Summary
Description
Job Description:
Western’s Career Services office supports students and alumni at all levels of career development. We work with students individually and in group settings to develop the knowledge, attitudes, and skills to envision, plan, and execute successful internship and job searches.
Academic excellence and career preparation are paramount at Western Colorado University, which offers over 100 areas of undergraduate study and nine graduate programs. Through a combination of small class sizes, attentive professors who are experts in their field, state-of-the-art facilities, and unique opportunities, our mission is to help students find their path to a livelihood based on their values.
GENERAL OVERVIEW
Reporting to the Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs, the Director of Career Services leads and manages the Office of Career Services and provides leadership, vision, strategy, innovation, and continuous improvement to the execution and implementation of career services for all students campus-wide. Through tailored approaches and the application of an array of tools and resources, the Director of Career Services advises students in career planning, graduate school planning, and job search.
The Director's leadership responsibilities extend beyond the career center and across campus. This includes leading the Career Champions Network, a collection of faculty and staff engaged in career-services-related work to develop community and coordinate processes, policies, and events. Additionally, the Director supervises an Assistant Director of Career Services and regularly liaises with campus administrators, faculty, staff, alumni, students, student organizations, parents, and employers to ensure continuing positive relationships and collaborations critical to providing career services for Western students.
KEY PRIORITIES
Leadership of and vision setting for the Office of Career Services, including relationship, website, tools, resources, event, and program development , and their effective execution (and/or operations) to support students in identifying and pursuing experiential learning and career development opportunities. Supervision of an Assistant Director and student workers and interns. Development of effective campus-wide working relationships with students and student groups, faculty and university staff, alumni/alumni relations, and their programs.
Create a career development training curriculum for all students and provide career planning, graduate school planning, job search strategies, and career and job skills to students through online learning modules, group workshops, embedding content into courses, one-on-one meetings, and presentations.
Develop competitive and marketplace intelligence on employment trends. Create and implement strategic growth plans to increase the volume of employers open to hiring interns and full-time positions.
Develop employer relationships with respect to career development, job placement, and the needs of employers to aid in the development of appropriate external relationships and strategies for potential internship and overall support of students in identifying and pursuing experiential learning and career development opportunities.
Work toward achieving Colorado’s Career Connected Campus Designation through empowering students with the knowledge, skills, and resources needed to succeed in their chosen careers and make meaningful contributions to their respective industries.
Assist with career success marketing at the institutional level. Meet HLC and statewide ROI reporting requirements.
Budget management and administration.
Minimum Qualifications:
- Master’s degree, advanced degree in Educational Leadership
- Three (3) or more years experience in a leadership-level position in career services in higher education or other comparable experience.
- Proficient computer skills in Word, Excel, database software, and career/job search tools and applications
- Excellent interpersonal, written, and verbal communication skills
- Ability to multi-task effectively and efficiently
- Self-starter with the ability to prioritize tasks and manage time
- Ability to conduct surveys and analyze data
- Team-first approach with a punctual, responsible, and ethical foundation
- Handshake expertise
Preferred Qualifications:
- Familiarity with the National Association of Colleges and Employers Professional Standards for university relations, recruiting, ethical practice, and career readiness competencies.
- Career development, relationship management, or related experience is strongly preferred, as well as the ability to teach and consult students on career development, résumés, interviewing skills, job search strategies, and others.
- Demonstrated ability to effectively manage change within an organization
- Demonstrated knowledge of high-impact practices to address retention and completion goals in a higher education setting
- Experience in process-driven business, career services, job search, relationship management, or related fields/functions strongly preferred, with experience in higher education a plus.
Compensation: The annual salary range is $75,000 – $85,000. Western offers an excellent benefits package including shared premiums for a comprehensive health insurance plan, dental insurance, retirement plan, life insurance, and other insurance options. After one year of employment, Western provides free tuition for dependents enrolled full-time in undergraduate programs for up to four years.
How to apply: Required attachments for online application include your resume, a cover letter, and contact information for three professional references.
In compliance with the Colorado Job Application Fairness Act, in any materials you submit, you may redact or remove age-identifying information such as age, date of birth, or dates of school attendance or graduation. You will not be penalized for redacting or removing this information.
Application Deadline: Monday, January 10, 2025 (11:59 p.m.)
