Edtech.com's Summary

Cal Poly Pomona (California State University) is hiring a Director for its Career Center, part of University Advising and Career Development within the Office of Student Success. The Director provides strategic leadership over career readiness programs, employer relations, career coaching and assessment, and staff/budget management, reporting to the Assistant Vice President. This is a full-time, at-will Administrator I position.

Highlights

Lead Career Center strategy, career coaching/counseling programs, and employer engagement initiatives including career fairs and recruiting programs
Oversee assessment and data reporting, including the First Destination Survey and CSU reporting requirements
Recruit, supervise, and evaluate Career Center staff; administer the Career Center budget
Requires a Bachelor's degree in higher education, student affairs, counseling, career development, business administration, human resources, education, or related field, plus 5 years of progressively responsible related experience
Preferred: Master's degree in a related field and management experience in a collective bargaining environment
Anticipated hiring range up to $100,152 annually, commensurate with skills and qualifications
Full-Time, At-Will; Monday-Friday, 8am-5pm

Director, Career Center Full Description

Type of Appointment:

Full-Time, At-Will

Job Classification:

Administrator I

Anticipated Hiring Range:

Up to $100,152 annually (commensurate with skills and qualifications)

Work Hours:

Monday - Friday, 8am - 5pm, unless otherwise notified

Recruitment Closing Date:

September 11, 2026

The Department

The Career Center is a unit within University Advising and Career Development in the Office of Student Success, Division of Academic Affairs, at Cal Poly Pomona. It supports student career readiness, professional development, experiential learning, employer engagement, and post-graduation success through career education, coaching, employer partnerships, and campus collaboration.

Duties and Responsibilities

Strategic Leadership, Student Success, and Career Ecosystem Development:

Provide strategic leadership for Career Center programs and cross-campus career development initiatives that advance student success, career readiness, workforce preparation, and post-graduation outcomes
Develop and implement long-range plans and strategic priorities for the Career Center aligned with Cal Poly Pomona’s strategic priorities and polytechnic mission
Establish measurable goals, priorities, and assessment strategies to increase student participation in career development activities
Advance a campus-wide culture recognizing career readiness as a shared responsibility across Academic Affairs, Student Affairs, Enrollment Management, and University Advancement
Advise the Assistant Vice President and other university leaders on workforce trends, labor market demands, and employer expectations
Represent the Career Center and Cal Poly Pomona in CSU initiatives, workforce development partnerships, and external stakeholder groups

Career Readiness, Student Development, and Program Innovation:

Lead comprehensive career development programs including coaching, counseling, assessments, workshops, and professional development
Develop career education initiatives that integrate career readiness competencies into curricular and co-curricular experiences
Support career exploration, internship preparation, graduate school planning, networking, interviewing, and employment success
Develop initiatives that reduce barriers for first-generation students, transfer students, veterans, international students, and underserved populations

Employer Relations, Industry Engagement, and Career-Connected Learning:

Lead development of strategic employer partnerships expanding internships, employment opportunities, and professional networks
Cultivate relationships with regional, national, and global employers for internships, cooperative education, and full-time employment
Oversee employer-facing programs including career fairs, networking events, employer information sessions, and on-campus recruiting
Position Cal Poly Pomona as a preferred recruiting destination for organizations seeking diverse talent

Assessment, Data Analytics, and Institutional Effectiveness:

Lead assessment, evaluation, and continuous improvement efforts demonstrating the impact of career initiatives on student outcomes
Develop dashboards, reports, and performance metrics; administer career outcomes surveys including the First Destination Survey and CSU reporting requirements
Use disaggregated data to identify equity gaps and improve access and outcomes for underserved student populations

Personnel, Fiscal, and Operational Leadership:

Recruit, supervise, coach, develop, and evaluate Career Center staff
Administer the Career Center’s budget and financial resources, and coordinate contracts, grants, and sponsorships
Oversee Career Center operations, facilities, technology platforms, and organizational systems
Monitor operations for compliance with university policies, CSU requirements, and applicable laws
Pursue external funding, sponsorships, partnerships, and grants supporting innovation and strategic growth

Qualifications

Bachelor’s degree from an accredited four-year college or university in higher education, student affairs, counseling, career development, business administration, human resources, education, or a related field
Five (5) years of progressively responsible professional experience in career services, employer relations, workforce development, higher education administration, advising/counseling, human resources, or a closely related field
Excellent interpersonal and communication skills; ability to work effectively with individuals from varied backgrounds and organizational levels
Demonstrated leadership ability, including capacity to lead change and make timely decisions
Strong strategic planning, organizational management, and budget administration skills
Experience hiring, training, supervising, developing, and evaluating employees
Strong analytical and assessment skills, including using data to evaluate programs and recommend improvements

Preferred Qualifications

Master’s degree in higher education administration, student affairs, counseling, career development, business administration, human resources, education, organizational leadership, or a related field
Management experience in a collective bargaining environment
Experience leading organizational change, service redesign, or implementation of new programs or systems
Demonstrated ability to coach and develop staff and align teams around shared goals

Additional Notices

CSU Out-of-State Employment Policy prohibits performing CSU-related work outside California
Conditional offer pending satisfactory completion of a background check (including a criminal records check)
Education Code 89521: applicants must disclose any final decision determining they committed sexual harassment within the last 7 years, once minimum qualifications are confirmed
This position is a designated position under the CSU Conflict of Interest Code and requires filing financial interest disclosure forms
MPP employees must disclose all current outside employment at hire and periodically thereafter
Considered a mandated reporter under the California Child Abuse and Neglect Reporting Act (CSU Executive Order 1083)
As a federal contractor, Cal Poly Pomona complies with Pay Transparency Nondiscrimination and VEVRAA veteran priority referral requirements
Reasonable accommodations available for applicants and employees with disabilities

Original Job Description