About UMass Amherst
UMass Amherst, the Commonwealth's flagship campus, is a nationally ranked public research university offering a full range of undergraduate, graduate and professional degrees. The University sits on nearly 1,450-acres in the scenic Pioneer Valley of Western Massachusetts and offers a rich cultural environment in a bucolic setting close to major urban centers. In addition, the University is part of the Five Colleges (including Amherst College, Hampshire College, Mount Holyoke College, and Smith College), which adds to the intellectual energy of the region.
Career Development and Professional Connections Hub
The Career Development and Professional Connections Hub at the University of Massachusetts Amherst coordinates and collaborates with the seven college-based career centers to provide comprehensive career services to students campus-wide. We guide and support students throughout their career and professional development, providing pathways for career exploration, skills building, and by fostering professional connections.
Job Summary
The Associate Director of Career Development reports directly to the Associate Provost for Career and Professional Development and directs and leads all career development initiatives for students in the College of Education, the College of Nursing, and with multi-disciplinary student groups campus wide. This position develops and provides a full-range of career programs for diverse students, collaborating with colleagues across campus to identify critical needs, assess program outcomes and make data-driven decisions that lead to program excellence.
Essential Functions
- Develops and delivers a comprehensive career program for students in the College of Education and the College of Nursing, utilizing a student-centered approach that is outcomes oriented, modifying career programming to improve effectiveness.
- Leads the student career development efforts for organizations campus wide including career exploration, skills-building, and providing opportunities for students to connect with employers and alumni. Delivery of programs will include individual and group-based, both virtually and in-person.
- Scales office impact by working closely with offices in Campus Life and student organizations such as the Center for Multicultural Advancement and Student Success (CMASS), Disability Services, Student Athletes, Residential Life, and Registered Student Organizations (RSO) to ensure that professional development activities respond to the needs of all students, including first-generation, low-income, neurodiverse, and historically underrepresented groups.
- Develops and leads targeted career boot camps and career courses at the Mount Ida campus in Newton, MA working closely with the Director of Campus and Career Programing at the Mount Ida campus and with Boston-area employers to identify micro-internships to be included in the project-based curriculum.
- Measures career outcomes utilizing the National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE) First Destination Survey. Collaborates with the Assistant Director of Career Analytics to ensure that data is collected on a timely basis and results are shared with key stakeholders.
- Represents UMass Career Services at Admission Events such as Destination Days and New Student Orientation. Provides an overview of career development resources and outcomes through verbal, written, and online materials.
- Collaborates closely with the Associate Director of Employer Relations to promote and engage student engagement with employers and alumni. Organizes and manages career fairs, information sessions, networking, and other recruitment events for targeted student populations.
- Manages the eleven Career Communities. Builds participation and connections between students and alumni.
- Becomes a subject matter expert for student related career resources and provide training to career staff campus-wide to include best practices for working with neurodiverse students, laws surrounding hiring policies for international students and career services software platforms.
- Keeps abreast of state and national trends related to student and career development through professional organizations.
Minimum Qualifications
- Bachelor's Degree and four (4) years of career counseling, advising or related work experience.
- Ability to work effectively with diverse students across a wide range of majors and career interests.
- Knowledge of career and self-exploration tools.
- Excellent verbal, written, and presentation skills.
- Demonstrated experience developing new programs and measuring outcomes.
- Ability to represent UMass Career Services professionally to a wide range of stakeholders including students, parents, faculty, employers, and alumni.
- Ability to show initiative and work effectively both independently and as part of a collaborative team.
- Proficient computer skills including using Power Point, Zoom, Excel, and social media platforms.
Preferred Qualifications
- Master’s Degree in Education, Human Resources, Psychology, Counseling, Social Science discipline, or related field, or eight (8) years’ related experience.
- Familiarity with employment trends and career opportunities in Education and/or Nursing.
- Experience using Handshake.
- Demonstrated experience with self-assessment tools such as Clifton Strengths, Via Strengths, Focus 2, and 16 Personalities.
Work Schedule
- Monday-Friday, 8:30 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. Required to work nights or weekends as necessary.
- Willingness to travel to the Mount Ida campus in Newton periodically.
- This position has the opportunity for a hybrid work schedule, which is defined by the University as an arrangement where an employee’s work is regularly performed at a location other than the campus workspace for a portion of the week. As this position falls within the Professional Staff Union, it is subject to the terms and conditions of the Professional Staff Union collective bargaining agreement.
Physical Demands/Working Conditions
- Typical office environment.
Salary Information
Level 27
PSU Hiring Ranges
Special Instructions to Applicants
Along with the application, please submit a resume, cover letter, and contact information for three (3) professional references. The search will remain open until filled.
UMass Amherst is committed to a policy of equal opportunity without regard to race, color, religion, caste, creed, sex, age, marital status, national origin, disability, political belief or affiliation, pregnancy and pregnancy-related condition(s), veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, genetic information, natural and protective hairstyle and any other class of individuals protected from discrimination in employment, admission to and participation in academic programs, activities, and services, and the selection of vendors who provide services or products to the University. To fulfill that policy, UMass Amherst is further committed to a program of affirmative action to eliminate or mitigate artificial barriers and to increase opportunities for the recruitment and advancement of qualified minorities, women, persons with disabilities, and covered veterans. It is the policy of UMass Amherst to comply with the applicable federal and state statutes, rules, and regulations concerning equal opportunity and affirmative action.