About the University of Denver
The University of Denver (DU), a private university, is the oldest independent university in the Rocky Mountain region, with approximately 12,900 students in undergraduate and graduate programs. DU is classified as an R1: Doctoral University – very high research activity as a Doctoral/Research University. Financial Times Higher Education, U.S. News, and The Princeton Review have consistently ranked DU among the nation’s top 100 universities and among the top three universities in the state of Colorado.
The University of Denver embodies the spirit of exploration and discovery that define our region and our history. With nationally recognized academic programs, a history of widespread influence, a forward-looking vision for a 21st-century education, and a deep commitment to promoting inclusion, we open a world of opportunity to students and empower Pioneers to make a difference around the world.
About DU Advancement
In preparation for the most ambitious philanthropic campaign in the University’s history, the University of Denver is building an advancement enterprise that mirrors the excellence and innovation of our great institution. Inclusive of alumni relations, development, and student and alumni career services, DU Advancement is building and fostering a culture of deep engagement and philanthropy in support of our bold vision.
The University of Denver and DU Advancement deeply value inclusive excellence, recognizing that its success is dependent on how well it values, engages, and includes the rich diversity of constituents. As a part of that effort, we are continuing to grow a team of inclusive, collaborative, inquisitive, innovative, ethical, and transparent advancement professionals who possess deep mutual respect for one another and for our shared profession.
About Career & Professional Development
Career and Professional Development (CPD) is a part of the Global Networks team within DU’s Advancement office. CPD is one of four offices on campus providing career development services to a diverse community of DU students and alumni. CPD serves all of the undergraduate programs, University College, multiple graduate programs, and alumni not served by the other career services offices on campus. We provide a full range of services including one-on-one career advising, workshops, programming/events, career fairs, on-campus recruiting, access to thousands of jobs, internships and alumni and employer connections. Career & Professional Development is a very fast-paced, busy office that connects with students, faculty, staff, a wide variety of departments and divisions across campus, employers, parents and the community. CPD is implementing a strategic plan for advancing diversity, equity and inclusion that includes six bold goals to achieve by 2025 based on feedback from stakeholders including students, alumni, and employers.
Position Summary
Reporting directly to the Assistant Vice Chancellor of Career & Professional Development, the Director is responsible for overseeing two major strategic areas. The first is partnerships and connections with faculty and academic units including career preparation integration with the curriculum, and the second is advancing CPD’s strategy and initiatives that elevate the 4D Experience for all students. These efforts are critical to achieving the University of Denver’s ambitious goals for student engagement with career development activities, and for student preparation for long-term success after graduation.
As highlighted in the University’s Impact 2025 strategic plan, “Strategic Initiative 5: Preparing for Careers and Lives of Purpose: DU will foster a global network that provides multidimensional personal, professional and career development throughout a student’s time at DU and beyond”. To meet this initiative, Advancement has set a goal stating that 90% of students will be engaged with CPD by 2025. In support of this goal, CPD staff delivered over 160 class and group presentations last year across a wide range of academic areas. Outreach through academic classes is one of the most successful ways that CPD reaches students at scale. The Director will advance a strategy for partnerships with faculty and academic departments that builds on this strong foundation , and collaborate with campus partners on data collection and assessment efforts that can in turn inform future strategy.
The CPD team works closely with the 4D Experience team, and the Director will both oversee and advance shared goals for holistic student development that include intellectual growth, pursuing careers and lives of purpose, promoting wellbeing, and exploring character within the career and professional development space. Responsibilities in this area include ensuring all students are able to connect with alumni and professional mentors, leading CPD’s role in developing the roadmap for student involvement with the four dimensions through CPD initiatives, leading the development of learning outcomes and facilitated reflection opportunities that are aligned with University-wide efforts in these areas, and partnering on professional development offerings to support faculty in integrating career preparation in the curriculum.
This is a high-level leadership role on a complex team with over 20 professional staff. The Director is also a vital member of the CPD leadership team as well as thought partner to other areas on campus.
Essential Functions
Lead faculty engagement and career development integration
- Oversee and implement CPD’s strategy for faculty engagement and partnerships
- Lead the CPD communications plan for a faculty audience in collaboration with the CPD Communications Coordinator
- Plan and coordinate the work of faculty advisory groups involved with CPD, such as the Faculty Career Champions working group and groups convened to advance strategic and curricular projects
- Oversee the Faculty Career Champion Award, a student-nominated award recognizing faculty who support students with their career development. This includes refining the nomination and selection process and delivering a highly visible, university-wide annual event to recognize nominees and winners.
- Contribute to professional development offerings that support faculty in integrating career preparation in the curriculum in partnership with 4D work in this area.
- Advance strategic projects and programs with faculty partners that contribute to greater student engagement and preparation and devise, implement, and assess new ways to reach the goal of preparing students for post-graduate success at scale .
Manage CPD’s role in 4D Experience strategy
- In close partnership with the Executive Director of the 4D Experience and members of the 4D team, plan CPD’s role in the 4D roadmap, and provide project management across CPD to ensure that CPD’s communications, programs, and services are delivered in accordance with the plan.
- Lead the development of a CPD learning outcomes and reflection plan in close consultation with all CPD teams, and partner with 4D to ensure learning and reflection is tied back to a holistic plan for learning and reflection where applicable.
