. Establish and implement both short- and long-term goals and objectives as well as monitor and evaluate program effectiveness.

1. Write a bi-annual report that provides data related to the post-graduate career experience of ACU students.
2. Provide outcome measures that assess the effectiveness of career development programs.

III. Professional Development Requirements:

A. Skills

1. Adequate computer skills, including use of the Internet (Web publishing)
2. Oral and written communication skills
3. Ability to plan and organize

B. Training Modules Required

1. Web Publishing
2. Professional meetings on current topics

IV. Qualifications:

ACU is affiliated with the fellowship of the Church of Christ. This position requires the employee to be a professing Christian and to be willing to support the Christian mission of ACU.

A. Professional

1. Minimum of a bachelor’s degree, with master’s degree preferred.
2. Professional career planning and employment services experience and maturity in order to relate and have credibility with wide range of constituents.
3. Adequate technology background to develop and maintain systems to achieve departmental goals.

B. Personal

1. Strong interpersonal, oral and written communication skills.
2. Self motivated, self directed, team player, willing to take initiative.
3. Ability to work well with individuals at all levels, including students, faculty, staff and administration.

V. Physical Demands

A. Able to stand for extended periods of time.

B. Able to sit at a computer for extended periods of time.

C. Able to sit in meetings for extended periods of time.

I understand that our mission at Abilene Christian University is to educate students for Christian service and leadership through the world. Because of ACU’s commitment to this principle and my commitment to God, people and learning, my actions will exemplify integrity, service, stewardship, involvement, and excellence.

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