Director of Career Services & Professional Development

Make a difference at one of Florida’s premier institutions for education in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM). Florida Polytechnic University, ranked the No. 1 public college in the region by U.S. News and World Report, offers a unique working environment that encourages faculty and staff to be part of a culture that prizes collaboration, innovation, and the willingness to go above and beyond to ensure our students and University succeed. Florida Poly offers a small campus academic environment where students form connections with their faculty and peers as they pursue high-value degrees in engineering and applied sciences.

The University is equipped with cutting-edge facilities and equipment and two award-winning, architecturally distinct academic buildings. Its evolving curriculum, designed to meet the needs of industry and provide a life-long educational foundation for students, has helped the institution grow in prominence since its opening in 2014. Florida Poly’s deliberately small classes, affordability, and outstanding graduate outcomes have helped it earn recognitions such as being named a top value school, in the top 25 nationally for affordability, and in the top five best universities in the South for tech students. Accredited by ABET and SACSCOC, Florida Poly is educating some of the brightest minds in Florida and attracting standout talent from across the nation.

JOB TITLE

Director of Career Services & Professional Development

JOB DESCRIPTION SUMMARY

Florida’s only public university exclusively teaching science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) is looking for exceptional candidates to serve as the Director of Career Services and Professional Development in the Department of Student Affairs.

Directs two distinct but very related roles: career services in support of our academic programs and Leadership/professional development programs for students that are directed by a faculty leadership Liaison and the VPSA. Career development and internship services for students and alums are largely focused on expanding job and internship opportunities for our students and graduates, consistent with our degree offerings. In addition, career services support academic departments in making connections with potential employers. Leadership/Professional Development programs support the VPSA-led effort on extra-curricular opt-in programs for students, support the and will new emerging leader program at the direction of a faculty member, and serves as an implementation partner for various leadership/professional development activities embedded in the curriculum. This position is a working director with the individual required to lead a small staff while personally implementing much of what must be done.

JOB DESCRIPTION

RESPONSIBILITIES:

Management and Leadership :

• Direct and lead the Career and leadership staff, including training, setting expectations, providing guidance, and overall task management for the staff.
• Serve as primary contact for career services at the university with entities that provide jobs and internship for our students.
• Create opportunities for growth and professional development in the individuals in the career and leadership group.

Communication and Collaboration :

• Work directly with Advancement, companies, students, department chairs, faculty, and alumni to expand internship/job opportunities for students.
• Work collaboratively with academic departments to expand employment opportunities for our students and to provide inputs where appropriate on the content/quality of our degrees. In addition, carefully collaborate with academic departments to support both career and leadership opportunities for our students.

Operational Planning and Execution :

• Create and execute an annual plan that proactively engages with, and grows, the employer base for our students. This includes outreach activities, managing and promoting two career fairs each year, and providing ongoing guidance for employers and students to ensure that the demand for internships and the first time after college jobs are met.
• Develop and direct a comprehensive career development program for students that helps them tactically in terms of self-presentation (resumes, written communication, in-person interview, -online interviewing skills) and strategically in terms of career choices that align their interests/talents with jobs available.
• Create, coordinate, and manage career events, including planning, marketing, venue set up/break down logistics, and assessment.
• Manage internal quality measures to ensure that training/support for students is appropriately aligned with university-level expectations employers have for degree-holding students seeking employment.
• Provide the organization for leadership/professional programs as envisioned by the VPSA and the faculty liaison in leadership. This will support existing programs such as ULEAD and the development of the emerging leader's program.
• Define systems and processes that will organize and track student employment, certifications, and competition participation.
• Manage evaluation and assessment process, including creating and updating survey instruments, compiling data and initial analyses, and applying results to future career experience-related events.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES:

• Demonstrated experience in combining university services or other demonstrated career-focused leadership experience.
• Demonstrated ability to work with companies and groups to develop talent pipelines.
• Knowledge and capabilities necessary include career counseling techniques, knowledge of job trends and career development skills, effective public relations and networking abilities, and excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• An understanding of the principles of college student development and the policies and structure of a typical four-year public university is preferred.
• Dependability, creativity, good judgment, professionalism, and dedication to sound principles of student development are paramount among necessary characteristics for this position.
• Disposition and proven work ethic to handle busy work cycles that include evenings and weekends.
• Demonstrated ability to work with data and develop analytics that demonstrates student success in career, entrepreneurship, and internship.
• Demonstrated experience with statistical reports and departmental assessment.
• Demonstrated professionalism and ability to effectively interface with employers.
• Demonstrated ability to successfully navigate collaboration with internal university departments.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:

• Master's degree
• Three years experience in career services

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:

• Master's degree in a discipline directly related to staffing, employment, career development, planning, or other human resources concentration.
• Six or more years of demonstrated experience in a combination of university services or other demonstrated career-focused leadership experience.

REQUIRED LICENSES, CERTIFICATIONS, AND/OR OTHER SPECIFIC REQUIREMENTS OF LAW:

• Must possess a valid driver’s license.
• This position requires a criminal background check, which may include a Level II screening required by Florida Statute §435.04.
• This position is subject to federal and state privacy regulations.

NORMAL WORK SCHEDULE: This position is salary exempt. The normal work schedule is Monday – Friday, 8:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m.; however, occasional overtime (weekends and evenings) may be required.

TARGET HIRING SALARY: $78,000 - $90,000, commensurate with experience.

APPLICATION DEADLINE DATE: The position is open until filled; however, a review of applications will commence immediately.

APPLICATION PROCESS: In addition to completing the online application, all Applicants are required to upload the following as an attachment to the application (preferably in PDF format):

• Cover Letter
• Resume

DIVERSITY STATEMENT:

Florida Polytechnic University is an equal opportunity/equal access institution. It is the policy of the Board of Trustees to provide equal opportunity for employment and educational opportunities to all (including applicants for employment, employees, applicants for admission, students, and others affiliated with the University) without regard to race, color, national origin, ethnicity, sex, religion, age, disability, sexual orientation, marital status, veteran status or genetic information.

FLORIDA POLY BENEFITS INFORMATION

Florida Poly qualified employees have the opportunity to take advantage of a variety of health benefits (through the State of Florida) to help meet their specific needs, as well as the needs of their family. This comprehensive coverage includes flexible spending accounts, medical and life insurance, and workers compensation.

· Health benefits are administered through People First , on behalf of the State of Florida, as pre-tax insurance plans. People First handles all new hire enrollments, coverage changes, premium administration, and dependent eligibility.

· Their Service Center is staffed Monday through Friday, from 8 a.m.–6 p.m. EST, at 1-866-663-4735.

SPECIAL INSTRUCTIONS REGARDING ATTACHMENTS:

Required attachments are listed on each posting. Please be sure to attach all required documents in the Resume/CV field before continuing through the application. Once your application has been submitted, no changes may be made and additional attachments will not be considered.

An unofficial copy of the degree/transcript is acceptable during the application process. For positions requiring a degree, the official transcripts are required upon hire.

Foreign Transcript: Transcripts issued outside of the United States require a equivalency statement from a certified transcript evaluation service verifying the degree equivalency to that of an accredited institution within the USA. This report must be attached with the application and submitted by the application deadline.

All document(s) must be received on or before the closing date of the job announcements.

This position requires a background check, which may include a level II screening as required by the Florida Statute §435.04.