Director of Career Development

Company: Northeastern Illinois University
Location: Chicago
Posted on: April 1, 2026

Job Description:

Northeastern offers a rewarding working environment for our students and employees. Our faculty and staff are smart, dedicated people who work to create an excellent urban university experience for bright and motivated students. Job Summary: The Director of Career Development leads Northeastern Illinois University’s comprehensive career services program, integrating classroom learning with real-world professional experiences. The Director provides strategic vision and leadership for the unit, and ensures that NEIU graduates can articulate their professional skills and connect those skills to real-world opportunities. The Director also cultivates and expands strategic partnerships with local, national, and international business and community leaders to advance NEIU’s mission of preparing a diverse student body for leadership and service in a dynamic, multicultural world. Working closely with academic units (College of Arts & Sciences, College of Business & Technology, Daniel L. Goodwin College of Education), the Offices of Institutional Advancement, and other campus partners, the Director oversees cooperative education, internships, career preparation, and job placement for NEIU students and alumni. As a member of the Student Affairs Leadership Team, and represent Student Affairs and the university with a wide range of off-campus professional and community organizations. Job Description: Strategic Planning & Assessment Develop, implement, and regularly update a Career Development strategic plan that aligns with the University’s and Division of Student Affairs' broader strategic goals and drives growth in career readiness and student placement. Design and oversee an assessment plan, including exit surveys and key performance indicators, to evaluate service effectiveness and support institutional reporting (e.g., accreditation, National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE) compliance, President’s Strategic Initiatives). Program & Resource Management Monitor and analyze the effectiveness of virtual and in-person resources; expand access and optimize student engagement. Guide the implementation and maintenance of career services software (e.g., Handshake, GradLeaders), including data reporting. Manage fiscal planning and budgeting for all career services operations and staffing. Curriculum Integration & Programming Partner with faculty to embed career-related content into courses (First-Year Experience, Career Pathways) and co-curricular activities. Lead the design, delivery, and evaluation of programming on career readiness and professional development for undergraduate, graduate, and professional students. Convene and chair the Career & Workforce Development Steering Committee, representing each college, the Office of Alumni Relations, campus site, and grant-funded program. Partnerships & Employer Engagement Cultivate relationships with U.S. and international industry representatives; track employment trends and emerging fields. Collaborate with the Offices of Development and Alumni Relations in strategic outreach to corporate and community leaders and to promote activities such as the bi-annual Career Fair. Develop and market the office brand through presentations and promotional materials to students, alumni, employers, and internship/co-op sponsors. Strategize with Career Development staff to expand employer partnerships and create new internship, co-op, and job opportunities. Student & Alumni Services Supervise staff in providing individual career counseling, résumé and portfolio reviews, interview preparation, employment etiquette guidance, and graduate school advising. Maintain student and alumni records, files, and placement data. Advise on securing full-time positions, internships, co-ops, and graduate/professional school applications. Collaborate with the Office of Alumni Relations in the implementation of career-related initiatives and activities such as MentorCity, a virtual platform that pairs alumni and friends with current students, career-related outreach to alumni, and career workshops. Leadership & Supervision Provide supervision, training, and performance evaluation for three professional staff; recruit, hire, onboard, train, and assess five paraprofessional staff. Serve on university committees and collaborate on large-scale events and university activities with other departments. Represent Student Affairs and NEIU in external professional and community organizations. Other Duties Perform additional responsibilities as assigned to support the division and the university. Minimal Qualifications: Master’s or doctorate in higher education administration/student services, counseling, human resources, communication, business, or another appropriate field Minimum of five years of progressively responsible experience in Student Affairs or related fields—such as experiential learning, career/professional development, or community partnerships—in a higher?education or corporate setting; eight years of experience preferred, particularly in roles emphasizing employer relations, college recruiting, or other relationship-building functions. Knowledge of a career services software management system such as GradLeaders, Handshake, or Simplicity, and the ability to run data reports. Knowledge of employment trends, job search strategies, and career development theories, as well as best practices and relevant resources. Demonstrated success in working with faculty and administrators across organizational lines to support experiential learning experiences (i.e, co-op education models, professional development, and community partnerships. Creativity and vision for program development in a rapidly changing environment. Experience with organizational planning, development, and implementation of program initiatives in partnership with diverse on- and off-campus constituencies, as well as in building community in multicultural settings. Demonstrated experience recruiting, managing, supervising, and evaluating professional and civil service staff. Understanding and experience working with budgets from diverse funding sources, as well as writing and administering grants. Experience with assessment and working with institutional research to determine program effectiveness. Capability to collect, analyze, and report on key performance indicators. Knowledge and experience in the application of student learning theories in curricular and co-curricular settings Demonstrated a strong commitment to a diverse campus community. Preferred experience in a university or college career center. Deadline: Applications submitted by November 7, 2025, will receive priority review by the search committee. This position requires a background check. Salary Range $90,000 - $95,000 ? Benefits University employees may be eligible for a variety of State of Illinois benefits. These benefits are administered through the Illinois Department of Central Management Service (CMS). Please visit our Employee Benefits page to learn more about our comprehensive benefits package including health, dental, and vision benefits, sick and vacation days, and participation in the State Universities Retirement System. Transcripts Copies of unofficial transcripts are accepted; however, official transcripts for all earned degrees will be required of candidates selected for final interviews. Northeastern Illinois University is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action employer and invites applications from Women, Minorities, Veterans and Persons with Disabilities, as well as other qualified individuals. Northeastern Illinois University's positions are contingent upon the University's receipt of its State of Illinois appropriation.

Keywords: Northeastern Illinois University, Chicago , Director of Career Development, Human Resources , Chicago, Illinois