Midwest ACE Job Posting
Assistant Director, Career Management
Northwestern University
Evanston, Illinois

May 14, 2019

Job Description:

Job ID: 35848 Location: Evanston, Illinois Department: MCC Engineering Career Develop Salary/Grade: EXS/7

Northwestern University's McCormick School of Engineering and Applied Science is redefining engineering education and research through its pioneering “Whole-Brain Engineering” philosophy, integrating the elements of left-brain thinking — analysis, logic, synthesis, and math — with the kind of high-level right-brain thinking that fosters intuition, metaphorical thought, and creative problem solving. Augmenting the analytical core of engineering with substantial initiatives in design, entrepreneurship, leadership and personal development, and unusual collaborations that span disciplines, Northwestern Engineering students and faculty are prepared to take the world in a whole new direction. Northwestern Engineering comprises more than 1,800 undergraduate students, 2,000 graduate students, 190 faculty members across nine academic departments and varied programs, centers, and institutes. Northwestern Engineering staff members support innovative academic programs, an intellectual footprint that deepens the frontiers of knowledge, partnerships that catalyze education and research, and a diverse culture that embraces different viewpoints and ideas.

Job Summary:

The Assistant Director, Career Management advises and counsels students empowering them to make decisions associated with their career goals and objectives. This role assesses individual situations and circumstances, many complex in nature, and creates, implements and monitors recommendations, partnering with internal/external constituencies and resources that meet student needs. This position ensures compliance with all associated policies, rules and regulations.Advising and counseling focuses on self-assessment, research, job and internship search strategies, reflection, and strategic decision making.

Specific Responsibilities:

• Manages & implements strategic plans.
• Recommends changes & improvements to functional operations to better meet organizational needs & objectives.
• Completes administrative activities such as assessment, operations planning, data management, and reporting.
• Researches best practices and peer institutions and market/economic conditions and recommends changes and enhancements to improve administrative effectiveness, services and/or resources.

• Reviews existing use of technology and recommends changes to incorporate state-of-the-art systems and tools as appropriate into all aspects of the advising, counseling, and recruiting/employment programs.
• Researches peer and cutting-edge developments regarding technology and recommends changes and enhancements that will improve delivery of resources and services.
• Recommends changes and enhancements to leverage technology to best serve the greatest number of students as effectively as possible.

• Proposes budget for programs and services to support the unit's strategic plan.
• Manages budget for programs accountable for all expenditures.

• Implement/provide personalizing counseling and advising that focuses on self-assessment, research, job and internship search strategies, reflection, and strategic decision making.
• Researches, develops and implements programs and services that enhance the student experience.
• Connects students with alumni and professionals for employment opportunities. Maintains knowledge of job market trends and hiring practices in a range of fields.

• Collaborates with student affairs, academic departments, student organizations and administrative offices to develop programs and publicize opportunities spanning a broad range of industries and geographies.
• Builds and maintains a network of potential employers and alumni that can provide opportunities for mentoring, internships and/or jobs.
• Engages with associations, organizations, alumni, and employers to encourage experiential education and professional development.

• Identifies opportunities and strategies for short- and long-term growth & expansion of program resources, value and participation.
• Creates & implements program brand identity and marketing & advertising strategy regarding programs and services.
• Oversees marketing and advertising of new and current programs, partnering with internal and external key stakeholders to ensure marketing plan effectively targets students, sponsors, employers, etc.
• Ensures that all advertising and marketing materials accurately represent programs.
• Implements consistent marketing and brand messages regarding resources and services.
• Creates, updates and maintains state-of-the-art website, social networking site, chat rooms, etc. that describe, highlight and explain resources and services.

• Manages planning and arrangement of programs - meetings, workshops, trainings, events, etc. designed to provide information, promote resources and to build internal and external relationships.
• Manages event details including communication, venues, presenters, travel arrangements, materials, refreshments and technology ensuring that all are arranged and completed in an appropriate and timely manner.
• Researches best practices to enhance, improve, and innovate program topics and delivery to better meet goals & objectives.
• Recruits, trains and assigns faculty/instructors to teach programs.
• Supervises creation of components, including curriculum development, lectures, conferences, and seminars.

• Manages development and maintenance of evaluation processes including associated metrics and key performance indicators.
• Collect & analyzes outcome measurements and recommends changes & enhancements to improve program.
• Collaborates with internal/external partners to implement changes designed to improve/increase program goals/objectives.
• Compliance
• Coordinates development & implementation of processes and procedures that ensure compliance with all applicable federal, state, local & NU laws, regulations, policies & procedures.
• Interfaces with government and accreditation organizations.
• Prepares documents as required.

• Supervises graduate interns and/or student employees.McCormick: Instruction and Enrollment Management
• Develops curriculum for McCormick-based course, CRDV 301, “Introduction to Career Development,” which is required of all students who wish to have access to programs and services related to internships, co-op, service learning, research opportunities and full time employment post-graduation.
• Teaches at least one section of CRDV 301 each quarter during the regular academic year and is responsible for assessment of student learning outcomes and grades for his/her section.
• Manages official university enrollment for all assigned students (both undergraduate and graduate students) during every work term (including summer) that the student is out on co-op, internship, service learning or research work. Enrollment management includes, but is not limited to, appropriate course registration, service indicator holds, management of student assignment to the official university “Co-op” student group, assessment of student work-based learning outcomes and the assignment of an official university grade.
• Other aspects of enrollment management include (but are not limited to) granting permission to international students to apply for Curricular Practical Training, coordinating with Financial Aid, Student Accounts, Housing & Food Services and the International Office to ensure students' eligibility to participate in MCD programs.
• Also teaches sessions in the MS Bootcamp series and the PhD Summer Seminar Series.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

Job Requirements:

Minimum Qualifications:

Successful completion of a full 4-year course of study in an accredited college or university leading to a bachelor's or higher degree; OR appropriate combination of education and experience and 3 years' career counseling/advising in higher education or 3 years' of industry experience; or other relevant experience required; OR

Successful completion of a full course of study in an accredited college or university leading to a master's or JD or higher degree; OR appropriate combination of education and experience and 2 years' career counseling/advising in higher education or 2 years' of industry experience; or other relevant experience required.

Minimum Competencies:

(Skills, knowledge, and abilities) A working knowledge of spreadsheets (Excel) and databases (Access) such that the individual will be able to understand and utilize the functions of the MCD information management system, the Peoplesoft platforms in use at Northwestern. Demonstrable proficiency in MS PowerPoint or other presentation software. To view the job posting and/or apply for the job, click here.

University is an Equal Opportunity, Affirmative Action Employer of all protected classes, including veterans and individuals with disabilities. Women, racial and ethnic minorities, individuals with disabilities, and veterans are encouraged to apply. Hiring is contingent upon eligibility to work in the United States.