PROSPECTUS
Director of Career and Life Design
APPLICATION DEADLINE: July 18, 2025
POSITION OVERVIEW
Trinity College is seeking the next leader of the Career and Life Design Center, growing the office's impact on the Trinity community and beyond. A nationally recognized office and accomplished career team, the heart of the Center remains providing personalized guidance to each student and alumnus, encouraging them to be curious, find their people, and continue to network throughout their Trinity journey and beyond. The next Career and Life Design Center leader will build upon and accelerate the work of growing Trinity's career ecosystem.
The Director of Career and Life Design provides visionary leadership for the Center, overseeing a comprehensive portfolio of services and programs supporting students and alumni navigating college and career transitions. This role ensures the integration of life design coaching, career development, experiential learning, and global connections into a holistic student experience. Reporting to the Vice President of Student Success and Enrollment Management, the Director contributes to strategic initiatives that enhance student success from recruitment to graduation and fosters a strong, shared identity across the Trinity College community.
KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES
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Strong experience in successfully leading a career development team leadership
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Strong commitment to integrating life design into all initiatives
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Knowledge of:
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Student conduct and advising
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Design thinking, life design, and career development best practices
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International students and related support and services
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Best practices in student retention and related programs
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The integration of academic and experiential learning, including collaboration with faculty to enhance student development
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Strong interpersonal skills
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Strong written and verbal communication skills
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Strong analytical and problem-solving abilities
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Strong growth mindset
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Ability to:
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Passionately serve the needs of students from a range of socioeconomic, racial, and sexual identities, and other perspectives and backgrounds.
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Use sound judgment and handle complex situations with sensitivity and objectivity.
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Build on the energy of a strong department and continue to foster a strong team culture.
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Work under pressure, initiate and complete concurrent tasks with accuracy in a timely fashion.
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Represent the department, division, and the College with professionalism.
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Cultivate effective relationships with multiple constituencies, including faculty, students, alumni, parents, and other campus colleagues, to integrate academic and experiential learning opportunities into career and life design initiatives.
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REQUIREMENTS
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Master's Degree, 5-8 years of work experience. Areas of expertise: Coaching, Higher Education Management, Management, or related area
PREFERRED REQUIREMENTS
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Areas of Expertise: Coaching, Counseling, Teaching, Higher Education, Management, or related area.
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Expertise in navigating higher education
ABOUT TRINITY
Trinity is a highly selective, independent, nonsectarian liberal arts institution located in the capital city of Hartford, Connecticut. The college maintains a rigorous academic profile complemented by a vibrant co-curricular program. With more than 2,100 full-time undergraduate students, representing forty-three states and ninety-one countries, we consider our location in a culturally and socioeconomically diverse capital city to be among Trinity's most distinctive assets, and we cultivate strong connections with our surrounding neighbors and with institutions and organizations throughout Hartford and the region. As a preeminent liberal arts college in an urban setting, Trinity College prepares students to be bold, independent thinkers who lead transformative lives.
Division of Student Success and Enrollment Management
The Division of Student Success and Enrollment Management is dedicated to fostering an inclusive and supportive environment for a diverse and academically talented student body. By focusing on recruitment, enrollment, and graduation, the division ensures that students have access to essential resources for their success. Emphasizing well-being and community engagement, the division promotes a seamless journey from recruitment through graduation, strengthening connections among students, alumni, faculty, and staff. With a commitment to community, diversity, equity, and inclusivity, the division enhances both retention and graduation rates, empowering students to thrive within a vibrant and caring community where every student is empowered to succeed.
ABOUT THE CAREER & LIFE DESIGN CENTER
Trinity College's Career & Life Design Center in the newly renovated Cornelia Center comprises Career & Life Design Coaching, Retention Strategy & Transition Programs, and International Student & Scholar Advising. The three pillars of Career & Life Design include Early Engagement, Experiential Learning, and Preparing for Life After Trinity. Our team has adapted the NACE Career Competencies to incorporate into our everyday work. We aim to support students through empowerment and persistence, while guiding them to degree completion, by designing innovative programs and providing holistic support.
Through comprehensive workshops, one-on-one coaching, and innovative resources, we empower students to design personalized success plans, build valuable networks, craft robust résumés, excel in interviews, and engage in transformative experiential learning opportunities. By leveraging our strong connections with employers and alumni, we ensure our students are exposed to diverse possibilities, fostering a sense of purpose and direction.
Our Coaching Model includes Holistic Coaching (e.g., time management, organization, and goal setting) and Specialty Coaching (e.g., mapping your career journey, navigating transitions, and international student and scholar advising). We have also established Career Communities for students, which are based on industry rather than major, to help students cultivate their industry-specific skills, connections, and resources. Our coaching services are accessible to both Trinity students and alumni.
LEADERSHIP
Joseph DiChristina
Vice President for Student Success and Enrollment Management
A member of the Trinity community since July 2015, Joseph DiChristina oversees Trinity's newly formed Student Success and Enrollment Management Division, which represents a strategically holistic approach to the student experience and spans the entire student life cycle, from the prospective student to the graduate launching into life beyond Trinity.
The division comprises undergraduate and graduate admissions; financial aid; Posse scholars; career development; student success and retention; the Individualized Degree Program; dean of student life, community life, and standards; campus life and social houses; campus safety; athletics and recreation; the Bantam Network residential learning community; counseling and wellness; health center; housing; spiritual and religious life; accessibility; student involvement and leadership; and international students and scholars.
DiChristina was named to this position after serving five years as Trinity's dean of campus life and vice president for student affairs, responsible for all student life and involvement areas. He came to Trinity from Allegheny College in Pennsylvania, where he had served as dean of students since 2001 and was the founding director of that college's award-winning Center for Experiential Learning. Previously, he served at Oberlin College in Ohio in several areas, including residential life, campus safety and security, and student activities, before being appointed associate dean of students.
DiChristina earned a B.S. in biochemistry from Beloit College and a master's degree in higher education from the University of Akron.
APPLICATIONS & DEADLINES
Interested applicants should submit a cover letter, current resume, and three references saved as one document, either Word or a PDF. The file name should start with your first and last names, such as “John Doe - Trinity College Application.” This should be emailed to search@careerleadershipcollective.com with the subject “Application for Trinity Director, Career and Life Design.”
To be considered, interested applicants should submit the requested materials no later than Friday, July 18, 2025, 11:59 EDT.
