Skip to main content

This job has expired

Assistant Vice President for Career Readiness & Post-Graduate Success

Employer
University of South Carolina
Location
Columbia
View more categoriesView less categories

Job Details

Logo:

Posting Number:

STA00987PO24

Job Family:

Academic and Career Counseling

Job Function:

Career Services

USC Market Title:

Assistant VP, Career Services

Link to USC Market Title:

https://uscjobs.sc.edu/titles/181201

Job Level:

E1 - Directors and Executives

Business Title (Internal Title):

Assistant Vice President for Career Readiness & Post-Graduate Success

Campus:

Columbia

Work County:

Richland

College/Division:

Division of Student Affairs and Academic Support

Department:

SAAS Career Center

State Pay Band:

Unclassified

Approved Starting Salary:

$105,550 - $131,936

Advertised Salary Range:

Salary commensurate with qualifications

Part/Full Time:

Full Time

Hours per Week:

37.5

Work Schedule:

Standard working schedule: 8:30am – 5:00pm

Must be willing to work a flexible schedule to meet the needs of the department.

Basis :

12 months

Job Search Category:

Student Services

About University of South Carolina:

From the Upstate to the Lowcountry, the University of South Carolina system is transforming the lives of South Carolinians through the impact of our eight institutions and 20 locations throughout the state. More than 50,000 students are enrolled at one of eight institutions, including the research campus in Columbia and comprehensive four-year universities in Aiken, Upstate and Beaufort. In addition, our Palmetto College campuses in Salkehatchie, Union, Lancaster and Sumter enable students to earn associate or bachelor’s degrees through a combination of in-person, online or blended learning. All of our system institutions place strong emphasis on service — helping to build healthier, more educated communities in South Carolina and beyond.

Inclusive Excellence Statement:

At the University of South Carolina, we strive to cultivate an inclusive environment that is open, welcoming, and supportive of individuals of all backgrounds. We recognize diversity in our workforce is essential to providing academic excellence and critical to our sustainability. The University is committed to eliminating barriers created by institutional discrimination through accountability and continuous process improvement. We celebrate the diverse voices, perspectives, and experiences of our employees.

Advertised Job Summary:

Assistant Vice President for Career Readiness & Post-Graduate Success

  • Are you a strategic thinker and innovative leader with the ability to turn ideas into action?
  • Do you employ a collaborative and data-driven approach to analyze metrics and refine programs and improve operational workflows to effectively serve students and partners?
  • Are you proficient in communicating complex ideas clearly and effectively across diverse audiences?

The Assistant Vice President for Career Readiness & Post-Graduate Success provides visionary leadership to guide the strategic direction of the University Career Center, ensuring students are career-ready and able to achieve post-graduate success. This role oversees the development, implementation, and evaluation of career services programs in alignment with the student affairs division and university’s priorities. A key aspect of this position is fostering partnerships with employers while collaborating with academic and administrative units to seamlessly integrate career readiness into the student experience.

The AVP supervises a team of career center directors and staff, fostering an innovative work environment. This position utilizes a collaborative and data-driven approach to analyze metrics, refine programs, and improve operational workflows and systems to effectively serve stakeholders. This role collaborates on Student Affairs and Academic Support’s active research related to career readiness and employment.

Key responsibilities include leading career programs, fostering employer engagement, advocating for university-wide career readiness, and collaborating in active research. It also analyzes metrics, refines programs, and improves operational workflows and systems to enhance service to students and other stakeholders. The AVP plays a critical role in achieving institutional retention and student success.

The ideal candidate:
  • Has a Ph.D. in higher education administration, counseling, or a related field.
  • Demonstrated leadership in career services within higher education, especially at an R1 university.
  • Demonstrated exceptional leadership, communication, and analytical skills, with a strong focus on collaborative data-driven decision-making and innovative practices.
  • Proven ability to communicate the value and measurable impact of career services to diverse stakeholders through clear and concise messaging.

Perks
  • 15 paid days off, 13 paid holidays, 15 paid sick days, 16 hours of tuition remission, state benefits & retirement, and more!
  • An engaging and collaborative on-campus environment.
  • Opportunities for professional development.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BALBcUSl7ck

Job Related Minimum Required Education and Experience:

Requires a bachelor’s degree in a job related field and at least 10 years of job related experience, including some prior management experience. Typically reports to an Associate VP or VP.

Required Certification, Licensure/Other Credentials:

N/A

Preferred Qualifications:

The ideal candidate will hold a Ph.D. in higher education administration, counseling, or a related field, coupled with extensive experience driving innovation in career services within higher education. This experience should include a strong focus on career readiness, high-impact practices, and employer engagement, particularly within a large R1 university setting.They will bring a data-driven mindset, adept at analyzing and interpreting metrics to inform and enhance program outcomes. Demonstrating innovative and strategic thinking, the candidate will have a proven ability to swiftly implement initiatives and execute strategies. Additionally, they will excel in articulating office accomplishments concisely and impactfully, developing robust success metrics, and assessing practices to ensure the effectiveness of systems and procedures. Proficiency in utilizing relevant software and technology platforms to support these efforts is essential.

