Director of University Career Strategy

Join Auburn University as Director of University Career Strategy and be part of a team committed to changing the lives of students!

Career Discovery and Success at Auburn University is a dynamic, collaborative team advancing the University’s goals for student achievement and post‑graduation success. The Director for University Career Strategy leads a scalable, cohesive career education strategy that embeds career readiness, development, and competency articulation across the curriculum and co‑curriculum—ensuring students encounter meaningful career learning throughout the Auburn experience.

Working through strong academic partnerships, the Director activates and chairs/co-chairs a Faculty Advisory Board on Career Readiness, launches and sustains a Career Champions program for faculty and staff, and establishes a Career Ready/Career Education-Enhanced course designation aligned to NACE competencies and Auburn’s Career Learning Outcomes (1. Explore and Evaluate Career Pathways, 2. Engage in Career Planning and Embrace Adaptability, 3. Grow My Connections and Professional Relationships, 4. Gain Relevant Knowledge, Experiences, and Skills, 5. Articulate My Auburn Experience). As a strategic priority and in alignment with institutional programs, there is a strong emphasis on 5. Articulate My Auburn Experience and working with faculty and staff to embed articulation learning in and out of the classroom. This role oversees the development and deployment of Canvas‑based faculty toolkits, asynchronous student modules, and digital badging, and consults with colleges on course (re)design, experiential integration, and consistent service delivery across a distributed, college‑embedded model.

The Director supervises a team of career strategists (embedded in academic units and/or leading career communities) and serves as primary liaison to college career directors and assistant directors who focus on coaching and instruction, Academic Advising, Academic Insights, the Biggio Center, University Writing, and the Registrar. Using LMS analytics, surveys, learning artifacts, Salesforce dashboards, and first‑destination data, the Director drives continuous improvement, expands inclusive excellence and outcomes, and increases capacity for coaches and strategists to provide individualized student support through empowering the Auburn University ecosystem to engage in career development education. Some evenings/weekends and limited travel may be required.

Essential Functions

• Identifies and prioritizes strategic goals and associated metrics for success and integrates regular assessment that evaluates interventions and tactics that drive innovative practice within career development and education across campus, while supporting strategic and operational plans.
• Develops strategies that align with university strategic goals and academic college initiatives to support the innovative integration of career development and education within the student experience.
• Serves as the primary partner within Career Discover and Success to college-based career services unit directors, director for academic advising, Academic Insight, and Biggio Center.
• Ensures a high level of service delivery through high-impact onboarding, training, and supervision practices that are evidence-based and grounded in career development theory.
• Leads the development and operationalization of a community of career development and education personnel derived from college-based career services units within the areas of career advising/coaching, instruction, and student-facing programming, which works in collaboration with the director for academic advising to support the establishment of student success teams.
• Leads, supervises, and mentors a team of highly skilled career strategists who work directly with students, faculty, and staff within academic colleges, as well as within career cluster and identity group communities.
• Develops data-driven instructional tools, effectively evaluates resources, and maximizes instructional technology within career education. Supports faculty and staff development to drive career development integration.
• Facilitates training and professional development opportunities for campus partners working in or supporting career development and education, specifically career advisors, coaches, and instructors, while also offering faculty and staff development opportunities.
• May perform other duties as assigned to support strategic initiatives and operations related to career services and student success.

Minimum Qualifications

• Master’s degree in education in Higher Ed, Adult Ed, Counseling, Curriculum Design and Instructional Technology, Human Resources, or other relevant degree.
• 6 years of experience in career services or career counseling and instruction in a university/college setting or industry setting.
• Must have at least one 2 years’ experience supervising, mentoring, or leading full-time staff.

Minimum Skills and Abilities

Knowledge of budgeting practices, promotional strategies, qualitative and quantitative assessment and University policies and procedures.

Desired Qualifications

PhD in Higher Ed, Adult Ed, Counseling, Curriculum Design and Instructional Technology or other relevant degree; licensed psychologist or counselor in the state of Alabama or National Certified Counselor.