Associate Director for Experiential Learning

The New School•Lowell, MA

2d•$83,500 - $85,000•Hybrid

About The Position

The Associate Director for Experience reports to the Senior Director of the Center for Career Design and Development and serves as a key member of the Center's leadership team. The Associate Director assists in the management and long-term strategic planning of experiential learning initiatives across the university. The primary role of the Associate Director, Experience is to provide leadership and oversight of The New School's experiential learning and internship programs, including compliance, assessment, employer engagement, student support, and cross-functional collaboration with academic and administrative partners.

Requirements

Master’s degree or equivalent experience required.
5 years of professional experience, preferably in a discipline related to fields offered by The New School with previous experience in higher education, employer relations, or career services.
Experience working with Curricular Practical Training (CPT), SEVIS, and international student employment regulations.
Demonstrated experience supervising staff and managing complex programs or operations.
Knowledge of experiential learning practices, internship administration, and student development.
Demonstrated ability to work independently and on a team, working under deadlines.
Excellent writing, networking, and communications skills.
Demonstrated knowledge of current hiring trends in career development.
Strong project management, organizational, assessment, and event planning skills.
Proficiency in MS Word, Excel, and PowerPoint and G-Suite;
Experience with career management systems (Handshake, 12Twenty).
Experience with cooperative education.

Responsibilities

Support the strategic development and expansion of cooperative education, internships, and other experiential learning initiatives for the university in collaboration with Center leadership, academic programs, employers, and university partners.
Provide strategic leadership and operations for university-wide experiential learning processes, policies, procedures, and systems, including the Experiential Learning Agreement (ELA) process, to ensure efficient service delivery and institutional compliance.
Collaborate with Center leadership on special projects, strategic initiatives, and the implementation of technologies and digital resources that advance student success, career readiness, and experiential learning outcomes.
Identify emerging trends, best practices, and relevant changes in experiential education, employment, labor, and immigration regulations, and recommend innovative approaches, policy updates, and operational improvements as appropriate.
Prepare reports, assessments, and recommendations for Center leadership regarding experiential learning participation, student engagement, service delivery, and outcomes.
Partner closely with Curriculum Learning and Academic Affairs (CLAA) to ensure alignment of experiential learning initiatives with academic policy, curriculum, assessment, international programs and partnerships, and other university-wide academic priorities.
Collaborate with faculty, academic departments, and university partners to promote experiential learning opportunities, strengthen student participation, and integrate career-connected learning across the student experience.
Collaborate closely with International Student and Scholar Services (ISSS) and other university partners to support Curricular Practical Training (CPT) and experiential learning opportunities for international students.
Serve as a primary resource for students, faculty, staff, employers, and campus partners regarding experiential learning opportunities, internship administration, policies, procedures, and related compliance matters.
Develop and maintain relationships with employers, nonprofit organizations, community partners, and industry representatives to expand high-quality internship, cooperative education, and other experiential learning opportunities, in collaboration with Center leadership and Industry Engagement colleagues.
Collaborate with employers and campus partners to ensure experiential learning opportunities align with university standards, student learning objectives, and applicable policies and regulations.
Design and implement programming, workshops, and resources that prepare students to successfully pursue and engage in internships and other experiential learning opportunities.
Provide advising and consultation to students regarding experiential learning opportunities, workplace expectations, and professional development, while advancing equitable access and participation among diverse student populations.
Develop training materials, resources, and guidance for students, faculty, staff, and employers to promote understanding of experiential learning policies, procedures, and best practices.
Establish goals and priorities with direct reports and support their professional development and performance in alignment with Center and University objectives.
Assist in the supervision and development of student workers supporting Center operations, programs, and experiential learning initiatives.
Other duties as assigned.

Benefits

Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision coverage
Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
Retirement plan administered by TIAA
Qualified Transportation Expense Plan
Paid vacation and sick leave, with accruals starting on your first day
Paid holidays and floating holidays
Career advancement and professional development opportunities
Access to university programs, lectures, and events featuring world-renowned speakers and organizations
Tuition waiver benefit for eligible employees and dependents
Employee discounts with local vendors and service providers