USC Job Openings – Associate Director, Career Engagement

The University of Southern California Career Center is seeking an experienced leader for Associate Director for Career Engagement. This role’s primary responsibilities are leading recruitment, and training, supervising two career advisors, overseeing the graduate internship program, and supervising three resource advisors. The individual is also responsible for managing signature events and collaborating with key stakeholders. The incumbent provides career advising and innovative career management programming to undergraduate and graduate students and alumni from all class and graduation years.

The ideal candidate will have supervisory experience leading multiple high-profile initiatives and projects, advising students and recent graduates, original career content, website edits, and teaching student engagement and programming for the team. The incumbent will demonstrate inclusive and positive leadership, professionalism, and strong written and verbal communication skills while building a solid, cohesive team.

The candidate will have experience and knowledge in the following topics:

• Leadership and program development
• Career development process
• Data management, analysis, and reporting
• Technology career management tools and resources

Experience & Skills

• Serve as a solution-oriented and collaborative team leader with exceptional multitasking skills and a positive attitude
• Conduct performance evaluations of assigned career services staff members; design agendas and initiates and facilitates staff meetings; is responsible for performance management of direct reports
• Oversee and author original website content, training materials, and other career-related pieces
• Provide coaching in securing internships, attaining full-time roles, and potential graduate school opportunities for students and alumni
• Determine career advising needs of individual students and develops action plans for career engagement and satisfaction. May administer and interpret career assessment tests
• Foster relationships with alumni and employers and engage experts in innovative and educational career programming
• Establish and cultivate effective working relationships with critical stakeholders on-campus and off-campus
• Attend professional meetings to stay current on career and employment trends and ensure the Career Center maintains a presence on-campus as the experts in career development and programming
• Oversee, write, and edit original website content
• Plan, coordinate, and host campus career events
• Represent the Career Center at career-related functions both on and off-campus
• Plan and teach student workshops and seminars virtually and in person covering pertinent topics such as career planning, job search process, interview techniques, and resume preparation
• Collaborate with campus departments to coordinate career programs. Serve on University committees and provides insights and information to the community on career services
• Multicultural competencies: the ability to work with diverse populations, skilled in communicating effectively and professionally using tact and diplomacy, and the ability to work
• Manage confidential information related to human resources and follows FERPA, and HIPAA regulations
• Review departmental resources and assist with preparing the annual departmental budget following budgetary guidelines
• Promote an environment that fosters inclusive working relationships and creates unbiased opportunities for contributions through ideas, words, and actions that uphold the USC Code of Ethics principles
• Engage with professional associations such as NACE, MPACE, and other leading career services in higher education
• Knowledge of Symplicity, PeopleGrove, VMock, Big Interview, and other career management platforms is a plus. Ability to work evening hours on an occasional basis.
• Perform other related duties as assigned or requested

Preferred Education And Experience

• Master’s Degree in Student Affairs, Human Resources, Education, Counseling, Social Work, or related field
• Seven or more years working in higher education and career services

Preferred Qualifications

• Leadership and career advising in a not-for-profit four-year college/university setting
• Creative and analytical thinker regarding programming offerings, attention to detail, and meeting project milestone deadlines
• Excellent written, oral, and interpersonal communication skills with an emphasis on serving the needs of diverse student and alumni populations
• Proven collaboration across multiple academic and departmental departments and academic schools’ campus-wide
• Develop and implement both large and small-scale in-person and virtual programs/events
• Balance competing priorities successfully
• Strong working knowledge of career development best practices for undergraduate and graduate students, recent graduates, and alumni
• Possess strong project management and organizational skills

Minimum Qualifications

Bachelor’s Degree in Student Affairs, Human Resources, Education, Counseling, Social Work, or related field

Required Work Experience

Knowledge and skills developed through 7 to 10 years of supervisory experience leading career development operations. A commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging in leading teams. Ability to multitask, meet deadlines, and work successfully and positively in a fast-paced environment. The incumbent should have experience utilizing Zoom, Brazen, or other digital platforms for meetings and events. Essential skills include program and project management. A plus is knowledge of Symplicity, PeopleGrove, VMock, Big Interview, CareerShift, and other career management platforms. Ability to work evening hours on an occasional basis.

ALL APPLICANTS MUST SUBMIT A RESUME AND COVER LETTER TO BE CONSIDERED FOR THIS ROLE.

The annual base salary range for this position is $80,019.63 – 93,277.24 . When extending an offer of employment, the University of Southern California considers factors such as (but not limited to) the scope and responsibilities of the position, the candidate’s work experience, education/training, key skills, internal peer equity, federal, state and local laws, contractual stipulations, grant funding, as well as external market and organizational considerations.

Minimum Education: Bachelor’s degree Minimum Experience: 4 years Minimum Field of Expertise: Bachelor’s degree in counseling, higher education, human resources, or related field. Four years’ counseling and human resources experience in a corporate or higher education environment, or similar industry. Leadership and guidance skills with a proven ability to manage, balance, and prioritize different tasks and projects. In-depth knowledge of federal immigration regulations, interpreting and providing guidance as to their relevance to international students. Advanced knowledge of employer recruiting strategies, job market trends, and occupational, career, and employment information sources. Superior level of professionalism, exceptional attention to detail, and exemplary written and oral communication, presentation, and public-speaking skills. Demonstrated experience interacting with diverse individuals and groups, exercising diplomacy, good judgment, and discretion.