Associate Director, Career Services and Advising

About Us

Are you ready to transform lives through academic excellence, innovative research, strong community partnerships and economic opportunity? Kennesaw State University is one of the 50 largest public institutions in the country. With growing enrollment and global reach, we continue to expand our institutional influence and prominence beyond the state of Georgia. We offer more than 190 undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral degrees to empower over 50,000 students to become thought leaders, lifelong learners, and informed global citizens. Our entrepreneurial spirit, high-impact research, and Division I athletics draw students from throughout the region and from more than 100 countries across the globe. Our universitys vibrant culture, career opportunities, rich benefits, and values of respect, integrity, collaboration, inclusivity, and accountability make us an employer of choice. We are part of the University System of Georgia. We are searching for talented people to join Kennesaw State University in our vision. Come Take Flight at KSU!

Location

(Primary Location for Job Responsibility) Our Kennesaw campus is located at 1000 Chastain Road NW, Kennesaw, GA 30144.

Our Marietta campus is located at 1100 South Marietta Parkway, Marietta, GA 30060.

Job Summary

Supervises and mentors assigned career services staff. Provides leadership on program strategy, training, and departmental initiatives to ensure high-quality career services. Delivers direct career readiness guidance, advanced job search support, and professional development coaching to undergraduate and graduate students, as well as alumni. Collaborates with faculty, academic administrators, and alumni to integrate career development into curricular and co-curricular experiences. Represents the unit in departmental and university-wide initiatives and oversees events, outreach, and programs that promote student and alumni career success.

Responsibilities

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES:

1. Supervises, mentors, and supports a team of Career Consultants, providing guidance on career coaching, program delivery, and professional development

2. Oversees program strategy, development, and assessment for assigned student populations, ensuring alignment with departmental and university goals

3. Designs, implements, assesses, and improves career development programs, initiatives, and departmental projects using data-driven decision-making and adhering to NACE standards and best practices

4. Provides direct career readiness guidance to undergraduate and graduate students, and alumni, including advanced job search support and professional development coaching

5. Collaborates with faculty, academic advisors, and administrators to integrate career development into curricular and co-curricular experiences

6. Represents the department on university-wide committees, task forces, and strategic projects to advance student success initiatives

7. Plans, implements, and evaluates departmental events, workshops, and signature programs that support student career readiness and professional growth

8. Develops program goals, learning outcomes, and assessment metrics, and use data and student feedback to continuously improve programs

9. Provides guidance to staff on program implementation, career coaching techniques, and student engagement strategies

10. Coordinates departmental outreach and communication to ensure students, faculty, and alumni are aware of available resources and programs

11. Facilitates professional development opportunities for staff, including training, mentoring, and evaluation of career coaching performance

12. Leads special projects or initiatives, including pilot programs, research initiatives, or process improvement efforts

13. Ensures departmental compliance with institutional policies, reporting requirements, and best practices in career services

14. Serves as an instructor of record for non-credit bearing internship, cooperative education, and/or career-focused courses, and provides educational sessions related to career readiness

Required Qualifications

Educational Requirements

Bachelors degree from an accredited institution of higher education.

Required Experience

Seven (7) years of progressively responsible experience in career services, higher education, early talent development, human resources, or related field, including experience supervising staff and managing programs or initiatives.

Preferred Qualifications

Additional Preferred Qualifications

NACE Board-Certified Coach (BCC) credential or equivalent career coaching certification preferred

Preferred Educational Qualifications

An advanced degree from an accredited institution of higher education in a related field (e.g., Higher Education Administration, Student Affairs, Counseling, or Human Resources)

Preferred Experience

Experience providing career coaching and advisement to undergraduate, graduate students, and alumni, including workshops and professional development programs

Knowledge, Skills, & Abilities

ABILITIES

Demonstrated ability to supervise, mentor, and develop staff, fostering professional growth and high-quality service delivery

Excellent ability to collaborate across faculty, administrators, and university stakeholders to integrate career development into curricular and co-curricular experiences and initiatives

Able to handle multiple tasks or projects at one-time meeting assigned deadlines

KNOWLEDGE

Extensive knowledge of career readiness, career coaching strategies, and professional development practices for undergraduate, graduate, and alumni populations

Familiarity with NACE competencies

SKILLS

Excellent interpersonal, initiative, teamwork, problem-solving, independent judgment, organization, communication (verbal and written), time management, project management, and presentation skills

Proficient with computer applications and programs associated with the position (i.e., Microsoft Office suite, Handshake, Big Interview)

Strong attention to detail and follow-up skills

Strong customer service skills and phone and e-mail etiquette

USG Core Values

The University System of Georgia is comprised of our 25 institutions of higher education and learning as well as the System Office. Our USG Statement of Core Values are Integrity, Excellence, Accountability, and Respect. These values serve as the foundation for all that we do as an organization, and each USG community member is responsible for demonstrating and upholding these standards. More details on the USG Statement of Core Values and Code of Conduct are available in USG Board Policy 8.2.18.1.2 and can be found on-line at https://www.usg.edu/policymanual/section8/C224/#p8.2.18_personnel_conduct.

Additionally, USG supports Freedom of Expression as stated in Board Policy 6.5 Freedom of Expression and Academic Freedom found on-line at https://www.usg.edu/policymanual/section6/C2653.

Equal Employment Opportunity

Kennesaw State University is an Equal Employment Opportunity Employer. The University is committed to maintaining a fair and respectful environment for living, work and study. To that end, and in accordance with federal and state law, Board of Regents policy, and University policy, the University prohibits harassment of or discrimination against any person because of race, color, sex (including sexual harassment, pregnancy, and medical conditions related to pregnancy), sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, ethnicity or national origin, religion, age, genetic information, disability, or veteran or military status by any member of the KSU Community on campus, in connection with a University program or activity, or in a manner that creates a hostile environment for members of the KSU community.

For additional information on this policy, or to file a complaint under the provisions of this policy, students, employees, applicants for employment or admission or other third parties should contact the Office of Institutional Equity at English Building, Suite 225, eeo@kennesaw.edu.

Other Information

This is a supervisory position.

This position does not have any financial responsibilities.

This position will not be required to drive.

This role is considered a position of trust.

This position does not require a purchasing card (P-Card).

This position may travel 1% - 24% of the time

Background Check

• Standard Enhanced
• Education

Per the University System of Georgia background check policy, all final candidates will be required to consent to a criminal background investigation. Final candidates may be asked to disclose criminal record history during the initial screening process and prior to a conditional offer of employment. Applicants for positions of trust with screening results which confirm a disqualifying criminal history will be immediately disqualified from employment eligibility

All applicants are required to include professional references as part of their application process. Some positions may require additional job-based screenings such as motor vehicle report, credit check, pre-employment drug screening and/or verification of academic credentials.

https://www.usg.edu/hr/assets/hr/hrap_manual/HRAP_Background_Investigation_Employment.pdf