San Diego, California, United States · Hybrid
$72k–$75k/yr
PLNU is a Christian liberal arts university in the evangelical, Wesleyan tradition, offering quality undergraduate, graduate and professional programs. We provide higher education in a vibrant Christian environment where…
Skills: Career Development, Employer Engagement, Strategic Partnerships, Workforce Readiness, Project Management
San Diego, California, United States • Hybrid
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The Associate Director will implement the university's Career Ecosystem strategy to enhance career readiness and employer engagement for students. This includes developing strategic partnerships with industry leaders and managing career services technologies to improve student outcomes.
A Master's degree in a related field and 4-6 years of professional experience in career services or workforce development are required. Candidates must demonstrate a commitment to Christian faith and have experience leading strategic initiatives and managing stakeholder relationships.
PLNU is a Christian liberal arts university in the evangelical, Wesleyan tradition, offering quality undergraduate, graduate and professional programs. We provide higher education in a vibrant Christian environment where minds are engaged and challenged, character is modeled and formed, and service is an expression of faith. PLNU is an institution that is committed to reflecting the rich diversity of God’s kingdom. We therefore encourage applications from culturally diverse candidates.
Benefits:
We are pleased to offer attractive benefits and resources. This includes benefits such as health, dental, tuition benefits for employees and dependents, competitive retirement matching, vacation and sick time, and 15 paid holidays per year. In addition, we have many opportunities to engage with our community including staff chapel and a robust wellness program.
What We’re Looking For
Passion for student career development, workforce readiness, and creating meaningful post-graduate pathways
Experience building and maintaining strategic partnerships with employers, alumni, faculty, and community organizations
Strong understanding of career development, employer engagement, workforce trends, and experiential learning practices
Ability to lead projects, implement strategic initiatives, and support scalable student engagement efforts
Excellent relationship-building and communication skills with the ability to collaborate across diverse stakeholder groups
Strong analytical and organizational skills with experience using data to support decision-making and continuous improvement
Experience utilizing career services technologies, CRM systems, and workforce-related platforms
Ability to think strategically while also supporting operational execution and student engagement efforts
Collaborative leadership style with the ability to mentor and support professional staff and student employees
Knowledge and experience working with a diverse population is preferred
What You’ll Be Doing
Support implementation and expansion of PLNU’s Career Ecosystem strategy across undergraduate and graduate programs
Develop and implement a comprehensive employer and strategic partnership strategy
Develop and strengthen employer, alumni, and industry partnerships that create career-connected learning opportunities for students
Collaborate with faculty, academic departments, Student Affairs, Advancement, and campus partners to align career readiness initiatives with workforce trends and institutional priorities
Serve as a liaison between PLNU and industry partners to support experiential learning, internships, mentorship, and employment pathways
Support employer-facing events, networking opportunities, industry panels, and recruitment initiatives
Assist in integrating career education and labor market trends into academic and co-curricular student experiences across multiple modalities
Develop and support career advising programs, workshops, presentations, and student engagement initiatives
Lead initiatives that increase student awareness, participation, and engagement with Career Services resources and programming
Develop systems and processes for tracking employer engagement, student participation, and career outcomes data
Utilize assessment and reporting practices to evaluate program effectiveness and support strategic planning efforts
Support optimization of career technologies and employer relationship management systems including Career Forge, Indeed, and related platforms
Assist the Director of Career Services with strategic planning, operational management, and implementation of departmental initiatives
Provide mentorship, training, and support to professional staff and student employees
Contribute to the development of operational systems, communication strategies, policies, and procedures that support departmental effectiveness and scalability
Perform additional duties and projects in support of departmental and university priorities
Qualifications
Required Qualifications
Master’s degree in Higher Education Administration, Counseling, Business, Human Resources, Student Affairs, or a related field
Minimum of 4–6 years of progressive professional experience in career services, employer relations, workforce development, student success, experiential education, or related areas
Demonstrated experience developing strategic partnerships and collaborating with diverse stakeholders including faculty, employers, alumni, and university leadership
Experience leading strategic initiatives, managing projects, and implementing scalable programs or systems
Strong understanding of career development, workforce trends, employer engagement, and student career readiness
Excellent written, verbal, interpersonal, and presentation skills
Strong analytical, organizational, and problem-solving abilities with experience using data to inform strategy and decision-making
Experience with career services technologies and platforms such as Handshake, Career Forge, CRM systems, or related tools
Demonstrated commitment to equity, access, student success, and inclusive excellence
Evidence of Christian commitment and active church involvement. In addition, staff agree to live in agreement with PLNU’s Community Life Covenant.
The job offer is contingent on the successful completion of a background check. PLNU will consider qualified applicants, including those with criminal histories, in a manner consistent with state and local "Fair Chance" laws
Preferred Qualifications
Experience implementing or supporting a Career Ecosystem model within higher education
Experience supervising and developing professional staff
Experience managing budgets, contracts, and operational systems
Familiarity with accreditation, workforce alignment initiatives, and career outcomes reporting
Experience developing employer engagement strategies that scale across multiple academic disciplines
Physical Requirements:
The work is primarily sedentary and may require sitting for extended periods of time.
Use of computer equipment: computer keyboard, mouse, and monitor.
Ability to read documents, email and other correspondence, and reports on paper and computer monitor.
Ability to communicate effectively with others in person and by phone.
Ability to stand, stoop, push, pull, and lift up to 10 lbs.
This position operates in a hybrid environment and may require occasional evening or weekend work
Occasional travel to employer or partnership sites and participation in university events may be required
At PLNU, we believe in pursuing calling together. Deep and meaningful relationships between students, faculty, and staff is vital in nurturing our shared community and expressing God’s love. We are looking for enthusiastic candidates to join us in empowering our students to reach their greatest personal, spiritual and professional potential.
Point Loma Nazarene University does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, age, disability or status as a veteran in any of its policies, practices or procedures.
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