Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey Looking for Director, Experiential Education & Post-Graduation Success Full Time

Job Category

Staff & Executive – Career Education

Posting Summary

Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, seeks a dynamic leader to join the Office of Career Exploration and Success (CES) on the Rutgers-New Brunswick campus as Director of Experiential Education & Post-graduation Success. Reporting directly to the Executive Director of Career Exploration and Success, the director provides leadership to the Experiential Education & Post-graduation Success unit, one of four distinct units within the broader CES. The office utilizes a career journey model with resources to help students discover themselves, explore careers and academic pathways, develop skills, and pursue their goals. The director’s unit is responsible for resources associated with the last two phases. As a member of CES’s senior leadership team, the director will play a crucial role in the planning and decision-making processes shaping the unit’s future and the wider CES office.

Among the key duties of this position are the following:

• Strategic Leadership and Team Management: The Director will provide the strategic leadership necessary to inspire, coordinate, and manage the efforts of the fourteen-member (nine full-time and five graduate coordinators) Experiential Education & Post-graduation Success Unit. This unit, comprising two teams led by associate directors to oversee Career Interest Communities and Career Readiness & Experiential Education, requires a dedicated leader capable of effectively delegating responsibilities, balancing multiple priorities, and driving the unit’s vision. Their leadership will contribute to the smooth operations of the unit, and their active participation in strategic planning and decision-making will significantly shape the future direction of CES as a whole. The director oversees a budget of approximately $21,000 (non-salary operating), $75,000 (non-RSSI student wages), and ~$865,000 in RSSI-related restricted operating funds.
• Career Community and General Advising: The director is responsible for resources designed to help students pursue their post-graduation goals, including the mastering of contemporary job search strategies and graduate school admissions strategies. Through the supervision of the associate director of Career Interest Communities, the director will ensure that advising and programming are of high quality, resources meet the diverse career interests of students, campus partnerships are strengthened, and resources are adequately distributed. The director will directly oversee the Management, Operations, Human Resources, and Finance career community and the Sales, Marketing, and Entrepreneurship career community. This includes convening a career community advisory board of faculty/staff, employers/alumni, student leaders, and CES industry engagement staff. The board will guide the administration of a limited number of community-specific programs, student-alumni mentoring activities, and virtual recruiting programs. Note that the Rutgers Business School and School of Management and Labor Relations have their own career office, so the career community responsibilities are primarily for students outside of those schools, although not exclusive to those schools. The incumbent will provide limited front-line advising services to students and recent alumni within their designated career communities and for the general student population. They will also supervise a graduate coordinator that oversees the Peer Career Coaching program. The Peer Career Coaching program involves trained student peers providing guidance and support to their fellow students through appointments primarily for resume reviews, offer negotiation, and general support. It offers a relatable and empathetic perspective, creating a supportive environment for students to navigate their career development and gain practical insights from peers who have undergone similar experiences.
• Career Readiness and Experiential Education: The director is responsible for helping students develop the skills and competencies that will make them more competitive through internships, co-ops, and other experiential learning and connecting students to the career readiness competencies needed to succeed. Through the supervision of the associate director of Career Readiness and Experiential Education, the director will provide senior leadership to the team that oversees high-impact experiential education programs, including the Rutgers Internship and Co-op Course (careers.rutgers.edu/RICC), the Rutgers Summer Service Internship (RSSI) Program (careers.rutgers.edu/RSSI), the On-Campus Work Experience Network (careers.rutgers.edu/OWN), and other workshops and programs focused on connecting student experiences to the career readiness competencies as well as build confidence in their ability to succeed in life’s endeavors.
• Partnership Development and Collaboration: Collaboration is a key aspect of this role. The Director will facilitate and promote collaboration with other CES units, particularly industry- and student-facing units. This entails fostering partnerships that bridge the gap between students, campus partners, and potential employers. The director will also ensure their teams increase activity with campus partners and organize advisory boards, councils, meetings, and events to promote this endeavor. By actively engaging stakeholders, the director will contribute to the success and satisfaction of students accessing their portfolio of services.
• Miscellaneous: The Director’s role extends beyond the responsibilities listed above. They will be expected to actively participate in various meetings and professional development activities and take on other responsibilities as assigned. Additionally, they will be a champion for enhancing the Rutgers University brand within the field of career services. This will involve a range of activities, such as presenting at conferences, submitting nominations for awards, and participating in professional online communities like LinkedIn groups. Through these engagements, the director of Experiential Education & Post-graduation Success will promote the CES office and Rutgers University, effectively elevating its status and influence within the career services sector. This will require a level of dynamism, commitment, and involvement that extends the director’s impact beyond the boundaries of the university.

Position Status: Full Time

Work Arrangement

Consistent with the current application of Rutgers Policy 60.3.22, this position may be eligible for a hybrid work arrangement. The flexible work arrangements outlined in Rutgers Policy 60.3.22 are part of a pilot program that is effective September 1, 2022 through August 31, 2024. Therefore, there is no guarantee that this flexible work arrangement will continue beyond that date. Flexible work arrangements are not permanent, are subject to change or cancellation and contingent on the employee receiving approval in the FlexWork@RU Application System. Additional information may be found at https://futureofwork.rutgers.edu.

FLSA: Exempt

Grade: 08

Position Salary: $97,777- $105,000 commensurate with experience

Annual Minimum Salary: 94016.000

Annual Mid Range Salary: 119000.000

Annual Maximum Salary: 143984.000

Standard Hours: 37.50

Union Description: Admin Assembly (MPSC)

Payroll Designation: PeopleSoft

Benefits

Rutgers offers a comprehensive benefit program to eligible employees. For details, please go to http://uhr.rutgers.edu/benefits/benefits-overview.
Rutgers also offers a benefit program to eligible full-time postdoctoral fellow students. For details, please go to https://finance.rutgers.edu/healthcare-risk/insurance/postdoctoral-health-insurance.

Terms of Appointment: Staff – 12 month

Position Pension Eligibility: ABP

Minimum Education and Experience

• A master’s degree in a related field plus 5 years of experience in career services, experiential learning, workforce development, or similar fields.
• This should encompass experience in student development, relationship management, strategic planning, and team leadership.

Required Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Candidates should demonstrate excellent networking abilities and be comfortable establishing and nurturing relationships with a variety of stakeholders.
• Must also be strategic and visionary thinkers, capable of setting goals, driving the vision of the unit and the CES office, and contributing to the overall strategy of the department.
• Proven ability to lead, inspire, and manage teams is essential.
• Candidates should have experience in supervising and developing staff, promoting teamwork and positive dynamics, and encouraging team members to feel ownership and celebrate their outcomes.
• The director should be comfortable making decisions in line with the broader CES mission and goals.
• Should demonstrate motivational skills and be able to inspire their team to achieve the department’s goals and objectives.

Preferred Qualifications

• Prefers a minimum of three (3) years of leadership experience in a similar role.

Equipment Utilized

• Online career tools (e.g., Vault, PeopleGrove, Candid Career, etc.), Handshake or similar career management systems, etc.

Special Conditions

• Must be willing and available to work some nights and weekends as well as travel when needed.

Posting Open Date: 07/05/2023

Regional Campus: Rutgers University-New Brunswick

Home Location Campus: College Ave (RU-New Brunswick)

City

New Brunswick

State

NJ