Director, Career Services

Position Number: 40033629

Payroll Title: Director, Career Services | CAREER SVC MGR 1 (000297)

Job Code: 000297

Job Open Date: 11/10/2025

Application Review Begins: 12/10/2025

Department Code (Name): CARE (CAREER SERVICES)

Percentage of Time: 100

Union Code (Name): 99

Employee Class (Appointment Type): Staff: Career

FLSA Status: Exempt

Classified Indicator Description (Personnel Program): MSP

Salary Grade: Grade 24

Pay Rate/Range: The budgeted salary range that the University reasonably expects to pay for this position is $97,200 to $118,400/year. Salary offers are determined based on final candidate qualifications and experience; the budget for the position; and the application of fair, equitable, and consistent pay practices at the University. The full salary range for this position is $97,200 to $182,000/year.

Work Location: Bldg 599, Office 1200A

Working Days and Hours: Mon-Friday 8:00am-5:00pm

Benefits Eligibility: Full Benefits

Type of Remote or Hybrid Work Arrangement, if applicable: Hybrid (Both UC & Non-UC locations)

Special Instructions:

For full consideration, please include a resume and a cover letter as part of your application.

Department Marketing Statement:

Career Services strives to educate and empower all students and recent graduates to prepare for and pursue success. We are seeking a dynamic professional to play a major role in the new vision for Career Services at UC Santa Barbara. Career Services helps undergraduate students, graduate students, and recent alumni make informed decisions about their futures by providing comprehensive resources, programs, career counseling, internships, employment and professional /graduate school options - whether they are building upon a liberal arts education, leveraging their academic preparation in business or engineering, envisioning a future in medicine, or seeking a career in the corporate or nonprofit workforce. Career Services' vision is to inspire students to explore and gain knowledge of their future goals. By providing programs and resources, our department supports students in attaining relevant experience and developing important relationships, enabling them to address the world's needs and challenges to their work. Career Services, a department of Students Affairs, employs 13 staff members and student employees

Benefits of Belonging

Working at UC means being part of this vibrant institution that shines a light on what is possible. People make UC great, and UC recognizes your contributions by making this a great place to work. Excellent retirement and health are just one of the rewards. Learn more about the benefits of working at UC

Brief Summary of Job Duties:

Under the general direction of the Associate Dean, Student Success , the Career Services Director provides leadership for the development and implementation of programs, initiatives, policies, and procedures which ensure that Career Services maintains currency, relevancy and strong customer service, compliance with relevant regulations, and delivers services which are in alignment with changing economic and employment market trends, client needs, and the mission of the University and the Division of Student Affairs. The director oversees service delivery in the following programmatic areas: career education/counseling, internship & experiential learning programs, employer engagement & relations, and business and administration. The director provides leadership for the development and assessment of learning and success outcomes for all Career Services programs and services, ensuring reputable and state-of-the-art operations are data-informed. The director represents Career Services in campus-wide, regional, and system-wide meetings and initiatives including those led by the UC President and UCSB Executive Leadership.

Required Qualifications:

• Master's degree in higher education, student affairs, business, counseling, or related field.
• 4-6 years Progressively responsible leadership experience in career services, higher education, employer relations, or a related area.
• 1-3 years Proven success in building cross-functional teams, managing change, and scaling programs through innovation and data-informed strategy.

• 1-3 years Deep knowledge of labor market trends, career development theory, inclusive advising and counseling practices, and emerging technologies (AI, social media recruiting, virtual engagement).

Preferred Qualifications:

