PROSPECTUS
Director of the Center for Career Development
Drew University
ABOUT DREW UNIVERSITY
Drew University, a Phi Beta Kappa liberal arts university, includes the College of Liberal Arts, the Drew Theological School and the Caspersen School of Graduate Studies. Drew is located on a beautiful, wooded campus in Madison, New Jersey, a thriving small town close to New York City.
It has a total enrollment of more than 2,200 students and has 136 full-time faculty members, 96% of whom hold the terminal degree in their field. The Theological and Caspersen schools offer master’s and doctoral degrees, and the College confers BA and BS degrees in 40 disciplines and offers 19 dual-degree programs.
Drew’s one-of-a-kind, leading edge path to an undergraduate degree, Launch, ensures that every student graduates with a purpose, sought-after transferable skills, a network of mentors, and an experience-based résumé—guaranteed. Particularly noteworthy opportunities for undergraduates include the Charles A. Dana Research Institute for Scientists Emeriti (RISE), the Drew Summer Science Institute (DSSI), the Center for Civic Engagement, as well as seven New York City semesters and several international study abroad programs.
The Caspersen School of Graduate Studies offers a wide array of distinctive and flexible advanced degree programs designed to meet the needs of almost any busy schedule. All programs are based on Drew’s renowned commitment to faculty-student mentorship, opportunities for out-of-the-classroom experiential learning, and facilitating a robust intellectual community.
The Theological School has a distinguished history rooted in the United Methodist Church. Today, it serves many denominations as a center for preparing clergy and leaders for service in the church and the world. Its focus on biblical and theological scholarship and social justice has made it a sought after destination for students pursuing master’s and doctoral degrees.
POSITION OVERVIEW
The Director of the Center for Career Development is a transformative leader committed to student development, success, and career readiness. As a member of the Launch leadership team, the Director works collaboratively to ensure that all students graduate connected, confident in knowing their purpose, and capable of entering today’s workforce.
The Director will develop a vision for the Center for Career Development and provide strategic leadership for all aspects of the Center’s essential work which includes:
-
Provide students with highly informed, individualized guidance on career design and professional development relevant to their personal, academic, and professional goals.
-
Direct and deliver effective career services to Drew’s diverse communities through career coaching, programs, and events that account for unique needs of all students.
-
Design and implement a robust employer relations program to yield connections and internships supporting students and alumni in achieving successful post-graduation outcomes.
-
Represent Career Development on university committees and consult with faculty on regional, state-wide and national industry and employment trends to further students’ knowledge on career pathways.
-
Leverage technology to create and scale a robust virtual presence that supports students’ career readiness and connects them with employers and alumni.
-
Develop a team that communicates critical information clearly and cultivates relationships across campus.
-
Lead, train, and mentor three, industry-focused assistant directors and other staff engaged with career development efforts; hire, train, and equip new staff as needed.
-
Manage center operations and budget, and the systematic collection and analysis of engagement and outcome data to inform decisions about current and future strategic planning and allocation of resources.
This is a full-time, exempt position that requires regular weekly in-person engagement on campus, and the successful candidate will report to the Executive Director of Launch.
Required Qualifications
-
Bachelor’s degree required; master's preferred.
-
5+ years leadership experience and demonstrable success in career services, employer relations, facilitation of career or transferable skill development, or workforce initiatives.
-
Broad knowledge and understanding of best practices in university career services, student career and professional development, career readiness, and career opportunities for students in diverse programs and majors.
-
Knowledge of and experience with career counseling/coaching techniques utilizing self-assessment tools and strategies to engage students and alumni in successful career decision-making.
-
Experience engaging and working with a broad range of internal (e.g., students, Deans, faculty, and staff) and external (e.g., employers, alums, and other community members) constituents to meet the Center’s strategic objectives.
-
Appreciation for and experience with leveraging technology that provides users with comprehensive access to virtual networking and experiential opportunities, and innovative tools for effective services and collaboration.
-
Excellent interpersonal, communication (oral, written, and presentation), listening, and analytical skills.
-
Organizational skills, attention to detail, and ability to manage complex projects collaboratively and plan strategically.
-
The ability to work with diverse constituents and a commitment to an environment that considers diversity, inclusion, and equity an asset to decision-making and performance.
ABOUT THE CENTER FOR CAREER DEVELOPMENT
The Center for Career Development supports students and alumni by providing connections, resources and opportunities in order to engage and empower them in the development and realization of successful career outcomes.
APPLICATION INSTRUCTIONS
This position offers a competitive salary and benefits. Interested applicants should submit a cover letter, current resume, and three references as one document, either in Word or a PDF. The file name should start with your first name and then your last name, such as “John Doe - Drew Application.” This should be emailed to search@careerleadershipcollective.com with the email subject of “Application for Drew Director Career Development.”
To be considered, interested applicants should submit the requested materials no later than Sunday, April 23, 2023 by 11:59 EDT.
To enrich education through diversity, Drew University is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Following federal and state requirements, a candidate must provide proof of eligibility to work in the United States if selected for hire. This position is subject to a background check.
Stacy Fischer
Executive Director of Launch (she/her/hers)
Stacy Fischer is a creative, forward-thinking, higher education professional with more than 30 years of experience in strategic planning, program development, budgeting, fundraising, risk management and admissions. She currently serves as Executive Director of Launch, the career development platform at Drew University. Previously, she served as Drew’s Director of Global Education from 2011 to 2022. In her current role, Stacy is responsible for the intentional integration of rigorous academics, networked mentorship, and purposeful experiences to ensure that every Drew student graduates prepared to flourish both personally and professionally.
As a fundraiser with the Independent College Fund of New Jersey, Stacy helped establish and administer workforce development scholarship programs designed to recruit, retain and support students who would contribute to the state’s economic and intellectual base. A recipient of a Fulbright English Teaching Assistantship, she spent a year teaching English at the collège level in Rennes, France. She is a Certified Education Abroad Professional and has served as a Certification Assessor with the Forum on Education Abroad. Stacy has presented at professional conferences on topics ranging from faculty engagement in study abroad to short-term program planning. She earned an MA degree in English Literature and holds a BA degree in English Literature and French, both from Drew.
Leadership Bios:
Jessica L. Lakin
Provost and Vice President of Academic Affairs (she/her/hers)
Dr. Jessica L. Lakin is the Provost and Vice President of Academic Affairs at Drew University. Prior to accepting this position in July 2020, she served as the Associate Provost for Academic Administration, an Associate Dean for the College of Liberal Arts, and as Chair of the Psychology Department. She originally joined the Drew community in 2003 as a faculty member in the psychology department and now also holds an appointment as a Professor of Psychology. As provost, she works collaboratively with her faculty colleagues, academic staff, and campus leadership to ensure that Drew students are prepared to add to the world’s good and respond to urgent challenges with rigorous, independent, and imaginative thought.
Dr. Lakin earned her BA from Butler University and her MA and Ph.D. in Psychology from The Ohio State University. She has taught a variety of courses in psychology, including social psychology, nonverbal behavior, and stereotyping and prejudice. Her scholarly work has appeared in many well-known journals, including Psychological Science, the Journal of Nonverbal Behavior, the Journal of Experimental Social Psychology, and Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin. She has published chapters on nonconscious behavioral mimicry in several books, including a co-authored chapter in the Annual Review of Psychology in 2013. She is a Fellow in the Society for Experimental Social Psychology and currently serves on the editorial board for the Journal of Nonverbal Behavior.