Knowledge/Skills/Abilities:

Demonstrated knowledge in developing and executing comprehensive career services strategies aligned with the university’s mission and goals. Ability to cultivate and maintain relationships with local, regional, and national employers to expand student opportunities. Demonstrated knowledge in working closely with academic departments, faculty, and other university divisions to integrate career development into the curriculum and co-curricular activities. Demonstrated knowledge in developing career services success metrics and making adjustments and improvements based on assessment results. Knowledge of current labor market trends and employer expectations. Exceptional leadership, communication, team management, and interpersonal skills. Demonstrates the ability to remain nimble and flexible, making swift yet thoughtful high-level decisions that align with evolving trends and the university’s current and future strategic priorities.

Job Duty:

Provide visionary leadership for the strategic direction of the University Career Center making timely, efficient, and impactful decisions to ensure students’ career readiness and post-graduate career success in alignment with division and university strategic priorities.

Essential Function:

Yes

Percentage of Time:

20

Job Duty:

Continuously monitor, evaluate, and refine the University Career Center’s overall and program-level metrics of success. Employ innovative and adaptive practices to ensure the effectiveness of career programs and services, maintaining the agility to respond swiftly to emerging needs and evolving trends. Establish a cohesive, university-wide framework that promotes student career readiness and supports their seamless transition from academic life to professional careers or advanced professional training, ultimately fostering post-graduate success. Collaborate with the Assessment and Quality Improvement team to prepare reports on student outcomes, employer engagement, and other key performance indicators at both institutional and program levels.

Essential Function:

Yes

Percentage of Time:

20

Job Duty:

Establish and maintain robust relationships with local, regional, national, and global employers to expand opportunities such as internships, co-op programs, and post-graduate employment. Leverage networks to build employment pipelines that connect students with industry professionals. Lead innovative employer engagement strategies that align with current labor market trends and workforce demands, ensuring students have access to diverse and meaningful career opportunities.

Essential Function:

Yes

Percentage of Time:

20

Job Duty:

Supervise and mentor direct reports, fostering an agile, collaborative and innovative work environment that empowers staff to excel in their roles. Set clear expectations, provide regular feedback, and support professional development to enhance team effectiveness and expertise. Facilitate effective communication across the team, encouraging collaboration and accountability in achieving objectives. Oversee workload distribution, performance evaluations, and conflict resolution while promoting a culture of excellence, innovation, and continuous improvement. Ensure that direct reports are equipped with the resources, training, and support needed to implement and sustain high-quality programs and services that advance career readiness and post-graduate success for all students.

Essential Function:

Yes

Percentage of Time:

15

Job Duty:

Collaborate with various departments, faculty, and staff across the university to integrate career readiness competencies, experiential learning opportunities, and high-impact career practices into curricula and co-curricular activities. Lead Oversee the development and implementation of scalable programs, such as internships and experiential learning initiatives, designed to equip students with the skills and experiences necessary for diverse career paths. Align career services initiatives efforts with university-wide retention and student success goals, ensuring career readiness is seamlessly integrated into the overall student experience.

Essential Function:

Yes

Percentage of Time:

10

Job Duty:

Serves on University, Division, and external committees to contribute to the mission, goals, and initiatives of the University of South Carolina and higher education community. Monitor competitive landscape to identify potential partners, innovative opportunities, and sources of revenue to advance the Center’s work.

Essential Function:

Yes

Percentage of Time:

10

Job Duty:

Participate in active research related to career-readiness, employment and post-graduate success to better understand changes in the field and to contribute to the expansion of the body of knowledge. Perform other duties as assigned, including contributing to division-wide, unit-level, and institutional initiatives.

Essential Function:

Yes

Percentage of Time:

5

Safety Sensitive or Security Sensitive:

No

Hazardous weather category:

Essential

Number of Vacancies:

1

Desired Start Date:

03/03/2025

Job Open Date:

12/20/2024

Job Close Date:

02/03/2025

Open Until Filled:

No

Special Instructions to Applicant:

Positions are advertised for a minimum of five (5) business days on our job website. After five (5) business days, positions can be closed at the discretion of the department at any time. This employment site is updated on a regular basis. The length of the recruitment and screening process may vary from position to position, depending upon a variety of factors. Should review of your qualifications result in a decision to pursue your candidacy, you will be contacted by phone or email.



We are only accepting applications submitted byFebruary 3, 2025.

Quicklink for Posting:

https://uscjobs.sc.edu/postings/181374

EEO Statement:

The University of South Carolina does not discriminate in educational or employment opportunities or decisions for qualified persons on the basis of age, ancestry, citizenship status, color, disability, ethnicity, familial status, gender (including transgender), gender identity or expression, genetic information, HIV/AIDs status, military status, national origin, pregnancy (false pregnancy, termination of pregnancy, childbirth, recovery therefrom or related medical conditions, breastfeeding), race, religion (including religious dress and grooming practices), sex, sexual orientation, veteran status, or any other bases under federal, state, local law, or regulations.

