Art Center College of Design is hiring: Director, Creative Careers in San Diego

ArtCenter College of Design is searching for an experienced Director, Creative Careers to join our team.
The salary range for this position: $85,000.00 - 105,000.00

Final salary is based on education, experience, skills relevant to the role, and internal equity.

About ArtCenter

Founded in 1930 and located in Pasadena, California, ArtCenter College of Design is a global leader in art and design education and has had an international reputation for its rigorous, transdisciplinary curriculum, faculty of professionals, strong ties to industry, and commitment to socially responsible design. ArtCenter is a private nonprofit fully accredited by the WASC Senior College and University Commission (WSCUC).

Every position at ArtCenter plays an important part in carrying out the cultural values, goals, strategic vision, and mission of the College. This includes upholding and cultivating an inclusive, respectful, and welcoming environment where everyone feels a sense of belonging.

Reporting to the Associate Provost, Creative Careers & Global Programs, the Director of Creative Careers provides strategy and leadership direction in the development, implementation, and administration of a comprehensive career and professional development program/services for students and alumni to achieve higher value-added educational outcomes, employment, career progression opportunities, and to develop their leadership potential and capabilities. The incumbent will support diverse career pathway development for ArtCenter students at all levels: non-degree, undergraduate, graduate; in all modalities: residential, online, hybrid, asynchronous; and at all locations on and off campus, within and outside the United States.

This is a full-time position. Normal business hours are Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. The position may require flexibility to work a staggered, remote or alternate schedule to meet the demands of the work, which could include weekends or evenings. The position is eligible for flexible scheduling and can be performed remotely, hybrid or may be required as a condition of employment with the expectation of three days onsite.

Essential Functions

Department Operations – 30%

• General departmental leadership and overseeing the department budget, strategic planning, logistics, events, administrative support to implement operations
• Oversee recruitment, hiring, orientation, training and supervision of department staff and contractors; oversee performance evaluation process
• Lead CRM and database management efforts, designing and deploying processes that strengthen communication, workflow, and data integrity
• Interact and build relationships with diverse constituencies (students, alumni, chairs, faculty, staff) to promote, facilitate and deliver services of the Career and Professional Development Office
• Partner and work with faculty, alumni, development, marketing and communications, alumni & industry engagement and campus administrators to identify internships, employment opportunities for students and share these outcomes with our community
• Promote career development through presentations and resources at new student orientation, family orientation, first year experience programs and in the classroom
• Enforce all College policies, including safety protocols

Program Development & Management – 30%

• Develop innovative short-term and long-term strategies to enhance career pathway offerings for students
• Manage comprehensive portfolio of career development offerings providing return on investment for students and supporting early career alumni
• Assess existing services and programs to determine effectiveness; ensure the delivery of high quality services and programs oriented toward the success of students; evaluate programs and procedures for the most efficient and effective delivery of services; initiate periodic review and revision of office policies, procedures and forms
• Identify, develop and integrate technology to increase the quality of services and programs
• Manage communication strategy for employer, staff/faculty and students
• Develop and oversee robust online career resources
• Lead and manage industry-student mentorship program
• Guide services for traditional and non-traditional career pathways including job search skills, portfolio development, professional protocol and etiquette, presentation skills
• Direct comprehensive skill-building workshops for traditional and non-traditional pathways, touching all aspects of career development in all modalities: residential, online, hybrid, asynchronous; and at all locations on and off campus
• Oversee career programming within cross-departmental collaborations

Content Development and External Outreach – 35%

• Develop a strategic approach to expand employer database and increase engagement for recruiting programs and events to employers.
• Strengthen partnerships with local and national employers to support student success through internships, mentorship, and recruiting programs.
• Plan and manage industry visits for a diverse group of industry partners each term.
• Collaborate with Alumni and Industry Engagement to expand our international alumni and industry networks to serve students and deliver expanded career opportunities to support our international students’ career prospects in their home countries.
• Collaborate with Marketing and Communications to create compelling messaging to highlight the ROI of an ArtCenter education in relation to job opportunities and career pathways.

Non-Essential duties – 5%

• Serve on educational or college-wide committees, work groups, task forces and/or councils
• Attend conferences and seminars
• Other duties as assigned

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in education, counseling, business, or related field from an accredited college or institution
• Minimum of 5-7 years’ experience in career development in higher education, a creative environment or relatively similar environment
• Knowledge of current technologies and developing trends in learning and development or career services
• Proficient with desktop computers and demonstrated experience in use of database maintenance and web based technology to produce related reports
• Three years of management and supervisory experience with proven leadership and organizational skills
• Excellent oral and written communication skills to establish and maintain effective working relationships within all organizational levels and with outside constituencies
• Must possess problem solving skills, flexibility and able to handle multiple responsibilities and competing demands
• Demonstrated leadership in career development, experiential education, employee relations, staff development, current technology, and understanding change management
• Demonstrated understanding of the recruitment and employment practices of corporate, small-business, governmental, and not-for-profit agencies
• Ability to assess career development needs of student/alumni population and provide effective services and programs
• Ability to handle confidential information with tact and discretion and recognizes the confidential nature of ArtCenter business
• Demonstrated experience in cultivating an inclusive, respectful, and welcoming environment within ArtCenter’s diverse communities
• Ability to travel and attend night and weekend activities as needed

