Director of Career Development

Texas Lutheran University invites applications for the position of Director of Career Development.  This position is responsible for the leadership, administration, and marketing of Career Development for the University, including all career services offered to undergraduate and graduate students and alumni.  The Director provides leadership, creativity, and vision for the program and is responsible for making recommendations to the Division of Student Affairs senior leadership regarding the development of policies, budget, personnel and programs pertaining to career planning provided to TLU students.  The advancement of career development as a retention tool for TLU students is a critical role of this position. Within that context, the Director is responsible for raising the visibility and reputation of TLU students and graduates to employers through effective marketing and networking techniques; developing and implementing strategies for Career Development in accordance with the University’s mission; and providing leadership for the planning direction and administration of the overall operational functions.

The position calls for a collaborative leader who is entrepreneurial and able to cultivate productive relationships with faculty, staff, employers, alumni and campus and community representatives; manage and grow employer-relations and on-campus recruitment programs; and promote student leader and internship programs. Additionally, the Director will collaborate and coordinate career programs with academic advising; faculty and academic departments; alumni and parent programs as well as other internal and external constituencies. The Director must be innovative and have the ability to purposefully facilitate strategic outreach, shape organizational development, and prioritize a wide array of projects.

 Responsibilities include: 

• Set vision, mission and direction for Career Development 
• Provide leadership in the education of students regarding the understanding of vocation discernment and preparation for career success through job search and employment processes
• Build partnerships between TLU and external communities (business, public sector, and not for profit) to facilitate employer recruitment of TLU students and alumni
• Track employment trends for TLU majors and programs and communicate them to department chairs, enrollment services, TLU community and families
• Oversee selection and use of employment inventories (such as personality, interest and aptitude, etc.)
• Oversee a resource center on careers, graduate programs, experiential education opportunities, and other information; both traditional and electronic
• Ensure effective, contemporary, professional and responsive programs, career fairs, and workshops are designed and implemented to meet student needs
• Ensure appropriate student and alumni job search process and procedures
• Ensure that occupational, educational and economic information is collected, organized and used for career placement.  Promote the success of alumni and chronicles their career pathways
• Oversee coordination with faculty/department chairs in providing career development services for TLU students and alumni. Establish liaisons for academic and/or administrative departments to increase utilization and successful outcomes
• Develop a strong relationship with Advising Support to develop linkages between career paths and majors offered at TLU
• Ensure collaboration with the Vice President of Academic Affairs office, program chairs, and faculty in promoting internship opportunities at the undergraduate level
• Maintain and promote a listing of current vacancy postings for full/part-time, seasonal, and intern employment in TLU’s online career services management tool
• Ensure an active on-line presence including interactive web site, blogs, use professional social networking sites, and resume/job skill applications
• Ensure there are consistent procedures, criteria and evaluation for all programs and services
• Coordinate with Institutional Research & Effectiveness and Alumni Relations on conducting research to track the successes and patterns of alumni employment by major in order to explore questions regarding the rate of return on the investment for the TLU education
• Collaborate with Alumni Relations to link current students and alumni in their career exploration and job search process
• Establish a Career Development Advisory Board of internal constituents as well as a Business and Professional Roundtable for external partners in industry and professional fields appropriate for TLU majors and their career pathways
• Serve on committees as assigned.

Position requirements:

• Bachelor’s degree required; Master’s degree in Higher Education, Counseling, and/or Placement/Personnel field or related field preferred
• Minimum to three to five years’ experience in Higher Education Career Development preferred 
• Proven ability for developing, implementing, and directing a state-of-the-art Career Center
• Familiarity with software and technology for use in career development
• Excellent interpersonal skills in areas of collaboration, team participation, creative problem solving, conflict resolution, decision making, and effectively interacting with diverse constituencies
• Ability to work effectively within a culturally, socially, and economically diverse community with skills in communicating across cultures
• Knowledge of current federal/state laws, regulations, and codes that affect career development policies
• Demonstrated expertise in program development, marketing, and assessment
• Demonstrated expertise in presentation and public relation skills
• Demonstrated management and leadership skills
• Demonstrated expertise in the employment of social networking tools related to career development and networking 
• Demonstrated experience in planning, implementing, and evaluating small and large-scale events
• Knowledge of the career process and employment trends
• Understand and support the mission of Texas Lutheran University.

Benefits are competitive.  Texas Lutheran University, an accredited university affiliated with the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, is located 35 miles from downtown San Antonio.  For more information about TLU, consult our web site at http://www.tlu.edu .  Please submit a cover letter addressing the position requirements listed above; a completed TLU application found on our website, a resume; and the contact information for at least three professional references to: 

Human Resources

Texas Lutheran University

1000 W. Court Street

Seguin, TX 78155

Fax: (830) 372-6409 or E-mail:  humanresources@tlu.edu

Review of applications will begin immediately and continue until an appointment is made.   Texas Lutheran University is a Hispanic Serving Institution which has been recognized as a “Great College to Work For” by the Chronicle of Higher Education and also is on the President’s Higher Education Community Service Honor Roll.  The University is an equal opportunity employer (EOE) and also is subject to the provisions of the Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986 (IRCA).  Texas Lutheran University is committed to diversity.