Organization

Working at University of South Carolina

With more than 200 years of history and tradition, the University of South Carolina is redefining itself for decades to come. There's never been a better time to be at South Carolina, the state's flagship university and one of only 62 public universities to receive the Carnegie Foundation's highest designation for research.

The University is located in the heart of South Carolina in the capital city of Columbia, which is the nexus of government, a thriving arts and culture center, a venue for big-time Southeastern Conference intercollegiate athletics, and a community that is reinventing itself with redevelopment projects citywide. Much of the development is tied to land along the scenic, slow-moving Congaree River. Working with government, business, and community leaders, Carolina has developed a unified plan that will allow the University to expand from its origins on the historic Horseshoe to its future-Innovista, a research and innovation district that will stretch to the banks of the Congaree.

Innovista represents a new vision for research by creating a vibrant, urban community where students and researchers, including those from private firms, will live, work, learn, and play. Innovista will represent the University's four core research areas-hydrogen fuel cells, nanoscience and technology, biomedical and public health, and the environment-but will include other initiatives and business partners that serve the knowledge economy. Innovista's first private tenant, for example, is a leader in software applications for the insurance industry and will create several hundred high-paying jobs.

By attracting similar companies and jobs-and by capitalizing on an attractive location for restaurants and residential and retail space-Innovista will help drive the economy and increase per-capita income in the city and state. Recreational space will include a world-class waterfront park along the Congaree River and a new stadium for the Gamecocks' nationally ranked baseball program. Greenway paths for biking, walking, and running already line much of the river area. Innovista's 8 million square feet will blend seamlessly with the Vista, the city's nearby entertainment district of restaurants, bars, shops, and art galleries.

Chartered in 1801, Carolina began classes in 1805 with nine students and a single building, Rutledge College. As the campus grew and buildings were added during the next 50 years, a horseshoe layout was adopted. Today, the Horseshoe is on the National Register of Historic Places, with 10 of its 11 buildings dating to the 19th century. Those renovated buildings house, among other areas, the South Carolina Honors College and Undergraduate Admissions, representing much of the University's current and future lifeblood.

In fact, incoming freshman classes have never been larger or more competitive. The freshmen from fall 2006 set records for their size (more than 3,700) and SAT scores (1171 average). Freshmen enrolling in the Honors College had average SAT scores of 1398. Members of the University's prestigious scholarship programs, Carolina Scholars for in-state students and McNair Scholars for out-of-state students, had average scores of 1449 and 1477, respectively. Total enrollment at Carolina for undergraduates and graduates is more than 27,300, with some 350 degree programs to choose from. Since 1994, Carolina students have earned more than $9.9 million in prestigious national scholarships such as the Goldwater, Truman, Rhodes, and NSF scholarships and the Fulbright Fellowships.

South Carolina's student body is diverse. In fact, Carolina was recently recognized as the state flagship university with the highest percentage of African-American student enrollment in the nation. Research by the Journal of Blacks in Higher Education shows African-American students made up 14.7 percent of enrollment in 2004, the latest year available. The JBHE also ranks Carolina eighth in the nation in percentage of African-American faculty at a state flagship university with 4.3 percent.

The University's faculty garnered a record $173.3 million in federal, state, and private funding for research, outreach, and training programs in 2005-06, and several key hiring plans will introduce more talent and expertise to the faculty ranks. An aggressive campus building master plan and the faculty recruiting initiatives will change the collective face of the University and the faces of many of its key teachers and researchers.

South Carolina is recruiting world-class faculty to be endowed chairs-and change agents-for a series of "research centers of economic excellence" in areas such as nanoelectronics, polymer nanocomposites, brain imaging, regenerative medicine, cancer therapeutics, drug discovery, vision research, hydrogen fuel cells, and travel and tourism technology. These centers, some in collaboration with other state research universities and health and hospital systems, are funded with $30 million annually in state lottery money, as well as private matching money. Carolina is in the midst of a faculty recruitment plan to hire 600 new members. The Faculty Excellence Initiative is recruiting 150 faculty, many in interdisciplinary clusters of emphasis, while the Centenary Plan will recruit 100 elite research faculty to lead the University's core initiatives. Additionally, 350 faculty will be hired across disciplines to replace retirees over the next few years.

The University has forged a number of international collaborations in research, and the University's global connections are also strong in academics, particularly in international business. U.S. News & World Report has consistently ranked the Moore School of Business best in the nation for its undergraduate and graduate programs in international business; the undergraduate program is No. 1 for the 10th consecutive time, while the graduate program is No. 1 among public universities for the 18th consecutive year and No. 2 overall, continuing a streak of 18 years with a top-two overall ranking.

Get job alerts

Create a job alert and receive personalized job recommendations straight to your inbox.

Create alert