- Oversee progress toward CPD’s charge to scale alumni and professional mentoring to all DU students.
- Plan and deliver workshops and programs and individual advising for students as needed in support of CPD and 4D goals.
Supervision and team leadership
- Supervise an Assistant Director of Professional Mentoring who focuses on the charge to scale professional mentoring to all students; supervise the work of student employees as needed.
- Manage the budget for the professional mentoring initiative and budget for faculty engagement events and initiatives in collaboration with the AVC and managers of other CPD budgets.
- Contribute to a strong, effective, and engaged overall CPD staff team by collaborating with CPD supervisors on efforts to continuously learn and grow as a department and to support a talented team of professionals.
- Identify and pursue opportunities to raise the profile and reputation of CPD and DU by promoting DU’s career development efforts outside the University.
Manage relationships and serve as liaison
- Coordinate with CPD advising teams to develop tools, resources, and strategies that make it easier for CPD staff to provide programs and respond to requests for partnership, and that increase the reach of CPD programs.
- Liaise with faculty, the 4D Experience Team, and CPD’s alumni and employer facing teams to coordinate efforts and advance shared goals.
Partnerships & University Citizenship
- Serve as an active and collaborative partner to all central and unit-based Advancement and CPD functions and other campus colleagues, to foster strategic, effective, and collaborative practices.
- Model One DU leadership and the mission and goals of Advancement.
Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities
- Understanding and knowledge of career development and student development trends and issues and how these relate to faculty, students and alumni in a higher educational setting.
- Strong track record of creating and implementing career development programs and services that meet or exceed measurable goals.
- Experience building strong partnerships with faculty and staff across a variety of departments in a higher education setting or other large, complex organization.
- Experience with marketing and communications planning, and exceptional writing skills.
- Cultural competency; ability to understand and appreciate cultural differences and experiences and to communicate effectively across cultures.
- Previous success with project management and working across teams without supervisory authority to deliver large projects with many different contributors.
- Experience developing and assessing learning outcomes and creating assessment and program evaluation plans.
- Experience planning large, high visibility events.
- Ability to supervise, support, and oversee the contributions of direct reports and cross-functional teams.
- Must be able to establish strategic goals, and meet short term, mid-range and long-range goals and objectives with minimal supervision.
- Ability to prioritize and oversee multiple projects at one time with competing deadlines.
- Skill in building and maintaining strong relationships across a diverse and wide range of stakeholders including students, staff, faculty, alumni, and industry contacts.
Required Qualifications
- Bachelors degree or equivalent combination of education and work experience (Veterans with equivalent combination of military certification/education and experience may substitute for the degree qualification).
- 5 years of experience developing and managing successful student career/educational programs, events, etc. involving alumni, employers, and faculty.
- Experience building relationships with variety of higher education professionals including faculty and university leaders.
- Experience creating and implementing higher education communication and engagement strategies to reach with a wide variety of audiences including faculty, students, staff, alumni and external partners.
- Program assessment and evaluation experience.
- Supervisory experience.
- Budget management experience.
Preferred Qualifications
- Advanced degree in education, counseling, or other related field preferred.
- Experience with higher education and education technology platforms.
- College teaching experience.
Working Environment
- Open office environment
- Noise level is quiet to moderate
- Some nights and weekend event attendance
- Eligible for hybrid work
Physical Activities
- Ability to sit in front of a computer for an extended period
- Occasionally required to move about the office/campus with the capability of transporting objects up to 20 lbs. with assistance
Work Schedule
Monday – Friday, 8:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m., some nights and weekends as required
Application Deadline
For best consideration, please submit your application materials by 4:00 p.m. (MST) August 7, 2023.
Special Instructions
Candidates must apply online through jobs.du.edu to be considered. Only applications submitted online will be accepted.
Salary Grade Number:
The salary grade for the position is 13.
Salary Range:
The salary range for this position is $80,000-$105,000.
The University of Denver has provided a compensation range that represents its good faith estimate of what the University may pay for the position at the time of posting. The University may ultimately pay more or less than the posted compensation range. The salary offered to the selected candidate will be determined based on factors such as the qualifications of the selected candidate, departmental budget availability, internal salary equity considerations, and available market information, but not based on a candidate’s sex or any other protected status.
Benefits:
The University of Denver offers excellent benefits, including medical, dental, retirement, paid time off, tuition benefit and ECO pass. The University of Denver is a private institution that empowers students who want to make a difference. Learn more about the University of Denver .
Please include the following documents with your application:
1. Resume
2. Cover Letter
The University of Denver is an equal opportunity employer. The University of Denver prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, national origin, age (40 years and over in the employment context), religion, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, genetic information, marital status, veterans status, and any other class of individuals protected from discrimination under federal, state, or local law, regulation, or ordinance in any of the university’s educational programs and activities, and in the employment (including application for employment) and admissions (including application for admission) context, as required by Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972; Title III of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, as amended in 2008; Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973; Title VI and VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964; the Age Discrimination Act of 1975; the Age Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967; and any other federal, state, and local laws, regulations, or ordinances that prohibit discrimination, harassment, and/or retaliation. For the university’s complete Non-Discrimination Statement, please see non-discrimination-statement .
All offers of employment are contingent upon satisfactory completion of a criminal history background check.
Advertised: July 18, 2023
Applications close: