Associate Director or Director of Career Development, School of Architecture

University of Virginia•Charlottesville, VA

3d•$70,000 - $85,000•Hybrid

About The Position

The University of Virginia School of Architecture seeks a collaborative and innovative Associate Director or Director of Career Development to lead career services for undergraduate and graduate students across design disciplines. This role oversees career advising, professional development programming, and employer engagement initiatives. The final title and scope of responsibilities will be determined based on qualifications and experience of the selected candidate. This position builds relationships with alumni, employers, and corporate partners to expand career opportunities and strengthen the A-School’s professional network. Working closely with faculty, student groups, and university partners, this position integrates career development into the student experience and supports student success through data-informed assessment and strategic programming. At the Director level, the incumbent also advances resource development efforts in collaboration with Advancement and school leadership to sustain and grow career programming. Reporting to the Associate Dean of Student Affairs, the Director serves as a key leader in preparing A-School students for successful careers in the built environment.

Requirements

Master’s degree.
Director: 5+ years of progressively responsible experience in career services, higher education administration, student affairs, employer relations, workforce development, recruiting, or a related field.
Associate Director: 2+ years of experience in career services, higher education administration, student affairs, employer relations, workforce development, recruiting, or a related field.
Demonstrated success in career advising, developing and delivering professional development programming, and building partnerships with employers and alumni.
Demonstrated success cultivating and maintaining strategic partnerships with employers, alumni, industry leaders, and external stakeholders.
Experience planning, implementing, and assessing complex events, experiential learning programs, and employer engagement initiatives.
Experience utilizing career technologies to assess outcomes.
Strong organization and planning skills with the ability to thrive in a fast-paced environment while managing multiple time-sensitive priorities and diverse constituents.
Ethical, empathetic, self-aware, student-centric collaborator.
Excellent oral, written, and interpersonal communication skills.
Evidence of developing and implementing creative problem-solving solutions.
Strong critical thinking and analytical skills.
Highly detail-oriented.
Effective budget management skills.

Nice To Haves

Knowledge of career pathways, professional licensure, hiring practices, and workforce trends within architecture, landscape architecture, planning, preservation, construction, and related built-environment fields.
Experience using Handshake, LinkedIn, or other digital platforms to increase exposure of career development outcomes.

Responsibilities

Provide career advising and professional development programming that helps students explore career paths, build career readiness, and connect with industry professionals. Advising topics include internship and job search strategies, résumés and cover letters, portfolios, digital profiles, interviewing, salary negotiation, and career planning.
Lead the development, implementation, and assessment and continuous improvement of signature career education and employer engagement initiatives, including Career Week, career fairs, portfolio reviews, networking events, employer panels, information sessions, and industry site visits.
Manage and expand experiential learning opportunities, including externships, professional immersion experiences, firm treks, and other applied learning programs that connect students with professional practice.
Develop and administer initiatives that increase access to professional opportunities and reduce barriers to student participation in career development experiences.
Partner with student organizations, faculty, and staff to support student-led professional development initiatives and foster a culture of career readiness across the School.
Pursue, cultivate, and strengthen relationships with employers to source internship and job opportunities.
Collaborate with the school’s Advancement Team and UVA’s University Career Center to enhance employer relations.
Collaborate with the school’s Advancement Team to develop and sustain an alumni engagement strategy that connects students with alumni mentors, speakers, recruiters, externship hosts, and networking opportunities.
Collaborate with the school’s Advancement Team and school leadership to develop, implement, assess, and steward donor-funded professional development and experiential learning programs.
Engage with UVA Career Center and other school-based career services teams to ensure seamless career support and advocacy for A-School students.
Advise the Associate Deans of Student Affairs and Finance to ensure the financial sustainability of Career Development through development and management of revenue streams supporting student programming and services.
Build and maintain partnerships with alumni, employers, and external stakeholders to generate funding through career fair revenue. At the Director level, build and maintain corporate sponsorships.
At the Director level, collaborate with Associate Deans and Advancement to identify and pursue new revenue opportunities aligned with institutional priorities and student professional growth.
Develop and manage the annual operating budget, aligning resources with student and program needs while monitoring expenditures, forecasting financial trends, and ensuring cost-effective, high-quality delivery of events and initiatives.
Ensure compliance with financial policies through expense tracking, reconciliations, and reporting, while analyzing financial performance and advising leadership to optimize resource use to support long-term planning.
Lead the collection, analysis, and reporting of First Destination Survey and other career outcomes data to support the school’s planning, accreditation, benchmarking, and continuous improvement.
Establish, monitor, and report key performance indicators related to student engagement, employer participation, experiential learning opportunities, career readiness, and post-graduation outcomes.
Analyze labor market trends and provide students with industry-specific guidance to secure employment.
Promote resources and events through appropriate channels to recruit, engage, and support A-School students.
Collaborate with A-School faculty and staff to ensure career-related events are well-promoted and attended.
Use career services management technology to promote and enhance the efficient delivery of career-related programs and services.