Associate Director, Experiential Learning

American University•Washington, DC

6d•$90,000 - $95,000•Hybrid

About The Position

The Associate Director, Experiential Learning provides leadership for career‑integrated experiential learning at American University, with a primary focus on internships and applied learning opportunities that advance students’ career readiness, professional development, and equitable access to high‑impact experiences. Reporting to the Director of Experiential Education, the Associate Director is responsible for the strategic direction, management, and assessment of university‑wide experiential learning initiatives. This role expands experiential learning participation across undergraduate and graduate populations while addressing structural and financial barriers to access. The Associate Director serves as a key institutional leader for the AU Ready Internship Pledge, a university‑wide initiative providing up to $4,500 in student support funding to promote equitable participation in unpaid internships. The position exercises a high degree of independent judgment in program design, funding strategy, policy development, and institutional partnership management. In addition, the Associate Director provides direct supervision for professional staff supporting both experiential learning and career advising functions as student conversations regularly integrate career and experiential guidance. This position contributes to broader decision-making, service integration, and cross‑functional planning as well as provides critical support for evolving university strategic goals.

Requirements

Bachelor's degree or equivalent
4 - 6 years of relevant experience
3+ years of supervisory experience
Strong organizational, analytical, and equity‑focused practices.

Nice To Haves

Master's degree or equivalent
8 - 10 years of relevant experience

Responsibilities

Serve as an administrator and strategic lead for the AU Ready Internship Pledge. Oversee program design, application cycles, eligibility frameworks, review processes, timelines, and communications related to student support funding.
Exercise independent judgment and discretion in student funding allocations to ensure equitable, compliant, and mission‑aligned distribution of resources.
Manage financial tracking, documentation, reporting, and coordination with university finance, compliance, and advancement offices.
Assess program outcomes, equity impacts, and student experience data; develop recommendations for policy refinement, sustainability, and future growth.
Provide direct supervision of professional staff supporting experiential learning and career advising, including four professional staff members.
Lead staff responsible for internship programs, experiential learning initiatives, and career advising functions, ensuring coordination and integration of services.
Provide coaching, performance management, goal‑setting, and professional development support.
Delegate responsibilities and align staff work with unit, divisional, and institutional priorities.
Foster a collaborative, inclusive, and student‑centered team culture.
Participate in hiring, onboarding, training, and evaluation of staff.
Provide direct career and experiential learning advising to undergraduate and graduate students.
Advise students on securing and reflecting on experiential learning opportunities including internships, fellowships, and applied learning experiences.
Support students in connecting experiential learning to academic pathways, career goals, and skill development.
Integrate advising practices with Career Center advising frameworks and institutional career readiness competencies.
Contribute to advising‑related workshops, programming, and student‑facing resources.
Lead the collection, analysis, and reporting of experiential learning participation and outcome data.
Use data to evaluate program effectiveness and inform planning and institutional reporting.
Prepare reports, dashboards, and presentations for Career Center leadership and university stakeholders.
Ensure accurate record‑keeping and compliance related to experiential learning programs and funding.
Support experiential learning and career development programming including employer engagement, alumni mentoring, site visits, and student information sessions.
Collaborate with Career Center colleagues to align experiential learning with advising, employer relations, and career education.
Represent experiential learning and career advising initiatives on campus committees, meetings, and events.