Job Details

This ad is expired.

University of Illinois - Urbana-Champaign

Director, The Career Center (A1800359)
Go to our website »

Position Number: 1238702
Location: Champaign, Illinois
Position Type: Education

Director, The Career Center (A1800359)

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

The University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign is seeking nominations and applications for Director of The Career Center. Founded in 1867, the University is one of the nation's original 37 public land-grant institutions. The very accomplished and diverse community at Illinois is comprised of 48,000 students and 11,000 faculty and staff. The student body is especially talented and one of the most diverse among our Big 10 and peer institutions: 15% Asian-American students, 9% Latino/a students, 5% percent African-American students, 3% multiracial, 24% international, 22% first generation, and mean 29 ACT and 1390 SAT.

The Career Center (http://www.careercenter.illinois.edu), a unit within the Division of Student Affairs, provides all Illinois students collaborative and innovative programs, services, and resources focused on career and professional development that educates and empowers them to become thriving professionals in the global community. The staff is committed to supporting students from all backgrounds, and promoting inclusiveness on campus as outlined in the Student Affairs Statement on Diversity (http://studentaffairs.illinois.edu/sites/vcsaprod/files/docs/divStatement.pdf). The Center challenges and educates students to discover their options, gain experience, tell their professional/career story and make successful transitions to careers, graduate/professional school, and other post-graduation opportunities. The Center leads campus-wide pre-health advising and provides services and resources to employers seeking Illinois students for internships and jobs.

The Career Services Council (CSC), officially recognized in 1954 by the Board of Trustees, is comprised of career services offices and affiliates at the University. A basic tenant of this Board statement was that the "service is primarily an activity of the University as a whole and, secondarily, that of its constituent parts" (May 15, 1954). Thus, the University affirmed its desire to maintain specific career services for students yet supported a coordinated effort of service to students, alumni, and employers. Thus, the CSC is a connecting and coordinating body that addresses policy and practice in career services at Illinois. The Director serves as a leader and primary convener of the CSC.

With 20 full-time professionals, over 40 student employees, and a budget over $2 million, The Career Center delivers services to 30,000+ students annually. Additionally, Illinois is a destination for talent acquisition as more than 5000 unique employers engage with campus to recruit students. CSC is comprised of 110 members representing 54 separate offices and units.

The Director is a key visionary leader that provides strategic direction for The Career Center (TCC) and the CSC and ensures that their work contributes to the mission and strategic goals of the University. This leader cultivates a student-centered and coordinated network of career education that extends across the campus, advocates and advances the importance and value of career services and career ready graduates, and builds strategic partnerships across the campus ecosystem and beyond the institution. The Director drives innovation and initiatives that are integral to a transformative educational experience for current and future Illinois students and strengthens recruitment, retention, persistence, and post-graduation success while closing equity achievement gaps.

Using program assessment, data resources, and outcomes research, the Executive Director focuses on continuous improvement, practices evidence-based decision-making, and documents the value and contributions of career education to the campus mission and strategic goals while ensuring stewardship of resources. Additionally, the Director contributes to relevant professional associations and the national conversation regarding innovative career education, benchmarking of best practices, and the value of career services within the higher education landscape.

Responsibilities

Essential duties for the Director are broad and embrace vision, leadership and strategic planning for career education and collaboration across the campus. Expectations include the following:

Provides vision, directs the operations, and manages the budget of The Career Center, including strategic planning, staff hiring, professional development, establishment of TCC/campus goals, and assessment/evaluation of practices and impact
Sets overall goals and priorities for career education and campus-wide collaboration and innovation contributing to the career readiness of students
Oversees the functioning of the Career Services Council, articulates the value of coordinated career services at Illinois, and advocates for professional recognition and development of career professionals
Serves as a primary campus advocate for career education, outcomes assessment, experiential education, and post-graduation opportunities for students
Advocates for assessment, scholarship, and evidence-based practice in career education on campus, regionally, and nationally
Sustains a comprehensive and campus-wide career coaching model that empowers stakeholders across campus to be advocates for career readiness of students
Collaborates with campus administrators, deans, and associate deans from all colleges, as well as faculty, professional staff and students, who have multiple and diverse perspectives to ensure career education and career readiness are part of the overall mission and strategic goals of the university
Leverages technology and the university ecosystem to effectively deliver and scale career education services and resources to all students
Fosters initiatives, collaborations, and innovation that increase career readiness and success for diverse and underserved student populations
Promotes and expands on and off-campus career experiences and mentoring to enhance transition to post-graduation employment, education, and service

Qualifications

Master's degree (Ph.D. preferred) with experience in the leadership of career services including supervision of a large team and management of a complex operating budget
7 years of progressive work experience demonstrating stated responsibilities
Commitment to diversity and the career development needs of diverse and underrepresented students
Commitment to the field of career services as evidenced by participation in national, regional, or local career organizations
Exhibited data-informed thought and decision-making, with an ability to share a story of success
Demonstrated strategic planning, goal setting, operational agility, and assessment expertise
Confirmed collegial style of leadership and ability to convene key stakeholders to build consensus and collaboration
Displayed innovative and creative approaches to address challenges and institutional priorities
Strong advocate for student success, career education and career readiness
Knowledge of theoretical foundations of career development and experience with practical application and delivery within a higher education environment
Experience networking, connecting and collaborating with internal and external stakeholders

Application: To ensure full consideration, please submit a letter of application, vitae, and contact information for at least three professional references at https://jobs.illinois.edu by June 25, 2018.

Appointment Type: Regular twelve month, 100% academic professional appointment.

Salary: Commensurate with experience.

Start Date: As soon as possible after closing.

Closing Date: In order to ensure full consideration, applications must be received by June 25, 2018. Applications will continue to be considered until the position is filled.

Contact: Rhonda Kirts
Office of the Dean of Students
rkirts@illinois.edu
217-333-0050

The University of Illinois conducts criminal background checks on all job candidates upon acceptance of a contingent offer.

The University of Illinois is an Equal Opportunity, Affirmative Action employer. Minorities, women, veterans and individuals with disabilities are encouraged to apply. For more information, visit http://go.illinois.edu/EEO. To learn more about the University's commitment to diversity, please visit http://www.inclusiveillinois.illinois.edu