Senior Director Of Career Development

Job Summary

The Senior Director of Career Development oversees all aspects of student placement, career programming, and corporate engagement the Graduate School of Management (GSM). This key leadership role develops and implements career development strategies, builds robust partnerships with employers, and ensures student placement goals are met. The Senior Director creates a comprehensive program to connect the School with industry partners, generating internships, career opportunities, and other pathways for students, while preparing them for competitive MBA and master’s-level positions.

Department Overview

The Senior Director of Career Development is a senior management role responsible for leading the efforts to achieve the Graduate School of Management's student career placement goals. Acting as a strategic planner, program architect, and team leader, this role drives the career programs and initiatives essential to the Graduate School of Management's success.

40% Strategic Planning and Staff Leadership

• Lead the Career Development team in providing impactful career programming for MBA and Master of Management students to secure internships and job placements.
• Work with students, alumni, and potential employers to achieve the GSM’s placement goals.
• Develop and oversee career-focused programs and events that address organizational partner needs.
• Identify emerging placement opportunities by analyzing industry trends and benchmarking against other business schools.
• Design and implement career development communications, marketing, and outreach for virtual and in-person events.
• Develop and monitor performance metrics to evaluate the effectiveness of career programs and services.
• Ensure inclusive programming by integrating opportunities that meet the diverse needs of students.
• Guide students individually and in workshops on resumes, applications, networking, and navigating the U.S. job market.

40%  Corporate, Alumni and Partnership Cultivation

• Establish and cultivate relationships with corporate partners and alumni to promote student placement into jobs, internships and experiential learning opportunities as well as enhance the organization's relationship with outside organizations.
• Lead initiatives to engage alumni and corporate partners through tailored programs, collaborations, and events, fostering a network that supports career growth and industry connections for students and graduates.
• Maintain and add contacts to the employer's relations database .
• Serve as the GSM’s representative in campus-wide career initiatives and as a thought leader within the higher education community.

20% Operations

• Oversee the daily operations of the career development team, ensuring efficient processes and high-quality service to meet the needs of students and alumni.
• Monitor and analyze key performance metrics, using data to drive continuous improvement and operational excellence across career development initiatives.
• Coordinate the implementation of any new systems or tools to support career programming.
• Coordinate with UC Davis Office of Global Affairs to ensure all paperwork is filled out in a timely manner with respect to CPT, OPT and other career related matters.
• Ensure accurate data collection and reporting to meet MBA CSEA and other reporting agency guidelines.
• Serve as a member of the Admissions Committee and coordinate with the Senior Director of Admissions on related matters.
• Coordinate with University Internship & Career Center, Corporate Relations Office, and other school and campus units as needed.

Minimum Qualifications

• Master’s in degree in business, counseling, or other related field.
• Seven plus years of experience in career services or recruiting.
• Demonstrated success in building and managing diverse teams and career programming with measurable outcomes.
• Dynamic communicator with experience presenting to large groups of individuals and connecting with senior corporate executives.
• Proven track record of achieving strong career placement outcomes for university graduates, or demonstrated success in corporate recruiting, with a deep understanding of career development practices and placement strategies within a business school or corporate setting.
• Strong leadership, management, analytical and planning skill, with the ability to design and execute complex programs and strategies while developing and supporting team members.
• Skilled in engaging with diverse groups and collaborating effectively with students, faculty, staff, cross-functional teams, and external stakeholders.

Preferred Qualifications

• 9+ years with director-level positions leading either graduate business career development teams or corporate recruiting experience with MBA hiring responsibilities and possessing a track record of strong placement outcomes or performance against recruiting targets. 
• Excellent written, oral, and interpersonal communication skills, paired with a high level of professionalism and integrity.
• In depth knowledge of the corporate world and hiring needs from hiring best practices, ideal candidate skills and attributes, and recruiting programs, timelines and requirements.
• Knowledge of the legal and technical aspects of employment and immigration law.

Work Environment

• This position is fully on-site and based out of Davis. 
• There is regular travel throughout the Sacramento and Bay Area to cultivate relationships with alumni and other employers and to attend events. 
• Evening and weekend engagements are part of this role, as well as intermittent out of area travel. 
• A valid driver’s license will be required for travel to employer/alumni visits and for events.
• The Smoke and Tobacco Free Environment policy is intended to provide a healthier safer, and more productive work and learning environment for the entire UC Community. The University of California prohibits smoking and tobacco use at all University owned or leased properties, or facilities operated by UC staff or faculty. Smoking and tobacco use are strictly prohibited in indoor and outdoor spaces, parking lots, residential space, and University vehicles. https://ucdavispolicy.ellucid.com/documents/view/271