Assistant Director, Academic & Career Management, MTePP

Department: Education & Social Policy
Salary/Grade: EXS/7

Job Summary:

Northwestern's School of Education and Social Policy (SESP) is seeking an Assistant Director, Academic & Career Advising for its new Masters of Science in Technology, People, and Policy program (MTePP). The program explores how emerging technologies influence important aspects of society, where graduates will be grounded in traditional technological frameworks and well-versed in the ethical, legal, environmental, human, and policy-related dimensions of advanced digital technologies. The Assistant Director assists SESP MS students throughout their program in making decisions associated with their academic and/or career objectives, with careful attention to the experiences of remote learners, and leads the delivery of guidance and counsel to students regarding their end-of-program capstone. They will develop and implement marketing and communications strategy and materials; interface with partners inside and outside SESP; plan and execute programming and events; manage operations and support to program faculty; lead assessment and analysis of program evaluation data; and connect participating students with advisors and other resources during the program, and beyond as they engage as alumni. This position works to create, implement, and monitor career and job recommendations, partnering with internal/external organizations and resources that meet student needs.

Specific Responsibilities:

Administration

• Recommends changes & improvements to functional operations to better meet organizational needs & objectives.
• Completes administrative activities such as assessment, operations planning, data management, and reporting.
• Research best practices, peer institutions, and market/economic conditions and recommends improvements to improve administrative effectiveness, services, and/or resources.

Advising/Counseling

• Provides student-centered guidance and counsel based on individual circumstances, preferences, etc., and in compliance with all associated policies, rules, and regulations.
• Researches, develops and implements practices and activities that enhance student-centered career guidance and counsel.
• Provides one-on-one career coaching/advising for our students and alumni. Provide regular availability for career coaching sessions with students (usually 1-2 times/year per student - a quarter of students graduating usually would be fall and spring; for newer students, it would be winter and/or summer).
• Update online (virtual) resources and career development tools on the MTePP Student Resources Site or on a particular Canvas site when needed.

Programs/Events

• Manages planning and arrangement of programs - meetings, workshops, training, events, etc. designed to provide information, promote resources, and build internal and external relationships.
• Manages event details, including communication, venues, presenters, travel arrangements, materials, refreshments, and technology, ensuring that all are arranged and completed appropriately and on time.
• Researches peer, competitor, and state-of-the-art developments to enhance, improve, and innovate program topics and delivery to better meet goals & objectives.
• Develop and facilitate a series of career workshops for master's students on topics such as self-assessment/goal setting, networking, resume building, cover letter/email writing, interviewing, wrapping up the job search/salary negotiation, and strategies for starting a new job successfully (usually 1-2/per quarter, excluding summer).
• Provide events and/or strategies to help students gain exposure to specific job opportunities.

Relationships

• Consults with student affairs, academic departments, student organizations, and administrative offices to exchange information on academic and career opportunities.
• Creates and nurtures relationships with organizations and alumni to develop a network of enthusiastic organizations engaged via active participation in the program's success.
• Expand SESP's connections with alumni. Strategies may include creating a more robust social media presence/network, LinkedIn group, working with faculty and alums to create virtual "value-add" programming for alumni to help them remain engaged with the program and our students, asking alumni to speak and/or be featured on our website for "deep dives" into specific higher ed areas.

Marketing/Public Relations

• Identifies opportunities and strategies for short- and long-term growth & expansion of program resources, value, and participation.
• Implements program brand identity and marketing & advertising strategy regarding resources and services.
• Assists with marketing and advertising of new and current programs, partnering with internal and external key stakeholders to ensure the marketing plan effectively targets students, sponsors, employers, etc.
• Work to maintain information about students and alumni for the biannual MTePP newsletter and write copy when needed
• Work to promote the brand of our graduates with potential employers; work with the Director and Assistant Director to connect this to overall program marketing.
• Attend program recruiting/orientation or program events when needed

Evaluation

• Manages development and maintenance of evaluation capstone processes, including associated metrics and key performance indicators
• Reviews & analyzes outcome measurements and recommends changes & enhancements to improve the program.
• Collaborates with internal/external partners to implement changes designed to improve/increase program goals/objectives.
• Annually and quarterly, the advising function is evaluated, and improvements are suggested where necessary.
• Conduct an assessment of all workshops.
• Track job placement data for graduating students and prepare related reports when needed. Surveying alumni periodically could be part of this assessment.

Technology

• Reviews existing use of technology and recommends changes to incorporate state-of-the-art systems and tools as appropriate into all advising and counseling program aspects.

Supervises

• Provides work direction to junior staff and graduate assistants when needed.

Miscellaneous

• Other duties as assigned.

Minimum Qualifications:

• Successful completion of a full 4-year course of study in an accredited college or university leading to a bachelor's or higher degree; OR appropriate combination of education and experience and 3 years' career counseling/advising in higher education or 3 years' of industry experience; or other relevant experience required; OR
• Successful completion of a full course of study in an accredited college or university leading to a master's or JD or higher degree; OR appropriate combination of education and experience and 2 years' career counseling/advising in higher education or 2 years' of industry experience; or other relevant experience required.

Target hiring range for this position will be between $65,000-$78,000 per year. Offered salary will be determined by the applicant's education, experience, knowledge, skills and abilities, as well as internal equity and alignment with market data.

Benefits:
At Northwestern, we are proud to provide meaningful, competitive, high-quality health care plans, retirement benefits, tuition discounts and more! Visit us at https://www.northwestern.edu/hr/benefits/index.html to learn more.

Work-Life and Wellness:
Northwestern offers comprehensive programs and services to help you and your family navigate life's challenges and opportunities, and adopt and maintain healthy lifestyles.
We support flexible work arrangements where possible and programs to help you locate and pay for quality, affordable childcare and senior/adult care. Visit us at https://www.northwestern.edu/hr/benefits/work-life/index.html to learn more.

Professional Growth & Development:
Northwestern supports employee career development in all circumstances whether your workspace is on campus or at home. If you're interested in developing your professional potential or continuing your formal education, we offer a variety of tools and resources. Visit us at https://www.northwestern.edu/hr/learning/index.html to learn more.

Northwestern strongly recommends COVID-19 vaccinations and boosters for people who can obtain them as a critical tool for minimizing severe illness. More information can be found on the COVID-19 and Campus Updates webpage.

The Northwestern campus sits on the traditional homelands of the people of the Council of Three Fires, the Ojibwe, Potawatomi, and Odawa as well as the Menominee, Miami and Ho-Chunk nations. We acknowledge and honor the original people of the land upon which Northwestern University stands, and the Native people who remain on this land today.

Northwestern University is an Equal Opportunity, Affirmative Action Employer of all protected classes, including veterans and individuals with disabilities. Women, racial and ethnic minorities, individuals with disabilities, and veterans are encouraged to apply. Click for information on EEO is the Law.

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