The University of Tennessee, Knoxville invites applications for the Director of Career Development in the College of Communication and Information (CCI).

Lead, develop and manage the Professional Development function in the Unit of Academic Affairs and Student Success for CCI, including the supervision of an Director for Career Development and dotted line reporting for the Professional Development Series Instructor. This position will collaborate with all team members, especially the Director of Recruitment and Student Engagement. Serves as the primary liaison to the Center for Career Development and Academic Exploration, working in close collaboration to ensure a seamless student experience. Creates opportunities for students to explore careers, gain experiences and deepen their skill sets in the world of Communication and Information through technology, programs, events, workshops and college outreach. Engage with alumni and industry partners to establish employment/graduate school bound relationships and widen the scope of opportunities for CCI undergraduate students and recent graduates. Drives the Marketing strategy for the office. Collects, analyzes and disseminates information related to career outcomes, student success and program effectiveness. Leads the Professional Development Series initiative. Provides support to school directors, faculty, and units with goals related to professional development and experiential learning.

• Serve as the primary point of contact for industry partners seeking to hire CCI students for jobs, internships, or other experiences.
• Consult with alumni and industry partners to develop marketing strategies to enhance their on- campus brand and arrange on-campus and virtual recruiting engagements.
• Triage experiences to determine which CCI department is most closely aligned. Partner with that department to promote and disseminate existing employment opportunities and experiences.
• Develop goals and objectives in conjunction with CCI Dean, School Directors, faculty internship coordinators and professional seminar instructors and the CCDAE and UT Advancement teams to strategically identify and build relationships with local, regional and national employers to increase opportunities for recruitment of CCI students for jobs, internships and other experiences.
• Secure employer and alumni participation in programs and events.
• Visit employers locally, regionally and beyond to cultivate relationships with key communication and information employers and alumni.
• Develop and implement a comprehensive career development strategy aligned with the college’s mission and goals.
• Oversee the design and delivery of the College-wide professional development series.
• Direct and train professional development instructors on the program’s learning objectives, related services and/or programs that
• Will expand the professional development of CCI students
• Ensure program objectives are defined and assessed to adopt and modify content to improve
• course and learning outcomes.
• Plan/develop/facilitate new initiatives to address career needs; partner with academic advisors and other college staff to provide programming.
• Provide vision, leadership and operational oversight of programs, services and staff responsible for Professional Development and Experiential initiatives.
• Manage departmental budget, resource allocation, and strategic planning initiatives
• Deliver 1-1 drop-in career coaching hours for CCI students
• Develop career content strategy for resource use in career coaching CCI students.
• Guest lecture/provide career development content for CCI professional seminar courses, student orgs, media center properties, etc.
• Conduct individual/group career coaching sessions for students within communication and information in the absence of CCI - designated career coach. Topics may include major and career exploration, job and experience strategies, developing application materials such as resumes, cover letters, and LinkedIn profiles, portfolios and reporter reels.
• Develop workshops and seminars leveraging best practices in student engagement.
• Utilize Handshake and other relevant technologies to facilitate communication/marketing and maintain coaching case notes.
• Manage the daily operation and execution of the content for CCI’s Virtual Career Center platform.
• Implement and maintain an assessment plan to measure the impact of the office’s offerings.
• Track internship and career outcomes of all CCI students and recent graduates 12Twenty system.
• Implement and maintain a system to measure the impact of internships and experiential learning in CCI.
• Create reports for different audiences to tell the office of professional development’s story including impact books for CCI donors.
• Strategically plan and participate in targeted industry networking trips—site visits, conferences, and career fairs—collaborating with School Directors to identify targeted opportunities and the Office of Finance and Administration for logistical support.
• Provide CCI units with accreditation data as needed.
• Assist with other CCI and School activities, events, and programs that are aligned with the mission of CCI’s Career Development Program, including student orientation, visit days, etc., and community outreach.
• Hold membership and participate in professional organizations that are aligned with the mission of CCI’s Career Development Program.

EDUCATION/EXPERIENCE:

• Master’s Degree - preferably in higher education, administrative/student affairs, human resources, communications, business or related fields
• Minimum of three years’ full-time experience in a higher education or corporate environment focused on employer relations, college recruiting, sales, development or other areas where building relationships with individuals/organizations is a major responsibility.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES:

• Understanding of various methods to guide individuals through self-assessment, career exploration, and job search strategies
• Knowledgeable of industry demands, emerging fields, and economic shifts to effectively advise on career paths.
• Ability to develop a long-term vision and actionable plans for comprehensive career services programs.
• Skilled at forging connections with students, alumni, faculty, staff, and employers to create opportunities and foster collaboration.
• Capacity to develop creative solutions and quickly adjust programs to meet changing student and employer needs.
• Ability to analyze information and use insights to improve services and demonstrate program impact. Adaptable, flexible, reliable, creative.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:

• Knowledge of a career services management system such as Grad Leaders, Handshake, or simplicity and the ability to run reports.
• Knowledge of employment trends, job search strategies and career development theories, best practices, and resources.
• Preferred experience in a college career center.
  Work Location: On site in Knoxville, Tennessee.
  Compensation and Benefits: The anticipated starting salary for this position is $68,000-$70,000
  Application Process: The anticipated start date for this position is August 2025. For full consideration, applicants must provide a resume and cover letter. Finalists will be required to provide 3 professional references. All applicants must apply online to be considered for this position.

Please refer the Job description for details