Program Manager, Career Services

Point Loma Nazarene University • San Diego, CA

1d

About The Position

Point Loma Nazarene University (PLNU) is seeking a dedicated and dynamic individual to join the Career Services team as a full-time Program Manager. This role is pivotal in advancing the strategic priorities of PLNU by overseeing program management, career advising, marketing, and leadership initiatives within Career Services.
Career Services at PLNU is aligned with academic programming, showing a commitment to equity and access for all students. Perspectives from higher education thought leaders like Farouk Dey, Jeremy Podany, Brandon Busteed, Christine Cruzvergara, and Andy Chan are considered seriously. The following organizations provide context for the work of scaling career services - National Association for Colleges & Employers (NACE), San Diego Regional Economic Development Corporation (Regional EDC), and Handshake.

Requirements

• Master's or advanced degree in Higher Education Administration, Counseling, Business, Human Resources, or related field.
• 2-3 years of progressive experience in career services, program development, talent development, or employer relations.
• Strategic thinker with a student-centered approach to career services.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving abilities.
• Evidence of Christian commitment and active church involvement.
• In addition, staff agree to live in agreement with PLNU’s Community Life Covenant.
• The job offer is contingent on the successful completion of a background check.
• PLNU will consider qualified applicants, including those with criminal histories, in a manner consistent with state and local "Fair Chance" laws.

Nice To Haves

• Preferred experience in cultivating and maintaining strategic partnerships, managing and developing a team, and utilizing career services management platforms.

Responsibilities

• Assist in developing and maintaining campus programs that align with the strategic priorities of the University and meet the needs of a diverse student population.
• Serve as a liaison with academic and co-curricular partners to coordinate and oversee student engagement activities within the classroom and through various campus activities.
• Facilitate collaboration with and maintain oversight of Career Advisors to ensure the seamless integration of career-related initiatives, fostering a holistic approach to student career development.
• Engage in campus events and programs to develop relationships with faculty, staff, students, alumni, and employers to enhance students’ network and career opportunities.
• Develop processes and systems to cultivate and maintain relationships with local, regional, and national employers and career practitioners to stay abreast of hiring trends, industry needs, and best practices for career development.
• Present to prospective and current students, educating them on Career Service offerings and resources to support them with their career journeys.
• Assist in the planning and execution of large-scale career-related events that promote student engagement, talent development, and strategic partnerships. This includes events designed to develop or showcase student talent and cultivate or expand connections between students and alumni, employers, and industry professionals.
• Manage and optimize the advising schedule for the team, ensuring effective coordination and accessibility for students seeking guidance.
• Deliver career coaching/advising services designed to develop professional relationships with students through various settings
• Utilize formal and informal tools and resources to aid students in the self-assessment and career exploration processes.
• Provide consultation to students regarding career development and management tools and strategies including resume writing, developing cover letters, searching for a job or internship, interviewing, networking, LinkedIn, and connecting with employers.
• Keep abreast of current resources and use of career, occupational, and employment information in providing students with career coaching/advising services.
• Conduct research into and provide regular information to students regarding internships, career opportunities, professional associations, conferences, and graduate schools
• Develop and implement individual and personalized student outreach to support their academic and personal goals.
• Develop, implement, and manage multifaceted marketing and communication campaigns utilizing various channels including social media, the CS website, newsletters, and other digital and print media to disseminate information and enhance student engagement with Career Services.
• Create and maintain career education content and advising resources through websites, social media, workshops, newsletters, emails, handouts, etc.
• Develop collaborative marketing materials showcasing student club partnerships, major specific workshops, and campus partnerships.
• Utilize LinkedIn to demonstrate the importance of having a professional online presence, leverage partnerships, and stay up to date on career opportunities for students.
• Oversee the collection and analysis of engagement and event data, producing annual departmental and social media reports that highlight student engagement metrics, content performance, and opportunities for improvement.
• Provide guidance, mentorship, and oversight to career advisors and student employees by setting clear expectations, assigning responsibilities, managing schedules, and monitoring progress toward planning benchmarks and deadlines to support effective team performance.
• Understand and align with department/functional area objectives and goals, contributing valuable insights to enhance policies, processes, and procedures.
• Evaluate circumstances and recommend changes to improve efficiency, informed by a comprehensive understanding of Career Services goals.
• Tackle complex challenges involving significant resource coordination and availability, utilizing your expertise to evaluate and resolve discrepancies in data, analyses, and processes, providing support as needed.
• Other duties may be assigned to this position on a regular or occasional basis to respond to the needs of the university.

Benefits

• We are pleased to offer attractive benefits and resources. This includes benefits such as health, dental, tuition benefits for employees and dependents, competitive retirement matching, vacation and sick time, and 15 paid holidays per year. In addition, we have many opportunities to engage with our community including staff chapel and a robust wellness program.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Manager