Application Deadline: Review of applications will begin on November 8, 2024 and continue until the position has been filled.

Job Description

The Career Services Director provides leadership, vision, strategic direction, and oversight for the Minnesota Colleges & Universities Systemâ™s largest full-service career services function, ensuring top-notch career and employment-related services for a wide range of stakeholders. These Include on-campus, online and extended campus undergraduate and graduate students from five academic colleges, employers, community partners, alumni, university leadership, staff, and faculty. Key aspects of the role involve facilitating collaboration among career center affiliates, both internal and external to the university, while overseeing the development and management of a collaborative, action-oriented team to deliver high-quality career services. Responsible for the integration of CDC operations throughout the Division of Student Success & Engagement. Serves as a liaison to the university's Workforce Development unit and the Small Business Development Center. Building strong relationships with various campus partners and external constituents, such as employers, local/regional economic development, and community partners, as well as career services professional organizations, consultants, and affiliates, is also part of the role. This position is responsible for aligning the work of the department with the strategic initiatives and priorities of the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities system, the University's strategic and enrollment management plans, and the strategic plan for the Division of Student Success & Engagement. Involvement In university-wide committees and external community groups and professional committees is expected.

Minimum Qualifications

• Master's degree. (Conferred on an official transcript at the time of application.)

• 5-7 years of progressive professional experience in career services, human resources, organizational/leadership development, higher education, or a closely related field.

• Possess comprehensive knowledge and experience in career development, career readiness internships and other forms of experiential education, talent acquisition, and career and job market trends applicable to career services administration. Ability to serve as recognized authoritative expert on related topics on behalf of the university.

• Demonstrated management and leadership skills including planning and administration, staff supervision, and budgeting.

• Proven ability to develop and maintain strong professional relationships in diverse working environments internal and external to the Minnesota State University, Mankato campus.

• Demonstrated skill communicating effectively using a variety of methods and approaches. Strong writing skills.

• Ability to work with a diverse student body and strong commitment to accessibility, equity, and inclusion.

Preferred Qualification 

• Demonstrated commitment to fostering a diverse working and learning environment.

• Experience working with external constituencies, industry, internships, community partners, etc.

• Specialized knowledge and understanding of the functions of a comprehensive, centralized career services unit responsible for serving current students, new graduates, and alumni at a university.

• Knowledge of career development and college student development theories and issues.

• Familiarity with professional standards and best practices in the field of career services including those of the National Association of Colleges & Employers and the Council for the Advancement of Standards in Higher Education,

• Experience working across organization cultures.

• Strong understanding of career-related technology and the growing role technology plays in the delivery of career-related programs, services, and education,

• Experience working with workforce development, small business development, and continuing education professionals.

Other Requirements

Work safely at all times, which includes but is not limited to, participating in and completing all required safety trainings, as well as performing all job tasks in accordance with Minnesota State University, Mankato policies and procedures utilizing appropriate tools, equipment and personal protective equipment. 

Work includes sitting and/or standing at a desk for significant periods of time, mobility to work career events and travel to and from on-and-off campus meetings and presentations. Some light lifting.

The Minnesota State University, Mankato Annual Security and Fire Safety Report is available for your review. This report is required by federal law and contains policy statements and crime statistics for the University. The policy statements address the schoolâ™s policies, procedures and programs concerning safety and security. Three yearsâ™ worth of statistics are included for certain types of crimes that were reported to have occurred on-campus, or in other University affiliated locations. This report is available online at:

About Minnesota State Colleges and Universities, System Office

With its 31 institutions, including 24 two-year colleges and seven state universities, the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities system is the largest single provider of higher education in the state of Minnesota. The colleges and universities operate 54 campuses in 47 Minnesota communities and serve about 250,000 students in credit-based courses. Overall, the system produces about 33,500 graduates each year. In addition to credit-based courses, the system offers customized training programs that serve about 153,200 employees from 6,000 Minnesota businesses each year. The law creating the system was passed by the Minnesota Legislature in 1991 and went into effect July 1, 1995. The law merged the state's community colleges, technical colleges and state universities into one system. The system is separate from the University of Minnesota.

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