• Strong interpersonal and relationship-building skills across diverse stakeholders.
• Student-first mindset with a strong commitment to social mobility and inclusive excellence.
• Strategic thinker with the ability to inspire, innovate, and influence.
• Strong interpersonal and relationship-building skills across diverse stakeholders.
• Outcome-driven with expertise in measuring impact and demonstrating value.
• Demonstrated ability to lead a large, complex organization serving a diverse set of clients.
• Understanding of organizational and strategic planning and the capability to affect and manage culture and operational changes.
• Well-developed leadership and management skills to lead professional and administrative staff.
• Ability to manage a complex budget, create fundraising opportunities, and develop entrepreneurial partnerships to generate sources of revenue.
• Strong ability to design and modify computer applications and to meet program needs, problem identification, presentation skills, verbal communication, written communication, organizational skills, leadership skills, and negotiation skills.
• Extensive knowledge of project management including program design, implementation, and evaluation.
• Strong ability to work with people from diverse cultures. Demonstrated understanding of, commitment to, and skill in fostering an equitable and inclusive campus community of belonging for all students, staff, and faculty.
• Knowledge of and experience with balancing the roles of 'advocate for students' and 'campus administrator'.
• Understand UCSB's commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion; familiarize yourself with our campus' important Department of Education designations as a Hispanic Serving Institution (HSI) and as an Asian American Native American Pacific Islander-Serving Institution (AANAPISI); and work to advance our goals of access, equity, justice, inclusion, and belonging for all students, staff, and faculty in all aspects of campus life.
• Career/Graduation School Counseling, Coaching, & Advising- Strong knowledge of career development theories, adult development theory, counseling processes, career decision making, learning styles, and job search techniques.
• Strong knowledge of needs assessment theory, processes, and practice, and workshop and program design.
• Extensive knowledge of graduate and professional school admissions processes and requirements; ability to design programs to address pre-professional school student needs.
• Employer Engagement- Knowledge of employers, state and national labor markets, and employment and marketplace trends, as related to university recruiting.
• Extensive knowledge of designing programs and services that support the recruiting needs of employers in all sectors of employment (business/industry, government, not-for-profit, etc.).

Special Conditions of Employment:

• Evening and weekend work required on occasion
• Mandated reporting requirements of Child Abuse
• UCSB Campus Security Authority under Clery Act
• Satisfactory criminal history background check
• UCSB is a Tobacco-Free environment

Misconduct Disclosure Requirement:

As a condition of employment, the final candidate who accepts a conditional offer of employment will be required to disclose if they have been subject to any final administrative or judicial decisions within the last seven years determining that they committed any misconduct; received notice of any allegation or are currently the subject of any administrative or disciplinary proceedings involving misconduct; have left a position after receiving notice of allegations or while under investigation in an administrative or disciplinary proceeding involving misconduct; or have filed an appeal of a finding of misconduct with a previous employer.

"Misconduct" means any violation of the policies or laws governing conduct at the applicant's previous place of employment, including, but not limited to, violations of policies or laws prohibiting sexual harassment, sexual assault, or other forms of harassment, discrimination, dishonesty, or unethical conduct, as defined by the employer. For reference, below are UC's policies addressing some forms of misconduct:

UC Sexual Violence and Sexual Harassment Policy
UC Anti-Discrimination Policy
Abusive Conduct in the Workplace

Job Functions and Percentages of Time:

