Dir. of UG Career Dev - Military Veterans

The Director of Undergraduate Career Development provides innovative and strategic leadership, program management, and daily operational oversight for the undergraduate career coaching and career curriculum functions at the Carlson Business Career Center (CBCC). This role is critical in ensuring Carlson undergraduates receive top-tier coaching and skills training, empowering them for professional success.

The Director will lead two key subject areas, manage a high-performing career coaching team, and oversee an innovative and responsive career curriculum function. The role requires both collaboration with internal leadership in the CBCC, in Undergraduate Programs and throughout the university of Minnesota system, ensuring students have access to meaningful career opportunities aligned with their goals. Partnership within the CBCC includes collaboration with the Sr. Associate Director of Operations and Director of Employer Development in ensuring Carlson is engaging with employers to maintain relationships aimed at increasing internship and employment opportunities that match our undergraduate students interests and goals. Additionally, the Director will take the lead on working cross-functionally with the Undergraduate Advising team, Undergraduate Assistant Dean, and the Undergraduate Student Engagement and Development team. This collaboration ensures a unified approach to advising, student engagement, wellness, and career services, enhancing the overall student experience.

The Director will lead the collection, analysis, and reporting of key first-destination and career coaching satisfaction, effectiveness, and engagement data for undergraduate students. Using this data, they will monitor and set coaching goals and performance metrics, ensuring that specialized and responsive career coaching services are delivered to all Carlson undergraduates. As a member of the CBCC leadership team, the Director will provide strategic input and direction for the office, contributing to long-term planning and ensuring that career development services align with the broader goals of the Carlson School.

Leadership/Supervision/Management (35%)

• Provide strategic leadership to best in class undergraduate career development function and team of direct and indirect reports. Leads managers on the team to evaluate team successes and implements continual improvement measures.
• Directs two subject areas within the CBCC, undergraduate career exploration and curriculum, and career coaching and industry specialization.
• Oversee administration of 2 academic multi-section courses (Design Your Career and Internship Seminar), reaching all undergraduate students during their tenure at the Carlson School.
• Partners across units and meets regularly with the Undergraduate Programs leadership, maintaining a positive relationship between the UG program and the CBCC, ensuring integration of efforts between UG advisors and student life and the CBCC to best serve undergraduate students.
• Serve as key liaison to strategic University of Minnesota offices and committees by building collaborative relationships discussing student engagement and career development needs, and representing needs for our students.
• Ensures the Carlson undergraduate career coaching team activities are highly coordinated, strategic, and efficient.
• Develop key metrics (including coaching reach, coaching satisfaction, student wellbeing etc) that capture the value and performance of the UG coaching and curriculum team, track and report metrics designated by school leadership and use to drive continuous improvement in the CBCC.
• Create annual strategy and monitor the team to ensure delivery of high quality coaching leading to strong employment rates and salary outcomes balanced with satisfied and engaged students.
• Provide mentorship and coaching to full-time staff, student workers, contract coaches and adjunct faculty, ensuring that the CBCC is utilizing the most up-to-date training methods and making sure students are trained in the skills that employers are looking for.
• Develops coordinated team atmosphere and provides professional development and leadership to the UG coaching and curriculum team, consistently identifying innovative and sustainable solutions.

Career Development and Curriculum Strategy (20%)

• Drive the innovation, development, and oversight of the undergraduate career development strategy, including: exploratory career coaching, industry specific career coaching, career development programs, academic courses and services.
• Works strategically and creatively with faculty and experiential learning leaders to build and integrate innovative programming and career education appropriately into the classroom (example case competitions etc).
• Provide leadership and development of cross-college strategic collaboration, communication, and partnership with the Director of Employer Development to ensure coaches and employers stay connected.
• Sets priorities for and oversees the development of a strategic plan for career coaching that provides students with exposure to career development and prepares students to compete in a variety of competitive industries.
• Ensures the team is trained and equipped to deliver expert career coaching in competitive industries such as banking, consulting, and technology. Partners with faculty to highlight career information to undergrad students relating to specific functions.
• Serves as expert on career development theory and leads the team with a design thinking approach to best serve students. Collaborate with the Design Your Life class leaders to ensure alignment.
• Manage and track the employment rates of the undergraduate population ensuring Carlson School students are connecting with internships, graduate programs, and full-time job opportunities.
• Provides regular assessment of all career development initiatives, courses, and programs, identifying key outcomes and modifies practices to improve efficiency and quality; coach staff and provide training as needed.
• Continually develops the team to maintain knowledge of business industries and functions; accompanies students on treks to employers, engage with appropriate alumni to educate and connect with students etc.

Operations (20%)

• Manage the day-to-day operations of the undergraduate coaching team and career course delivery.
• Develops and manages undergraduate career development budget that includes career coaching support, career events, sponsorship, and adjunct faculty costs.
• Maintain and strengthen systems, and ensure the collection of tracking of first destination/employment statistics across the Carlson undergraduate population.
• Facilitates and promotes an environment that supports diversity, equity and inclusion, and demonstrates a commitment to student-centered outcomes for satisfaction in their career development.
• Collaborates with the CBCC leadership team to lead unit-wide strategic planning and student career success initiatives.
• Solicits and analyzes student feedback and evaluations (for coaching and courses) that help strategize with the CBCC team, student organizations, the Undergraduate Program and/or other Carlson teams to determine program offerings and innovations.
• Partners with the Sr. Associate Director of Operations and Events in the CBCC to help coordinate student support and marketing of the Carlson Career Fair.
• Leverages learning technologies in designing and delivering career content to support students.

Career Coaching (25%)

• Provide personalized, effective, and targeted one-on-one career coaching to undergraduate students served by the CBCC. Utilize design thinking principles, coaching best practices, assessment tools, and current business industry insights. During the academic year, coaching responsibilities will account for 25% of the individual's weekly work hours.
• Build authentic and supportive relationships with students from diverse backgrounds and identities. Leverage these connections to holistically guide students through systemic barriers and support their career growth and success.
• Develop deep expertise in assigned niche industry, including knowledge of interview practices and recruiting timelines. Train and coach students on how to effectively utilize the Carlson network to enhance their job search.
• Provide specialized career coaching for a designated career specialization. Identify the needs of the student population and design advising strategies to address those needs.
• Record detailed notes from student meetings to ensure open collaboration between coaches. All notes should be entered into the recruiting system within 48 hours of meeting with a student.
• Actively participate in the employment tracking and outreach process. Maintain regular contact with students and attend tracking meetings, prepared to discuss the progress of students still seeking employment. Develop tailored strategies to help students achieve their career goals.

This is a hybrid position meaning some days will be spent working in person and some days will be spent working remotely.

Minimum Qualifications:

BA/BS degree plus at least eight years of relevant experience, or master's degree plus at least six years of relevant experience.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Industry experience and/or knowledge of the business marketplaceâ"specifically, functions and industries of interest to Carlson students
• Experience working in a metric driven environment
• Experience building and development relationships across industries and sectors
• Experience managing a team