Director, University Career Center

Mission
We are a community committed to preparing students to be educated and enlightened citizens who lead productive and meaningful lives.

Vision
To be the national model for the engaged university: engaged with ideas and the world.

Who We Are
Established in 1908, James Madison University is a comprehensive public institution offering undergraduate, masters and doctoral programs to more than 20,000 students. JMU is regarded as one of the finest regional universities in the nation and has been continuously cited in U.S. News and World Report, Changing Times and Money Magazine as an outstanding public university. Located in the heart of Virginia’s beautiful Shenandoah Valley, the city of Harrisonburg is approximately 120 miles from Washington, D.C. and Richmond, VA. Known for its livability, diversity, local food, arts and natural surroundings, this Virginia Main Street community is a great place to live and work.

James Madison University is seeking a dynamic and experienced leader to become its new Director of the University Career Center. This position calls for an experienced professional with a broad knowledge of career counseling, career development resources and programs, and employment services such as on-campus interviewing and career fairs. The department has seventeen full-time staff, four graduate assistants, ten student employees, and a vibrant student advisory board. The University Career Center plays a leading role in student engagement and success at JMU, and the Director is a trusted contributor to the university’s mission.

The Director is a full-time, 12-month Administrative and Professional Faculty position that reports to the Associate Vice President for Student Affairs. 

Responsibilities include:

1. Overseeing long-range, strategic and annual planning activities and ensuring that those plans are effectively communicated, pursued and monitored.
2. Establishing and sustaining a positive, productive and equitable work climate in which staff are professionally and personally supported.
3. Managing financial resources by making accurate and responsible budget requests, assuring that fiscal operations are consistent with standards and policy, and carefully accounting for allocated funds, revenues, and external sources.
4. Overseeing departmental acquisition and use of computer, video, telecommunications, and business technologies. Currently, UCC utilizes Handshake as its primary career development platform.
5. Oversee staffing functions, including hiring processes, performance evaluation systems, separation processes, and pay practices, and directly supervising members of the senior leadership team.
6. Utilizing a curricular approach to program development and overseeing assessment of student learning outcomes, including the First Destinations career outcomes report.
7. Ensuring that the department is an enthusiastic, willing and effective partner with employers, academic units, alumni groups, and other student affairs units.
8. Engaging in scholarly activity, possibly including teaching, research, writing, and involvement in professional associations.

Required Qualifications:

• At least seven years of progressively responsible experience in college or university career services functions (or other related areas) is required; experience at the director level is preferred.
• A relevant master’s degree.
• Demonstrated ability to lead organizational change and improvement efforts, especially as it relates to increasing our capacity to engage, serve and support under-represented students.
• Significant experience successfully supervising, mentoring and developing professional and administrative support staff
• Proven ability to identify problems, manage conflict, ensure effective communication, and make complex decisions in a collegial, collaborative environment.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Proven ability to oversee all facets of staffing a student services department, including hiring, training, and performance evaluation.
• Proven ability to obtain, manage and account for resources that support departmental operations, including budget development, grant administration, acquisition and use of technology, and efficient use of physical spaces.
• Knowledge of methods for gathering, analyzing and reporting data about student needs, student learning outcomes, and program effectiveness. Experience with or knowledge of “first destination” research is desired.
• Appreciation for and evidence of collaboration, particularly with academic leaders, as a means for creating and implementing effective career development programs and services.
• Knowledge of higher education environments and practices, particularly high-impact out-of-class experiences.
• Ability to be an effective contributor to the work of the Division of Student Affairs.

To apply go to  https://joblink.jmu.edu/postings/8360  or visit JobLink.jmu.edu and reference posting number F1553. Pay Range: Commensurate with Experience

James Madison University is an equal opportunity employer committed to creating and supporting a diverse and inclusive work and educational community that is free of all forms of discrimination. This institution does not tolerate discrimination or harassment on the basis of age, color, disability, gender identity or expression, genetic information, national origin, parental status, political affiliation, race, religion, sex, sexual orientation or veteran status.