Executive Director for Career Services at Charleston Southern University in NORTH CHARLESTON, SC

Job description

Executive Director for Career Services Charleston Southern University Position Summary Reporting to the Associate Vice President for Student Engagement, the Executive Director for Career Services provides strategic leadership, vision, and administrative oversight for the university's career development and workforce readiness initiatives. The Executive Director advances a comprehensive approach to career readiness that prepares students for meaningful employment, graduate education, military service, and vocational calling. Through collaboration with faculty, employers, alumni, and campus partners, the Executive Director fosters a culture of career development that supports student success, institutional priorities, workforce needs, and the university's Christian mission. Essential Responsibilities Strategic Leadership and Administration Provide visionary leadership, strategic direction, and operational oversight for all Career Services programs, services, technologies, and initiatives. Develop and implement a comprehensive strategic plan that advances career readiness, experiential learning, employer engagement, and post-graduation success. Supervise, mentor, develop, and evaluate Career Services staff while fostering a culture of collaboration, innovation, accountability, and student-centered service. Manage departmental budgets, resource allocation, assessment plans, and annual goals to ensure alignment with university priorities. Ensure compliance with university policies and applicable federal, state, and professional standards. Represent Career Services on university committees and serve as the university's chief advocate for career development and workforce preparation. Employer and External Relations Lead the university's employer engagement strategy by cultivating partnerships with employers, industry leaders, graduate and professional schools, government agencies, nonprofit organizations, and community stakeholders. Partner with the Internship Coordinator to expand opportunities for internships, experiential learning, mentorships, cooperative education, and employment pathways for students and alumni. Serve as the university's primary liaison to employers, workforce development organizations, chambers of commerce, economic development agencies, and professional associations. Oversee employer recruiting initiatives, including career fairs, networking events, employer information sessions, on-campus interviews, and graduate/professional school programs. Campus Collaboration and Career Integration Collaborate with academic leadership and faculty to integrate career readiness competencies throughout the curriculum and co-curricular student experience. Partner with colleges, academic departments, and campus stakeholders to develop discipline-specific career pathways, internship opportunities, and workforce development initiatives. Promote campus-wide adoption of the National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE) Career Readiness Competencies. Collaborate with Student Success, Academic Affairs, Alumni Relations, Advancement, Enrollment Management, Athletics, Residence Life, and Student Engagement to embed career readiness across the student lifecycle. Assessment and Institutional Effectiveness Provide leadership for institutional assessment strategies related to career readiness, student engagement, internship participation, first-destination outcomes, graduate school placement, and employment outcomes. Utilize data analytics and assessment results to improve services, demonstrate effectiveness, support accreditation efforts, and inform strategic decision-making. Prepare and present annual reports, performance metrics, and outcomes data to university leadership and external stakeholders. Provide executive oversight of career technologies and career outcomes reporting systems to ensure effective utilization and continuous improvement. Resource Development and Special Initiatives Identify and pursue grants, sponsorshi