Director of the Center for Career Engagement Opportunities (C.E.O.)

University Of Lynchburg•Lynchburg, VA

2d•Onsite

About The Position

The University of Lynchburg, a private, regional university in the beautiful foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains in Central Virginia, is seeking applicants for Director of the Center for Career Engagement Opportunities (C.E.O.) full-time, regular position. This role provides comprehensive leadership for all components of career development to ensure alignment with the university’s vision and mission and institutional goals. The Director will directly manage and supervise the career engagement team and provide executive oversight for all career events and activities. They will also manage and plan the career center budget and approve PayCom for C.E.O. employees. A key responsibility is to collaborate with all academic departments to strategically integrate career readiness competencies and professional milestones directly into the undergraduate curricula, ensuring students are career-ready upon graduation. The position involves providing individual career counseling to undergraduate students and alumni, and managing the deployment and optimization of career assessments and digital development tools. The Director will supervise, train, and guide the assistant directors in overseeing the internship program, outreach and employer development, and career counseling sessions. They will lead the design and implementation of high-impact career fairs, seminars, receptions, and other programs. This role serves as the primary representative for the C.E.O. on all matters involving career development within the university community and external stakeholders, maintaining, nurturing, and pursuing new relationships with employers to facilitate recruitment opportunities for UL students and alumni. Additionally, the Director will spearhead a new initiative of the Career Champions program to connect alumni with mentoring type opportunities for students.

Requirements

Five years of progressively related experience in university career services, human resources or a recruiting environment.
Proven ability to build and maintain cross-functional relationships with diverse constituencies, including students, faculty, alumni, staff, and corporate partners.
Additional experience and skill in working with the Board of Trustees and the Alumni Board.
Exceptional verbal, written, and presentation skills, with a demonstrated ability to influence stakeholders and analyze professional workforce and career trends.
Expert-level knowledge of Career Services Management (CSM) platforms (e.g., Handshake and LinkedIn) and a data-driven approach to service improvement.
A sophisticated understanding of how Artificial Intelligence (AI) is reshaping the workforce, with the technical proficiency to integrate AI tools into career service delivery.
Experience with strategic planning, staff supervision, and budget management.
Experience in event coordination and program development, specifically regarding career fairs and industry-specific networking events.
Knowledgeable in data analysis and strategic thinking in dealing with the First Destination Survey and salary outcomes to drive institutional reporting and strategy.
Master’s degree required, preferably in higher education administration, student affairs, or a related field.
Candidates must successfully pass a background check that is satisfactory to the University.

Responsibilities

Provide comprehensive leadership for all components of career development to ensure alignment with the university’s vision and mission and institutional goals.
Directly manage and supervise the career engagement team and provide executive oversight for all career events and activities.
Manage and plan the career center budget and approve PayCom for C.E.O. employees.
Collaborate with all academic departments to strategically integrate career readiness competencies and professional milestones directly into the undergraduate curricula, ensuring students are career-ready upon graduation.
Provide individual career counseling to undergraduate students and alumni.
Manage the deployment and optimization of career assessments and digital development tools, ensuring the office remains at the forefront of career services technology.
Supervise, train, and guide the assistant directors in terms of the overseeing internship program, outreach and employer development, and career counseling sessions.
Lead the design and implementation of high-impact career fairs, seminars, receptions, and other programs that assist students in exploring future career plans and developing networking skills.
Serve as the primary representative for the C.E.O. on all matters involving career development within the university community and external stakeholders.
Maintain, nurture, and pursue new relationships with local, regional, national, and international employers.
Facilitate recruitment opportunities for UL students and alumni, focusing on high-quality career-related internships and full-time positions.
Spearhead a new initiative of the Career Champions program to connect alumni with mentoring type opportunities for students.