Director of Career Success & Community Engagement

Director of Career Success & Community Engagement

University of Dubuque

1 Positions

ID: B657C93AD7

Posted On 11/05/2026

Job Overview

Description

The Director of Career Success and Community Engagement provides visionary leadership for developing strategic employer partnerships, experiential learning opportunities, and comprehensive career readiness initiatives that prepare University of Dubuque students for meaningful careers and lives of purpose.

The Director serves as the University's primary liaison to regional, state, and national employers while leading a campus-wide career success ecosystem that integrates academic affairs, student life, athletics, residence life, alumni relations, and community engagement. This position develops innovative community partnerships that expand internships, apprenticeships, mentorships, experiential learning, sponsorships, and employment opportunities; while strengthening the University's workforce development mission.

The Director works collaboratively across campus to assist students in graduating with professional experience, career competencies, meaningful employer relationships, and a post-graduation plan aligned with the University's mission of educating and forming the whole person.

Requirements

Primary Responsibilities:

• Facilitate the development and implementation of a comprehensive University-wide Career Success Strategic Plan

• Develop annual departmental goals, assessment plans, and strategic performance metrics

• Supervise professional staff, graduate assistants, interns, and student employees

• Serve as the University's primary relationship manager with regional, national, and global employers

• Develop strategic partnerships that provide internships, cooperative education experiences, clinical placements, apprenticeships, corporate mentoring, employer-sponsored projects, recruitment pipelines, and collaborative international experiences

• Coordinate annual career fairs, networking events, employer panels, and professional development workshops

• Collaborate with campus partners to embed career readiness throughout the student experience

• Support faculty in integrating career preparation into academic curricula

• Coordinate employer site visits and industry immersion experiences

• Assist in developing Employer-in-Residence and Executive-in-Residence programs

• Develop strategic partnerships with the Greater Dubuque Development Corporation, local chambers of commerce, healthcare systems, manufacturing partners, financial institutions, and nonprofit organizations

• Collaborate with regional employers to identify workforce needs and emerging employment trends

• Coordinate workforce pipeline initiatives with community and economic development organizations

• Collaborate with campus partners to collect, analyze, and report data regarding internship participation, career readiness, completion, graduate placement, graduate school enrollment, employer satisfaction, student engagement, career outcomes, and First Destination Survey results

• Serve as campus administrator for: Handshake, career management platforms, employer relationship management systems, and career assessment software

• Represent the University at professional organizations, employer meetings, workforce initiatives, and higher education conferences

• Serve as a Title IX Campus Security Authority

• Support the University's Christian mission and institutional values

• Willingness and ability to be an active participant in following applicable safety rules and regulations, including necessary training and drills

• Perform other duties as assigned in support of the University's Mission

Position Skills and Abilities:

• Exceptional relationship-building and partnership development skills

• Proven business development and external relations experience

• Strategic planning and organizational leadership abilities

• Knowledge of workforce development and labor market trends

• Experience developing employer partnerships and experiential learning opportunities

• Strong presentation, communication, and public speaking skills

• Budget development and fiscal management experience

• Assessment, data analytics, and program evaluation expertise

• Ability to collaborative across multiple campus divisions

• Ability to inspire innovation and entrepreneurial thinking

• Excellent written, verbal, and interpersonal communication skills

Requirements:

• Graduate degree required in Higher Education Administration, Business Administration, Student Affairs, Human Resources, Organizational Leadership, Counseling, or a related field

• Five or more years of progressively responsible leadership experience in career services, employer relations, workforce development, corporate partnerships, university advancement, talent acquisition, or related areas

• Success in developing strategic partnerships with employers and community organizations

• Experience supervising professional staff and managing budgets

Primary Contact

12298

Human Resources -University of Dubuque

, HR

563-589-3364

Phone

Phone

Phone

563-589-3682

Fax

[email protected]

Email

True

True

True

Job Details

Categories

Banking/Mortgage/Financial Services

Education

Human Resources

Security

Location

Dubuque, IA

Job Type

Employee

Full/Part

Full Time

Company ID

1313

Job REQ #

B657C93AD7

# Positions

1

Start Date

20261105

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University of Dubuque

About the Company

About the University of Dubuque

The University of Dubuque is a private, Presbyterian, coeducational, professional university with a foundation in the liberal arts. Our commitment is to nurturing the mind, body, and spirit as well as encouraging students to explore their fullest potential, is part of a rich Christian identity that dates back to the University's founding in 1852. Our welcoming interfaith community of 2000 students attracts young men and women from across the country and around the globe who seek the knowledge and the skills to make a difference in our ever-changing world. Within a values and faith base, we offer you an array of perspectives and broad exposure to our truly global society. The University comprises the undergraduate college, the graduate school, and the theological seminary.

Mission and Vision

The University of Dubuque is a private university offering undergraduate, graduate, and theological seminary degrees, and other educational opportunities with the intention of educating and forming the whole person. The University is comprised of individuals from the region, our nation, and the world.

As a community, the University practices its Christian commitments by educating students, pursuing excellence in scholarship, challenging students to live lives of worth and purpose, and preparing students for service to the church and the world.

Therefore, the University of Dubuque is committed to:

• A hospitable Christian environment which respects other faith traditions;

• Relationships which encourage intellectual, spiritual, and moral development;

• Excellence in academic inquiry and professional preparation;

• A diverse and equitable community where Christian love is practiced;

• Stewardship of all God' human and natural resources;

• Zeal for life-long learning and service.