A top 10 National University has developed an ambitious vision of integrating cutting-edge approaches in career
and life design, experiential learning, alumni mentoring, and employer development and engagement into the
academic experience of all students to ensure their lifelong professional success.
Reporting to the Vice Dean for Education and Academic Affairs and serving as a key member of the executive
leadership team at the School , the Assistant Dean for Global Careers will develop a vision, strategy, and plan for enhancing professional development, career advancement, alumni connection, employer engagement, mentoring opportunities, and ultimately, outcomes for all students and alumni. The Assistant Dean for Global Careers will work with colleagues, including the Assistant Dean for Academic Affairs, to deliver an experiential learning program that prepares students for their future careers.
The Assistant Dean for Global Careers will:
Lead a team of career educators and practitioners to empower every student to pursue their professional
ambitions and career advancement opportunities regardless of background, or social capital.
Apply data-driven decision making and deep knowledge of employment trends to enhance employer
connections, alumni engagement, and career design programs to achieve equitable career outcomes for
students and alumni.
Partner with faculty, staff, and career offices across the university to maximize internship and
employment opportunities, mentoring connections, and relevant information for SAIS students and
alumni.
Provide guidance and leadership to the team of Global Careers professionals to deliver exceptional
career services and programs to students, alumni, and employers and achieve strong employment
outcomes.
Key Accountabilities
Specific duties & responsibilities:
Leadership
▪ Hire, train, supervise, and motivate a team of career educators and practitioners to develop a positive
and equitable professional development experience for all students and alumni through courses,
workshops, programs, content, and digital resources to help students and alumni achieve their life
ambitions.
▪ Engage in social media, digital outlets, and academic and professional journals and associations to
enhance the brand of Global Careers, and improve career outcomes for students and alumni.
Employer Development
▪ Design a robust employer outreach program with deep knowledge of multiple distinct job markets, establishing an understanding of internship and employment timelines, expectations, and best practices.
▪ Foster and maintain strong employer connections in the fields that SAIS students are interested in,
including government, non-profit, education, and private sectors.
Data-driven programming and strategy
▪ Develop a strategy of integrating career readiness, alumni connections, employer engagement, and
career and life design into the academic and co-curricular experience of all students.
▪ Collaborate with colleagues, including the Assistant Dean for Academic Affairs, to create an
experiential learning program that prepares students for future employment.
▪ Create career programs and services that suit the unique needs of students and alumni based on areas of
academic interests.
Collaboration
Cultivate and strengthen relationships with colleagues across the school, dedicating special attention to the partnership with Development and Alumni Relations
Other partners include, but are not limited to, academic leadership, academic advising, online and distance learning, and international services.
Develop strategic relationships with key academic leaders (dean, vice deans, program directors, faculty, etc.) to monitor and assess the effective implementation of career and professional development for students and alumni.
Meet regularly with administrators at the university whose offices also provide career and life design as well as mentoring and employer engagement to encourage coordination and identify the intersections of programs and initiatives.
Engage with faculty, alumni, and employers to increase mentoring, experiential learning, and career opportunities for students and alumni.
Collaborate with leaders career and life design offices to build and maintain a network of employers and mentors across varied careers who can attend courses, programs, and networking events.
Data Collection & Analysis
▪ In coordination with the VP of Institutional Research and the VP for Integrative Learning and Life Design, collect, analyze, and report data relative to students and alumni career outcomes, engagement in internship and mentoring, and satisfaction with career and life design courses, programs, and services.
The Ideal Candidate
The ideal candidate has direct industry experience in recruiting and/or academic experience in employer development and engagement. Candidates with strong connections in employment sectors of interest to students are highly desirable.
The ideal candidate is visionary, strategic, entrepreneurial, data savvy, outcomes driven, strong in planning and execution, comfortable with leading programs and activities with various groups, and skilled at developing relationships and connections with stakeholders.
The idea candidate is an effective user of social media and digital outlets to engage multiple audiences, increase impact, build partnerships with employers and alumni.
Minimum qualifications
Master’s degree required.
7 years recent direct experience within government, non-profit, think tanks, corporate setting, or higher education.
The successful candidate will have proven leadership skills and expertise in one of the following: recruiting, university-employer relations, alumni relations/fundraising, sales, or business development, knowledge of labor market trends, and familiarity with highly selective college or university settings.
Strong multicultural competency; extensive experience and working knowledge in diversity, equity, and inclusion.
Previous experience in high-level leadership, staff supervision, and budget and systems management.
Preferred qualifications
▪ A proven track record of success in recruiting or education-to-job transitions is highly desirable.
▪ Leadership in the areas of business development, recruiting, data management, and training and development is desirable
Special knowledge, skills, and abilities
By way of experience, evidence of ability to develop and execute programs, courses, events, and content to scale impact across various constituent groups.
By way of experience, evidence of ability to engage, teach, and energize various constituent groups.
Knowledge of higher educational leadership and administration, higher education structure and
governance and factors that affect decision making at private research institutions.
Understanding of nationally recognized practices, trends, and procedures for university career and life design, especially the unique needs of students and alumni.
Ability to translate student experiences to employment as evidenced by prior experience in either a government, non-profit, education, or private sector setting.
Demonstrated skill in fostering new institutional relationships, and marshaling professional networks with faculty, senior administrators, employers, and alumni.
Experience in developing and implementing effective assessment methods and articulating strategic
priorities.
Ability to provide energetic leadership, with competency to develop and execute a vision, and
effectively manage, supervise, and develop staff.
Ability to work effectively with persons from diverse backgrounds to promote an inclusive campus and community culture.
Demonstrated skill in effective negotiation, building consensus and influencing institutional decisions.
Be influential and manage change in a highly decentralized institution.
Analyze information and situations and make independent judgments and decisions.
Listen and communicate convincingly in written and verbal formats.
Effectively and creatively utilize social media to increase engagement and influence public opinion.
Manage and delegate workload and workflow under the pressure of deadlines.
Set priorities in a complex environment and represent the institution’s perspective to external entities.
For eight decades, students have come to this Top 10 National University to learn from renowned faculty and distinguished policy practitioners, build their professional networks, and gain hands-on work experience. Today, the school carries on this tradition, preparing students for the emerging challenges of the 21st century. Alumni number more than 20,000 graduates, a network of professionals working across the globe.
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