ABOUT GUNNISON COLORADO
Located in the heart of the Rocky Mountains on Colorado’s Western Slope, Gunnison offers a perfect blend of old-world charm and modern amenities. With seemingly endless outdoor recreation opportunities and a vibrant ranching community, the area has something for everyone. Tourism and the University are the key drivers of the economy, supported by the fact that approximately 80% of the county consists of gorgeous public lands. Agriculture also plays a significant role, with about two-thirds of private land dedicated to ranching operations.
In the summer, the Gunnison River and the Blue Mesa Reservoir serve as playgrounds for rafting, swimming, fishing, sailing, and motorboating. Mountain bikers, hikers, and trail runners can explore 750-plus miles of singletrack trails, some of which are easily accessed from campus. In winter, Crested Butte Mountain Resort, half an hour away, is bustling with skiers from all over the world. A free bus — with a stop on campus — transports students, faculty, and staff to and from the resort. Western is also a 40-minute drive from the ski terrain of Monarch Mountain, situated on the Continental Divide.
The Rocky Mountains and the Gunnison Valley are not merely a breathtaking backdrop; they are an integral part of the educational experience at Western. Western is an institution with an incomparable sense of place, which derives from faculty, students, and community embracing the magnificent beauty of nature embedded in the Western educational experience. This sense of place is a part of every person who joins the Western community. Students, faculty, and staff who choose Western possess the values of courage, growth, integrity, stewardship, and inclusivity. These qualities are developed in the Western experience of personalized education, where the average class size is 17 students. The University and the Gunnison Valley community have a symbiotic relationship with a rich texture of intellectual discovery and the vibrancy of student learning. The Gunnison Valley provides the University with opportunities for experiential learning and exploration. The University provides the Valley with energetic intellectual curiosity, broadens its diversity, and provides an array of enrichment and entertainment opportunities through lectures, performances, workshops, and athletic events.
DIVERSITY, EQUITY, INCLUSION, AND JUSTICE
Western Colorado University believes that equity, diversity, and inclusion drive our success, and we encourage candidates from all identities, backgrounds, and abilities to apply. Western is an equal-opportunity employer committed to building inclusive, innovative work environments with employees who reflect our communities and enthusiastically serve them. Therefore, in all aspects of the employment process, we provide employment opportunities to all qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, disability, age, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, pregnancy, medical condition related to pregnancy, creed, ancestry, national origin, marital status, genetic information, or military status (for state classified positions, with preference given to military veterans), or any other protected status in accordance with applicable law. Please see our diversity statement and our DEIJ+ Committee charge.
ADA Accommodations:
Western Colorado University is committed to the full inclusion of all qualified individuals. As part of this commitment, Western will assist individuals who have a disability with any reasonable accommodation requests related to employment, including completing the application process, interviewing, completing any pre-employment testing, participating in the employee selection process, and/or performing essential job functions where the requested accommodation does not impose an undue hardship. If you have a disability and require reasonable accommodation to ensure you have a positive experience applying or interviewing for this position, please direct your inquiries to the Office of Human Resources at HR@western.edu or (970) 943-3140.
Western Colorado University believes that equity, diversity, and inclusion drive our success, and we encourage candidates from all identities, backgrounds, and abilities to apply. Western is an equal opportunity employer committed to building inclusive, innovative work environments with employees who reflect our communities and enthusiastically serve them. Therefore, in all aspects of the employment process, we provide employment opportunities to all qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, disability, age, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, pregnancy, medical condition related to pregnancy, creed, ancestry, national origin, marital status, genetic information, or military status (for state classified positions, with preference given to military veterans), or any other protected status in accordance with applicable law. Please see our diversity statement, and our DEII Committee charge.
ADAAA ACCOMMODATIONS:
Western Colorado University is committed to the full inclusion of all qualified individuals. As part of this commitment, Western will assist individuals who have a disability with any reasonable accommodation requests related to employment, including completing the application process, interviewing, completing any pre-employment testing, participating in the employee selection process, and/or performing essential job functions where the requested accommodation does not impose an undue hardship. If you have a disability and require reasonable accommodation to ensure you have a positive experience applying or interviewing for this position, please direct your inquiries to the Office of Human Resources at HR@western.edu or (970) 943-3140.
WESTERN COLORADO UNIVERSITY IS AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER INCLUDING DISABILITY/VETERANS
