Director of Graduate Career and Professional Development

• Job Type: Officer of Administration
• Regular/Temporary: Regular
• Hours Per Week: 35
• Standard Work Schedule: Hybrid
• Salary Range: $102,500 - $124,100

Position Summary

Reporting to the Senior Associate Dean of Academic Diversity and Professional Development of the Graduate School of Arts & Sciences (GSAS), the Director of Graduate Career and Professional Development (DGCPD) oversees GSAS Compass, the office within the Graduate School that supports the professional and career development of PhD and MA students. The Director has primary responsibility for all of the office's services, activities, and resources, and coordinates with and leverages professional development initiatives of the Graduate School and across the University, in order to further doctoral and MA student career exploration and professional development. The Director manages a staff of 2-3 career development officers and trains and supervises graduate students to support the work of the office.

The Director builds and maintains strong partnerships with the GSAS offices (Student Affairs, Academic Diversity and Inclusion, Alumni Relations, and the Writing Studio); the GSAS Alumni Board; the Center for Teaching and Learning; the other schools' career centers across the University and embedded career development offices within GSAS graduate programs; and all graduate programs in the Arts and Sciences.

Responsibilities

Programming and Advising (25%)

• Oversee and maintain an infrastructure that supports graduate students in MA and doctoral programs through career exploration events; job search, skill-building, and self-assessment workshops; connections to employers and alumni; internships and experiential learning opportunities; and online materials.
• Offer one-on-one advising; support Associate Director in hiring and training part-time graduate student counselors for peer advising.
• Manage the Fellowships in Academic Administration program.
• Leverage technology to offer career planning resources, tools, and assessments (e.g., ImaginePhD, myIDP, Versatile PhD, Strong Interest Inventory, CliftonStrengths, Interstride, etc.),.
• Stay up-to-date on graduate career and professional development methods and best practices and ensure implementation.
• Source outside speakers for workshops and alumni talks.

Outreach (30%)

• Build and maintain partnerships with other career offices at Columbia graduate and professional schools to collaborate on events and share resources.
• Liaise with faculty and administrative staff in GSAS MA and doctoral programs to share programming, increase student engagement, and ensure that career and professional development support complements students' academic work.
• Liaise with other units across the University that offer professional development opportunities for graduate students.
• Create and maintain relationships with businesses and organizations that lead to opportunities for experiential learning, internship, and employment; represent GSAS to numerous constituencies, including current and prospective employers, career development professionals at other institutions, and professional organizations.
• Work closely with GSAS Alumni Relations professional and the Alumni Board committees that focus on professional development, and recent alumni and students to create events and programs that cultivate alumni engagement and networking with and mentorship of students.

Operations and Management (40%)

• Hire, train, and supervise 2-3 career development officers [Career Advisor; Experiential Learning/Employer Relations].
• Provide effective management of departmental staff, including staff training and development, workflow, and performance evaluations.
• Oversee all departmental activities and programs (including but not limited to career and professional development workshops, networking activities, internships, and experiential education).
• Oversee and plan large-scale events, including virtual and in-person career expos and employer information sessions, the University-wide Columbia Three-Minute Thesis Competition, and the GSAS Master's SynThesis Competition.
• Provide strategic direction and protocols for office communications; create content for and maintain the GSAS Compass website; develop web and print resources; create and disseminate marketing materials for the office as a whole and for specific events.
• Evaluate GSAS Compass activities by collecting pre- and post-event surveys, conducting focus groups, and creating annual reports; analyze metrics and qualitative feedback to inform strategic planning, increase student engagement, and make improvements to program content and the overall student experience with the office.
• With Associate Dean of Finance and Operations, manage departmental budget.
• With GSAS senior leadership, implement operational policies and procedures for departmental staff; ensure compliance with University policies and procedures and applicable legal rules and regulations.

Perform other related work as needed. (5%)

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree required.
• A minimum of 5-7 years of related experience, in career services, student affairs, higher education administration, professional development, or a related field, with at least 3 years in a leadership or managerial role.
• Demonstrated experience developing and implementing career development programs for graduate students, preferably at the PhD and MA levels.
• Proven track record of building and managing strategic partnerships with internal stakeholders (faculty, alumni, career centers, student affairs) and external partners (employers, industry leaders, funding organizations). Experience overseeing career services or professional development initiatives, including workshop facilitation, event planning, and online resource development.
• Strong stakeholder engagement and relationship management experience, particularly in fostering collaboration across university departments and external organizations.
• Demonstrated ability to design, assess, and enhance career-related programming using data-driven insights and student feedback.
• Experience in a supervisory role, including the training and development of staff, is required.
• Strong project management skills including the ability to manage multiple projects effectively required.
• Computer proficiency and knowledge of career planning and preparation tools and platforms required.

Preferred Qualifications

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  An advanced degree (MA or PhD) is strongly preferred.

  
  
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  The successful candidate will be imaginative, creative, analytical, and flexible, with strong interpersonal and oral, and written communication skills and excellent organizational, presentation, and project management skills; knowledge of and experience with digital platforms for advising and consulting; strong relationship management and client-development skills; knowledge of employment markets, hiring practices, processes and trends; demonstrated passion for collaborating and working with graduate students; experience with developing and managing an office budget.

  
  

Other Requirements

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  Interested individuals must supply a resume and cover letter to be considered.

  
  
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  Finalists may be asked to provide additional written materials and complete a job simulation exercise.

  
  

Equal Opportunity Employer / Disability / Veteran

Columbia University is committed to the hiring of qualified local residents.