Director of Career Services

Director of Career Services

Company: California Institute of Applied Technology Location: Remote (Candidate must reside in California) Employment Type: Full-time, Permanent Seniority: Executive Industry: Education

About the Role

The Director of Career Services is responsible for planning, directing, and evaluating a comprehensive program that delivers a wide range of career planning and placement services to students, alumni, the community, and employers. This executive role involves making complex management decisions, formulating operational policies, and ensuring the successful achievement of completion and placement numbers in accordance with ACCET standards. The Director will oversee Career Counseling, Career Services, and Job Fairs, providing significant assistance to academic programs and assuming ultimate responsibility for career and employment services for current and graduate students.

Key Responsibilities

• Management & Team Leadership:
  • Hire, train, supervise, and evaluate Career Services staff to maintain a high-performing, student-focused team.
  • Oversee daily Career Services operations, ensuring adequate staffing and service delivery.
  • Develop and manage departmental budgets and resources.
  • Provide leadership and oversight to Career Services Advisors and Placement Specialists.
  • Partner with HR to coach and counsel employees, providing professional development opportunities.
  • Ensure timely and fair performance reviews, a safe and ethical work environment, and adherence to timekeeping policies.
• Student Success, Placement & Compliance:
  • Maintain primary responsibility for the collection, verification, tracking, and reporting of all completion and placement outcomes.
  • Oversee the collection and maintenance of employment verification, graduate records, and employer verification.
  • Ensure accurate preparation and submission of ACCET Annual Reports, including completion and placement reporting.
  • Ensure compliance with all accreditation, state, federal, and institutional reporting requirements related to student outcomes.
  • Collect, analyze, and report graduate and employer survey results.
  • Develop strategies to improve student retention, completion, graduate outcomes, and placement rates.
• Career Readiness & Student Development:
  • Oversee career preparation services, including resume development, interview preparation, LinkedIn optimization, career coaching, job search strategies, and application support.
  • Develop and deliver workshops, webinars, and career-readiness programming.
  • Oversee Federal Work-Study activities and student employment initiatives.
  • Assess workshops and career-related activities to continuously improve services.
• Strategic Planning & Reporting:
  • Develop annual departmental goals, objectives, and strategic initiatives aligned with institutional priorities.
  • Analyze completion, placement, retention, and employment data to identify trends and opportunities.
  • Provide regular reports and outcome metrics to executive leadership.
  • Collaborate with relevant departments to align employer hiring needs with student opportunities.
• Collaboration & Outreach:
  • Serve as the institutional lead for student career development and graduate success initiatives.
  • Participate in institutional events such as Orientation and Commencement.
  • Work closely with the Director of Employer & Industry Partnerships to communicate employer opportunities.
  • Represent Career Services at institutional meetings and accreditation activities.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree or a combination of education and management experience preferred.
• 4+ years of management experience in higher education or high-volume customer service is preferred.
• Minimum 2 years of experience leading teams in higher education environments.
• Minimum 2 years of experience using enterprise CRM systems (e.g., Salesforce, HubSpot, Microsoft Dynamics, or equivalent SIS).
• Experience supporting students through enrollment, retention, or career decision-making.
• In-depth understanding of the technology industry, including education and career requirements.
• Proficiency in data analysis, reporting, and Microsoft Excel.
• Expertise in resume writing and familiarity with job boards like LinkedIn, Indeed, and ZipRecruiter.
• Strong technical mindset and willingness to learn new systems and automate processes.
• Strong presentation, public speaking, and writing skills.
• Customer-service-oriented approach with a sincere interest in helping others achieve their goals.
• Self-motivated, goal-oriented, assertive, results-driven, and highly ethical.
• Team player with a positive attitude and strong organizational skills.
• Demonstrated ability to anticipate needs and exercise independent judgment.
• Excellent analytical and problem-resolution skills.
• Proficient in MS Office Suite (Outlook, Word, Excel, PowerPoint, MS Project).
• Ability to work collaboratively and adapt to a rapidly changing environment.
• Willingness to work occasional extended hours to meet deadlines.
• Ability to maintain relationships with IT employers or familiarity with the IT industry.
• Ability to handle sensitive information with confidentiality.
• Must embody CIAT’