Executive Director of Academic and Career Engagement

UMass Boston•Boston, MA

About The Position

The primary mission of the Academic and Career Engagement and Success (ACES) Center is to provide holistic, high-quality, and culturally responsive academic and career success advising, programming, and experiential learning. The department values inclusive excellence through holistic student success and equitable outcomes. The Executive Director of Academic and Career Engagement provides advanced strategic leadership and vision for the university’s comprehensive academic and career development services function. This role oversees the development, implementation, and continuous improvement of comprehensive academic and career-related services, programs, and initiatives for students and alumni across all academic disciplines, while ensuring operational excellence, inclusive practice, and data-informed decision-making. The Executive Director leads division-wide strategy execution, including the development and implementation of a cohesive career communities model, institutional experiential learning frameworks, and expanded employer and industry partnerships. Serving as a key strategic advisor to the AVP and campus leadership, they will work collaboratively with faculty, staff, administrators, and external stakeholders to foster comprehensive academic and career exploration, career readiness, employment opportunities, and post-graduation success. The position includes the development and oversight of a cohesive career communities model, enhancement of strategic employer partnerships, and collaboration to establish a campus-wide comprehensive experiential learning model that supports student success and retention. Reporting to the Assistant Vice Provost (AVP), the Executive Director oversees and integrates multiple functional areas including comprehensive academic and career advising services, employer engagement, career communities, and departmental operations including supervision, training, program assessment, and creative leadership. They will oversee daily operations leading a team of academic and career advisors and in collaboration with the Assistant Director of Programming, Assistant Director of Employer Partnerships, and Assistant Director of Career Development and Education related to academic and career advising, career development via career communities, strategic employer partnerships, signature events, experiential learning within ACES and across campus, and assessment of service delivery and outcomes.

Requirements

Master’s Degree required, doctoral degree preferred, in workforce development, and/or higher education student services or a relevant academic discipline.
Minimum of 7-10 years of progressively responsible experience in career services, student affairs, or a related field, including significant supervisory and leadership responsibility.
At least 6-8 years in a leadership role, and at least 5 years of experience in career services in a higher education environment is required.
Demonstrated strong leadership skills, including direct supervision of professional staff, budget management, and project management are required.
Demonstrated success leading complex, cross-functional initiatives.
Advanced experience in staff supervision, budgeting, assessment, and project management.
Proven ability to influence and collaborate with faculty, senior administrators, and external partners.
Data-informed approach to strategic planning and evaluation, with experience in using assessment tools and data to improve programs.
Active engagement with professional associations (e.g., NACE, EACE, NACADA).
Exceptional knowledge of comprehensive academic and career advising techniques, employment trends, labor market analysis, and employer needs.
Exceptional leadership, interpersonal, and communication skills.
Ability to develop and implement innovative programs and services that meet the needs of a diverse student body.
Exceptional networking, partnership-building, and relationship-management skills.
Exceptional knowledge of career management platforms and innovative technology used in career services.
Proven track record of working with diverse student populations and employers from various industries.
Demonstrated ability to develop strategic partnerships and to oversee major projects from development to implementation.
Proven ability to work effectively and efficiently in a team capacity with a broad range of staff to accomplish departmental and university goals.
Proven ability to communicate at all levels within an organization with tact and diplomacy to achieve goals.
Proven ability to work under pressure and under tight timeframes and deadlines.
Proven ability to multi-task in a fast-paced environment.
Proven ability to use independent judgment and be entrusted with confidential information.
Excellent oral and written communication skills.
Exceptional presentation skills.
Exceptional organizational skills and interpersonal skills, including the capacity to work with a wide range of individuals.
Exceptional attention to detail.
Exceptional commitment to customer service.

Nice To Haves

doctoral degree preferred

Responsibilities

Under the direction of the AVP and in collaboration with the leadership team align comprehensive academic and career development and education, experiential learning, career communities, and employer engagement models with institutional goals.
Lead and assess short- and long-term strategic planning efforts for comprehensive academic and career services and experiential learning initiatives, including the development of measurable goals and key performance indicators.
Contribute at a senior level to budget planning, resource allocation, and operational decision-making, beyond day-to-day operations and program management.
Translate institutional strategy into scalable programs and services within ACES and across career communities.
Partner with the AVP in strengthening strategic external partnerships toward advancing comprehensive academic and career services on the campus.
Provide senior-level oversight of comprehensive academic and career services, including academic and career advising, graduate and alumni career engagement, career communities, experiential learning programs, and employer partnerships.
Oversee the planning and delivery of career fairs, employer recruitment activities, workshops and seminars, networking events, and job and internship placement aimed at enhancing students’ career readiness.
In collaboration with the AVP, provide leadership-level guidance, consultation, supervision, and training for Academic and Career Advisors who provide career development services to students.
Ensure that career development services are accessible to students across all disciplines and academic levels.
Advance and scale student participation in the experiential learning programs and career readiness pathways.
Collaborate with campus leaders to expand and coordinate experiential learning programs across campus to align with career and learning communities.
Provide high-level supervision and mentorship to a team of academic and career services professionals, fostering a collaborative, inclusive work culture, and high-performing work environment.
Lead staff recruitment, training, evaluation, and professional development initiatives aligned with industry standards and competencies to effectively support comprehensive academic and career services within a career communities model.
Establish expectations for innovation, accountability, and continuous improvement across the team.
Provide regular feedback, coaching, and performance management.
Develop and implement a comprehensive employer engagement strategy that strengthens partnerships with regional, national, and global organizations, incorporating industry advisory board structures, aligned with the strategic vision of ACES and the campus.
Lead efforts to expand internship pipelines, experiential learning placements, and employment outcomes for students and alumni.
Implement robust on-campus recruiting strategies and employer-facing programming.
Expand and strengthen partnerships with industry leaders.
Lead assessment strategy to evaluate the effectiveness and impact of comprehensive academic and career services, including career outcomes, employer satisfaction, and student engagement.
Collaborate with the AVP to align assessment practices with divisional and institutional reporting needs, including tracking data on student usage, learning outcomes, retention and graduation rates, first destination data, and employment and workforce trends for UMass Boston graduates and alumni.
Regularly report on program successes, challenges, and improvements to senior leadership and other stakeholders.
Use data proactively to inform strategic decisions and program refinement in operations and management of comprehensive academic and career advising services and experiential learning programs.
Provide advanced career coaching and guidance for students and alumni, including career exploration, resume development, job search strategies, interview preparation, and professional networking.
Design and oversee initiatives to foster sustained alumni engagement with career services, mentoring, and employer connections, fostering a lifelong connection to the university.
Partner with faculty and academic departments to embed career readiness and experiential learning into curricula and co-curricular experiences to ensure comprehensive career services are an integral part of students' academic journey.
Collaborate with key stakeholders across campus to align comprehensive academic and career initiatives within ACES services with broader student success and retention strategies.
Advise academic and administrative leaders on workforce and employment trends toward meeting the specialized needs of students in each of the colleges, aligning with career communities, and advancing the general education capabilities.
Represent the university in professional associations and external partnerships related to comprehensive academic and career services and workforce development.
Perform other duties as assigned.