Director of the Career Center
The Director of the Career Center is a highly visible position within Carleton College that will be responsible for the leadership, vision, and strategic direction for the Career Center. The Director will design and implement a comprehensive program uniquely meeting the needs of high ability liberal arts students.
Founded in 1866, Carleton College is a national leader among small, private, residential liberal arts colleges. Best known for its academic excellence and warm, welcoming campus community, Carleton offers 37 majors and 15 concentrations in the arts, humanities, natural sciences, and social sciences. With a diverse, intellectually curious, and highly creative student body of 2,000, the campus pulses with a dynamic energy. Located in the historic river town of Northfield, Minnesota, Carleton is within an hour’s drive of Minneapolis/St. Paul and Rochester, with access to world-class resources spanning the arts, education, healthcare, sports, and entertainment.
The Director of the Career Center is a highly visible position within Carleton College that will be responsible for the leadership, vision, and strategic direction for the Career Center. The Director will design and implement a comprehensive program uniquely meeting the needs of high ability liberal arts students. The Director will have the opportunity to refine the Center’s mission and identity; to work with faculty to develop career-discernment programming; to partner with the Office of Alumni Relations and with parent relations staff to foster new internship and employment relationships; and to organize stakeholder advisory groups to connect the undergraduate Carleton experience and post-graduate outcomes. Key responsibilities include: day-to-day management and supervision of the office; program development; cultivation of productive relationships with employers and graduate and professional schools; collaboration with the Division of Student Life, Office of the Dean of the College, and faculty to enhance student learning in the area of career development; and development of internship and employment opportunities for students. The Director will work with College Relations to ensure the growth of the College brand in the external job market, and will work to successfully research, identify, and bring to the student body an increasing number of employers and jobs that best match the students’ interests and abilities. The new Director will be joining the College at an exciting time as it engages and partners with institutional Strategic Planning Working Groups for its “Life Beyond Carleton” initiative. The Director will play an important role in the realization of the plan as the College seeks to: enhance advising around student career decision-making; strengthen support for students considering graduate and professional school; enhance connections between students and alumni; and prepare students for meaningful personal and professional lives. The Director supervises a staff of seven and manages an operational budget of approximately $90,000 (exclusive of salaries).
A bachelor’s degree is required; master’s degree preferred, preferably with a focus in business, counseling, human resources, education, or other relevant area. Additionally, a minimum of six years of supervisory experience directing staff and six years of related experience in higher education, career services, corporate human resources, counseling, marketing, or business are required. (Candidates with equivalent combination of education and experience are encouraged to apply.) The successful candidate will demonstrate a comprehensive and contemporary knowledge of career services, including: career advising and development; the current (and global) world of work and employment, internships, and similar experiential programs; employer relations and cultivation; and professional and graduate school advising. Strong leadership, interpersonal, and communication skills are essential, as are the management and leadership skills to effectively direct the work of the Career Center. Also important in the selection of the next Director will be: a track record of creative and forward thinking; strong relationship-building skills to relate effectively with a wide range of constituents including students, staff, alumni, faculty, trustees, parents, and employers, and the capacity to work effectively and collaboratively with academic and administrative departments in support of strategic goals; and a demonstrated understanding of the highly selective liberal arts college environment.
Review of applications will begin as of March 7, 2012, and will continue until the position is filled. Online applications, including a position-specific cover letter and resume, are being accepted via the SJG website at www.spelmanandjohnson.com under the link Open Positions. Nominations for this position may be emailed to vbs@spelmanandjohnson.com. If you are unable to submit materials electronically, please call SJG at 413-529-2895.
SJG – The Spelman & Johnson Group
Director of the Career Center—Carleton College
Valerie Szymkowicz, Senior Associate
Visit the Carleton College website at www.carleton.edu
Carleton College is an equal opportunity employer committed to excellence through diversity.
