Assistant Director, Undergraduate Career Development

American University•Washington, DC

2d•$75,000 - $83,296•Hybrid

About The Position

The Assistant Director, Undergraduate Career Development plays a critical role in supporting undergraduate students and alumni as they navigate their career paths within the business sector. The ideal candidate will provide personalized coaching, strategic career planning, and proactive job search support tailored to business disciplines. Responsibilities include delivering one-on-one coaching sessions, developing career resources, and facilitating workshops and curricular engagements on professional development and industry-specific skills. This role requires a strong understanding of early talent needs assessments as well as the ability to effectively guide students in achieving their professional goals. The Assistant Director, Undergraduate Career Development will work collaboratively with faculty, staff, and external partners to ensure students are well-prepared to enter the competitive business workforce upon graduation.

Requirements

Master's degree.
5-8 years of relevant experience.
Proficient communication and computer skills, along with excellent interpersonal, team building, and presentation skills.
Ability to work independently.
Knowledge of career development theory, career development services in higher education, and understanding of college student success.
Experience and knowledge of, or demonstrated interest in, business careers.
Strong coaching or counseling skills, ability to interpret career assessments, ability to support students in career exploration.
Commitment to facilitating world-class undergraduate student learning and career development.
An understanding of and appreciation for the needs and concerns of a diverse undergraduate student body and the needs of non-traditional students.
Career counseling/coaching experience.

Nice To Haves

8-10 years of relevant experience.
Broad understanding of the value of a business school education, particularly undergraduate programs.
Interest in working in a highly collaborative team environment.
Commitment to facilitating world-class graduate and alumni student learning and career development.
Coaching certification preferred.

Responsibilities

Career Advising & Coaching: Provide comprehensive career advising to students and alumni within assigned population.
Understand Student Needs and Goals: Conduct individual coaching appointments to understand career interests, skills, strengths, and aspirations. Use assessment tools and career exploration exercises to help students identify their career goals and develop a personalized career plan. Empower students to explore careers, develop effective search strategies, and be able to articulate their value proposition aligned with career goals and workplace needs. Partner with student clubs and faculty to understand career coaching needs of various populations. Provide services (coaching, workshops etc) in variety of modalities (in person, remote, hybrid) to effectively support needs of varying populations.
Provide Career Guidance: Provide personalized one-on-one coaching to undergraduate business students, as well as alumni. Address domestic and international students’ questions, concerns, and career related challenges. Offer career action teams and other programming as needed. Provide market-relevant, undergraduate focused guidance on resume, cover letters, job search strategies, networking, personal branding, behavioral and case interviewing skills, job negotiation, and more. Coach students to effectively articulate the value of their Kogod education and build connections between their academic and co-curricular activities and their career path. Administer and interpret career assessments with students as needed. Leverage industry-specific knowledge to help students position themselves for internship and full-time job obtainment.
Community Engagement & Programming: Design and deliver workshops, seminars and events that enhance students' understanding of career pathways related to their academic studies and career goals.
Leverage Classroom and Curricular Touchpoints: Lead orientation, practicum, and immersion sessions. Collaborate with partners for job and internship fair prep, international student programming, treks, and additional programs as needed. Provide targeted support through current and upcoming courses to prepare students for career success. Collaborate with faculty to align career development programs with classroom curriculum across disciplines. Serve as an information resource on career-related topics related to assigned areas for students, faculty, employers, and Career Center colleagues. Present career related information to classes to encourage engagement and preparation. Presentations may take place in workshops, classrooms, online, and other settings, including nights and occasional weekends.
Facilitate Market Relevant Preparation: Enhance student’s professional skills and readiness for the workforce via programming – partnering with alumni, student clubs, and employers whenever possible. Provide targeted support and programming to meet the needs of specific populations. Accompany students to industry/affinity conferences.
Provide Access to Resources and Tools: Guide students in accessing customized online resources, databases, and job boards for career exploration, job search, and company research. Offer customized resources for international students and other populations. Provide guidance on utilizing career management platforms, networking events, and alumni networks to expand students’ professional connections. Create and update personalized templates and resources.
Special Projects, Outcomes, Other Duties: Maintain accurate records and contribute to overall division goals.
Evaluate and Assess Progress: Track students’ career development progress through individual meetings, courses, and programmatic offerings. Collect feedback from students on the effectiveness of career services programming and adjust offerings based on their needs and preferences. Maintain accurate notes on coaching appointments and interactions. Collaborate with data team to collect and track student outcomes and maintain knowledge of applicable reporting standards.
Collaborate with Others: Partner effectively with faculty members, academic advisors, alumni relations, industry engagement team, Student Development, ProComms and others to provide comprehensive support to students. Continue to establish office as Kogod’s experts for career development and market readiness.
Stay Informed: Stay updated on industry trends, best practices in career coaching, and developments in job market to provide relevant and timely guidance to students. Participate in professional development workshops, conferences, and training sessions, and implement new strategies or techniques learned.
Other duties as assigned: Facilitate special projects, serve on committees, etc. as needed.