DIRECTOR / CAREER DEVELOPMENT CENTER

Message to Applicants:

You must submit an on-line application in order to be considered as an applicant for this position. Cover letters may be addressed to the Hiring Committee.

This position will remain open until filled. The university reserves the right to close the recruitment process once a sufficient applicant pool has been identified. For best consideration, please submit application materials by July 18, 2025.

Position Summary:

Leads and manages the operational, budget, and personnel functions of the career development center. Provides strategic vision for career development programming and internship, mentoring, and employment opportunities for the students at Central Michigan University at the main campus in Mount Pleasant and for online students. Serves as a leader in the Division of Student Recruitment and Retention, responsible for operating a unit that enhances student learning, retention, and successful outcomes.

Duties & Responsibilities: 

Leads operations of the career development center to ensure efficient, timely, and effective services and initiatives in line with leading-edge practices in career education and workplace learning.
Leads in the development and articulation of the vision and mission of the university’s career development center.
Provides strategic vision and planning for career development, including internal and external initiatives and programs. The strategic direction will be based on career development research, economic and workforce conditions, current trends and issues in today’s and tomorrow’s work world, and benchmarking our programs and services with key educational institutions. Goals and initiatives will be aligned with the overall department, division, and campus strategic goals.
Develops short and long-range operating plans, including budgets, programs and services, personnel, technology/other equipment, and space.
Supervises staff, including training (as needed), staff evaluation, professional development, and related personnel matters.
Provides career development programming as well as internship, mentoring, and employment opportunities for the students at Central Michigan University at the main campus in Mount Pleasant and for online students. Plans, coordinates, and conducts all university events that prepare students for employment and provide employment opportunities.
Collaborates with faculty and other stakeholders to ensure all CMU students are provided access to resources that help them explore potential careers, engage in the right kinds of experiences that will help them prepare to enter the workforce or further education, and develop a personal brand so they can articulate the value of the marketable skills they have developed in their time at the university.
Leads change to remain responsive to student career development needs and evolving market trends.
Oversees, develops, and ensures timely and accurate data collection, analysis, and reporting for assessment of the CDC initiatives and services, as well as tracking of career-related outcomes.
Develops strong, ongoing relationships with regional/national employers that hire recent college graduates and alumni. Promote career services’ employment-related services to this constituency.
Participates in professional development activities to ensure professional growth and knowledge needed to provide effective leadership and program development.
Develops and strengthens networks between CMU and various professional organizations, including, but not limited to NACE, CLC, MwACE, and MCEEA.