Director of Career Education presso Elmhurst University

Description

The Director of Career Education, Weigand Career Center for Professional Excellence (WCCPE), delivers comprehensive career development, advising, and coaching services that empower students and alumni to explore career paths, build professional skills, and achieve successful employment outcomes. This position leads the design and delivery of high-impact career courses, seminars, and workshops that promote student retention and success. The Director also serves as an ambassador for Elmhurst University by cultivating strong relationships with employers, community partners, and professional organizations to expand opportunities for students.

The start date for this position is anticipated to be during late May 2026.

Position Status: Exempt

Salary Range: $65,000 - $75,000. This is the expected salary range for this position. The actual salary offered will depend on a candidate's experience and education, and departmental budget.

Responsibilities

• Oversees and manages comprehensive career education services for undergraduate and graduate students, and alumni.
• Partners with faculty to develop, implement, and evaluate services and programs for students and alumni that are informed by current best practices for discipline-specific and interdisciplinary professional development.
• Supervises the Senior Advisor, Career Education, whose program portfolio includes first- and second-year career exploration programs and workshops (First Leap; Sophomore Success).
• Administers the Mentoring Program for short-term and long-term career exploration.
• Oversees the development and evaluation of and teaches the CPP 299 Professional Foundations of Career Development, the CPP 399 Professional Career Preparation, and the CPP Independent Study Portfolio courses; oversees EXP 250 Experiential Learning through the Mentoring Program.
• Directs, oversees, and provides advising and programming for graduate and adult students, and alumni.
• Administers career and personal assessments for students, courses, and groups (MBTI, Strong, O*Net).
• Develops and delivers high-level trainings and presentations concerning services of the WCCPE to potential and current students, mentors and protégés, academic departments and student groups (i.e., Athletics, Residence Life).
• Develops and delivers WCCPE orientation programs for new and returning students.
• Maintains accurate records to be used for internal communications and reports.
• Develops, manages, and approves content and materials related to concentration areas including website, emails, newsletters and printed material in partnership with Marketing and Communications.
• Initiates and coordinates all office activities related to career education, including budget management.
• Acquires and maintains career education resources for the WCCPE, such as career-related websites, career-related magazines/journals, etc.

Other Responsibilities

• Supports the University’s mission, vision and values.
• Demonstrates a strong commitment to continuous improvement.
• Performs other duties and completes special projects as needed and assigned.

Requirements

Minimum Qualifications

• Master’s degree in Education, Counseling, Business, or a related field, with a minimum of five years of experience in higher education career advising and job/career development.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including comfort and effectiveness presenting to large groups and designing, delivering, and assessing trainings and presentations.
• Demonstrated ability in staff training, program development, and management.
• Commitment to student recruitment and retention, with a strong understanding of higher education, particularly within a private liberal arts college environment.

Preferred Qualifications

• Proven track record of collaborative teamwork and exceptional service to campus partners.
• Experience using higher education software platforms (e.g., Handshake).
• Managerial experience in higher education and private sectors.
• Mastery of social media as a marketing and communication tool.

Working Conditions/Physical Requirements
The essential functions of this position are primarily performed in an indoor setting with limited exposure to outdoor weather conditions. Work is often sedentary in nature and requires remaining in a stationary position for extended periods. Required abilities include speaking and hearing for in-person and virtual communication, using close and distance vision when reading documents or viewing screens, and performing tasks with repetitive fine motor skills. Work may require occasional lifting, bending, carrying, or otherwise moving objects weighing up to 15 pounds. Qualified applicants who can perform the essential functions of this position with or without reasonable accommodations will be considered.

Benefits

An overview of Elmhurst University benefits is available here.