• Job Description

  Req#: 1877
  JOB TITLE: Executive Director of Career Programs
  DEPARTMENT: Office of Career Programs
  SALARY RANGE: $81,000 - $95,000
  REPORTS TO: Dean of Rosary College of Arts and Sciences
  JOB STATUS: Exempt, FT, Grant Funded through September 2025
  PRIMARY PURPOSE/ POSITION SUMMARY:
  Reporting to the Dean of Rosary College of Arts and Sciences, the Executive Director of Career Programs is responsible for overseeing all aspects of the Office of Career Programs. This, includes the Career and Vocation (CV) Curriculum, the Experts/Executives in Residence Program, the required undergraduate Career Practicum efforts.
  The Executive Director provides leadership to the Office, representing Career Programs both internally and externally, and collaborates with the Core Curriculum Director to delivery of the career development program. They ensure that career development programming at Dominican creates opportunities for all undergraduate students to prepare for successful placement upon graduation in career ladder positions or in graduate/professional school.
  Additionally, the Executive Director is responsible for creating programming that provides graduate students and alumni access to career networks and professional development opportunities. The Office of Career Programs partners with various internal departments, including academic and student support services, and external organizations, to ensure student success in completion and career outcomes, in addition to other strategic priorities.
  Beginning in academic year 2024-2025, Dominican University undergraduate students will enroll in a sequence of four one-credit hour career and vocation courses (Career & Vocation: CV 100, CV 200, CV 300, CV 400) and a required Career Practicum (internship) as part of their general education requirements through a newly revised Core Curriculum. This is an exciting time for Dominican University and the Office of Career Programs, as the Office expands its award-winning program, which first began in the Brennan School of Business in 2017. In 2023, the Office was recognized with CEIA’s Best Practices Award and NACE’s Career Services Excellence Award, and in 2024, the team was recognized with an Honorable Mention within NACE’s Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Excellence award category. As the program expands, the Executive Director will need to be agile and creative, as well as provide strong leadership to the team, ensuring that the integrity of the program is elevated during scaleup efforts.
  EXPECTATIONS FOR ALL DOMINICAN EMPLOYEES:
  To support the University's mission of preparing students to pursue truth, to give compassionate service, and to participate in the creation of a more just and humane world.
  JOB COMPONENTS/PRINCIPAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:
  • Represent the Office of Career Programs on University committees including the Core Curriculum Committee, amongst others.
  • Collaborate with the Director of the Core Curriculum to ensure continuous alignment on the implementation and outcomes of the CV curriculum & Career Practicum requirements.
  • Serve as the primary point of contact and leader in the Office of Career Programs & for the university, its students and alumnae and employer partners.
  • Manage the Office’s budget; responsible for fiscal planning and management, including operations and staffing.
  • In collaboration with others, develop new contacts and partnership opportunities with employers external to Dominican to assist in internship and full-time job placement.
  • Build and expand partnerships with alumnae for: a) volunteering opportunities within career programs; b) teaching and/or EIR recruitment and hiring; and/or c) internship and job placement opportunities.
  • Build and expand programs that receive financial support from partner organizations (i.e., career fair, employer tabling, scholarship/fellowship opportunities, etc.).
  • Work with internal partners to identify and manage grant funded opportunities.
  • Review and supervise on-campus recruitment activities, career fair policies, and other procedures that relate to hiring students for on- and off-campus internship, fellowship and job opportunities.
  • Advise and advocate on behalf of the Office of Career Programs to ensure best practices of career development programming are available for Dominican University students.
  • Communicate regularly with internal stakeholders and leadership through presentations and campus-wide communications and engagement.
  • Coordinate with the Office of the President to engage Board of Trustees members in activities that support the Career Development Program.
  • Regularly represent Dominican University and the Office of Career Programs at external events and through various external organizations such as NACE, CEIA, etc.
  • Oversee day-to-day operations of the Office of Career Programs to ensure services reflect best practices in career development programming.
  • Expand post-graduation opportunities for students, including first destination employment and graduate/professional school acceptance through strategic relationship management with employers and internal departments.
  • Collaborate regularly with the Office of Institutional Effectiveness to ensure first destination data is accurate.
  • Ensuring data collection efforts are relevant and accurate including: internship tracking, first destination outcomes, employer engagement tracking, and alumnae relationship management information.
  • Oversee data collection efforts for continuous improvement efforts within the CV courses, Career Practicum requirement, and employer engagement events.
  • Oversee marketing and communication strategies for the Office of Career Programs for internal and external promotion of materials and programming.
  • Oversee Career Programs team to curate relevant data for award applications.
  • Collaborate regularly with Information Technology to implement platforms and tools help to support students’ career and professional development needs.
  • Staff Management:
    1. Directly supervise the Director of Careers Curriculum, the Office Manager, and (up to 16) EIRs;
    2. Indirectly supervise (30+) CV adjunct instructors, (3) Assistant Directors, and Student Employees.
  • Perform other duties as requested, delegated, or assigned by supervisor.
  MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS/REQUIREMENTS:
  All qualifications are required unless otherwise indicated.
  • Master’s degree or equivalent professional experience, with at least 5 years of experience managing academic programs and a career center/office.
  • Proven track record of success with career outcomes.
  • Commitment to fostering an equitable and inclusive working and learning environment.
  • Demonstrated experience collaborating with faculty, staff, and leadership in a university setting with positive outcomes.
  • Ability to negotiate and advocate for career development programming needs within an institution with competing priorities.
  • Demonstrated ability to identify gaps and collaborate with various stakeholders to create solutions.
  • Excellent oral and written communication skills.
  • Ability to lead a large team to achieve measurable outcomes and results.
  • Familiarity with Learning Management systems (LMS), Career Management Systems (CMS), and Customer Relations Management systems (CRM).
  • Experience working with Microsoft Office Suite.
  PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:
  Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:
  • Bilingual in Spanish and English.
  • Proficient in Canvas, 12Twenty, Handshake and uConnect.
  • Prior experience working within a Hispanic Serving Institution.
  • Prior experience with curriculum development and/or teaching.
  A background screening is required.
  EEO Statement
  Dominican University is proud to be an equal opportunity employer and is dedicated to the goal of building an equity-centered faculty and staff committed to teaching, working, and learning in a multicultural environment. Dominican University believes that justice, equity, and inclusion are critical to our growth and development and seek to recruit, develop, and retain from a diverse pool of applicants who bring varied experiences, perspectives, and backgrounds.
  If you need accommodations due to a disability, you may contact us at hr@dom.edu for assistance.
  
  

• About the company

  Dominican University is a private Catholic university in River Forest, Illinois, affiliated with the Sinsinawa Dominican Sisters.

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