• 30% Strategic Leadership & Vision - Lead the Career Services team in developing and executing a strategic plan aligned with State, UCOP system, and institutional goals around student success, equity, retention, and post-graduate outcomes. Foster a culture of innovation, assessment, and continuous improvement in service delivery, centering the student experience in operational decisions. Advocate for the central role of career development within the undergraduate and graduate student experience. Ensure that the diverse students of UCSB and recent graduates are served and their career needs addressed. Establish vision for Career Services by implementing short and long-range departmental goals, objectives, policies, and operating procedures. Provides guidance and leadership to the professional staff of a large, complex, full-service career services department, including training and professional development opportunities to support all programs and services. Manage and supervise professional staff over career education, employer relations, and experiential learning, exercising effective authority. Makes recommendations regarding personnel decisions including hiring, promotions, salary actions, performance management, professional development, and terminations. Engage with and advocate for Career Services with organizational, divisional, campus, statewide, and corporate stakeholders. Serve on university committees and task forces as appropriate. Creates and oversees Employer and Data Centered Alumni Engagement. Build and sustain meaningful relationships with regional, national, and global employers to expand internship, co-op, and full-time job opportunities. Leverage alumni networks to provide mentorship, networking, and industry insights for students. Oversee employer-facing services, including on-campus recruitment, job fairs, site visits, and virtual hiring events. Serves as adviser and supports engagement with representatives of industrial, governmental, and educational employers to assist in the most effective use of career services' resources. Develops new contacts with external organizations for the purpose of expanding employment opportunities for students and alumni. Participate in professional associations to remain apprised of current research, best practices, and issues pertaining to higher education, career advancement, assessment, and student development (i.e., NASPA, NCDA, CSEA). Support committees and other programs that promote student success and other department or University initiatives. Maintain confidentiality of student information at all times (as per FERPA). Perform other duties as assigned.
• 40% Engagement & Career Readiness - Champion a holistic, developmental approach to career education that supports students from their first year through post-graduation. Ensure career-connected learning is embedded into students' academic pathways. Prioritize delivery of equitable and culturally relevant career programming, advising, and resources tailored to diverse student populations, including first-generation, international, and underrepresented learners. Builds engagement opportunities and intentional outreach for students on academic probation, undecided major status, etc. Align career services and efforts to retention and TTD graduation goals via department, subcluster, and division outreach. Integrate career development into the academic curriculum in collaboration with faculty and advisors. Engage and build relationships with faculty and academic departments. Collaborate with academic departments and external partners to develop, expand, and assess experiential learning opportunities such as internships, undergraduate research, and service learning. Initiates engagement efforts and communication with deans, department chairs, and other faculty to ensure that the career services department is in active partnership and collaboration with academic colleges and departments.
• 15% Fiscal and Facilities Management - Develop coordinated systems of resource planning and allocation among Career Services programs and services. Ensure adequate management, administrative and operational structures are in place, including use of technology to realize efficiency and effective delivery of services and data management strategies. Responsible for the overall operations of the department with the annual operating budget of approximately $1,600,000. Must balance budget targets based on available resources, division priorities, and sustainable practices. Monitor the fiscal performance of Career Services; oversee the development and approval of annual budgets and financial forecasts; account for all expenditures and funds; ensure that the programs and services are managed in a fiscally responsible manner in compliance with all University, State and Federal policies and regulations. Develop and refine policy and procedure to ensure program coordination and effective use of resources. Develop and present short and long range operating plans, including budget proposals to divisional leadership. Must be able to exercise leadership, creativity, and intentional decisiveness in decision-making, with dutiful consideration to high-impact practices. In collaboration with Career Services staff, plan, develop, and implement strategies for generating resources and/or revenues for Career Services.
• 15% Operations and Programs - Supervise a diverse professional team and student staff, ensuring professional development and staff well-being. Oversee programming needs, business administration, and technical support of Career Services.. Manage the Career Services operating budget, including resource allocation, revenue generation, and donor/grant funding partnerships. Develop and implement systems for assessing the quality and effectiveness of all department programs and services; establish ongoing quality improvement methods. Develop and maintain a robust outcomes assessment framework, including First Destination surveys and dashboard reporting for institutional and public use. Leverage data and student feedback to improve services, inform strategy, and assess program impact. Oversee and improve operation with multiple technological functions critical to service including a website, an online job listing service, and an Internet based database of employer information. Maintain up-to-date knowledge of technical advances in the field, e.g., electronic career development services, video resources for interviewing, and Internet resources for job seekers. Evaluate such services and resources and determine use and extent of technological applications. Establish and maintain job, internship and employer databases to support and deliver services and resources to the university, employers, and students. Establish and maintain a Career Services advisory council(s), to be comprised of students, staff, faculty, employers and alumni. Oversee and coordinate the implementation of marketing and digital communication strategies to identify and attract students and potential employers to departmental programs and events, based on business plans, analyses, and benchmarking studies.

UC Vaccination Programs Policy:

As a condition of employment, you will be required to comply with the University of California Policy on Vaccinations Programs.
As a condition of Physical Presence at a Location or in a University Program, all Covered Individuals* must participate in any applicable Vaccination Program by providing proof that they are Up-to-Date with any required Vaccines or submitting a request for Exception in a Mandate Program or properly declining vaccination in an Opt-Out Program no later than the Compliance Date (Capitalized terms in this paragraph are defined in the policy.). Federal, state, or local public health directives may impose additional requirements.

For more information, please visit University of California Policy on Vaccinations - https://policy.ucop.edu/doc/5000695/VaccinationProgramsPolicy

*Covered Individuals: A Covered Individual includes anyone designated as Personnel or Students under this Policy who physically access a University Facility or Program in connection with their employment, appointment, or education/training. A person accessing a Healthcare Location as a patient, or an art, athletics, entertainment, or other publicly accessible venue at a Location as a member of the public, is not a Covered Individual.

Equal Employment Opportunity:

The University of California is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, age, protected veteran status, or other protected status under state or federal law.

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