Preferred qualifications

• Master’s degree in education, counseling, business, or related field from an accredited college or institution
• Experience in art and design education
• Specific knowledge of the art and design-related employment market
• Working knowledge and sensitivity to career aspirations of the creative community

Physical Demands and Working Environment

The conditions herein are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential job functions.

Environment

Work is performed primarily in a standard office setting with frequent interruptions and distractions; extended periods of viewing computer monitor; interactions with other individuals. Due to the nature of the work environment, there is regular exposure to fumes, dust and noise.

Physical

The position is performed in an office setting. Employee is stationary most of the time but may move around the office environment for brief periods of time. Primary functions require sufficient physical ability and mobility to work in an office setting; to stand or sit for prolonged periods of time; to occasionally stoop, bend, kneel, crouch, reach, and twist; to lift, carry, push, and/or pull light to moderate amounts of weight (up to 10 pounds); to operate modern office equipment requiring repetitive hand movement and fine coordination including use of a computer keyboard; and to verbally communicate to exchange information. Regular and consistent attendance are required for most positions. Ability to travel between campuses.

Vision

Must be able to have the visual capacity to perform activities such as preparing and reading reports, viewing a computer terminal and other normal office work with or without correction.

Hearing

Must be able to communicate effectively in the course of normal office communication or exchange ideas with or without correction.

Diversity Statement

ArtCenter is fully committed to fostering a culture that values diversity, equity, inclusion, access and belonging not only in vision but in practice. Our path forward is predicated on our belief that multiple points of view, life experiences, ethnicities, cultures and belief systems are essential to academic and creative excellence. We strive to learn more about difference while respecting the rich diversity in our world, attending to important questions about racial injustice and decolonizing our curriculum. Our campus environment must be vigilant in supporting the full participation of students, faculty, and staff of every race, color, ethnicity, sex, gender, gender identity or expression, marital status, religion, sexual orientation, age, disability, veteran status, socioeconomic status and political viewpoint.

Equal Opportunity Employer

ArtCenter is committed to a policy of equal employment opportunity and does not discriminate against its employees or applicants on the basis of race (including hair texture and protective hairstyle), color, religion (includes religious dress and grooming practices), sex/gender (includes pregnancy, childbirth, breastfeeding, and/or related medical conditions), gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation, marital status, medical condition (genetic characteristics, cancer, or a record or history of cancer), military or veteran status, national origin, ancestry, disability (mental and physical, including HIV/AIDS, cancer and genetic characteristics), genetic information, request for family care or medical leave, age (over 40), criminal background (Fair Chance Act), reproductive health decision-making, off‑premises cannabis use, or any other actual or perceived characteristic protected by applicable state or federal law. Equal employment opportunity is extended to all persons in all aspects of the employer-employee relationship, including without limitation, recruitment, hiring, upgrading, learning and professional development, promotion, compensation, benefits, leave of absence, transfer, discipline, layoff, recall and termination. This commitment applies to all persons involved in the operations of ArtCenter and prohibits unlawful discrimination by any employee of ArtCenter. Applicants who wish to request an accommodation for a disability may contact the Office of Employee Experience and Engagement at (626) 396‑2470.

Applicant Rights (Prior Cannabis Use)

ArtCenter will not request information from an applicant relating to the applicant’s prior use of cannabis. ArtCenter will not use information obtained from a criminal history about an applicant or employee’s prior cannabis use, unless ArtCenter is permitted to consider that information under applicable law.

Employment At-Will

All employment with ArtCenter is for an unspecified term and is “at-will.” Employees are free to resign at any time, with or without reason, and with or without prior notice. Similarly, ArtCenter has the right to terminate the employment relationship at any time, with or without cause, and with or without prior notice. This “at-will” employment, which includes the College’s right to transfer, discipline, demote, or change the conditions of employment with or without cause and with or without prior notice, cannot be modified, amended or waived by any oral or implied agreement, and may be modified or altered only by an express individualized written employment agreement signed by both the employee and the College president.

ArtCenter Employees have a Mandatory Duty to Report

All employees who know or have reason to know of allegations or acts that violate ArtCenter’s Title IX Policy prohibiting discrimination, harassment, retaliation, sexual harassment, sexual misconduct, sexual violence, dating violence, and stalking shall promptly inform the Director, Title IX Compliance and Programs or designee, or the Associate Dean of Students or designee.

Pursuant to the California Child Abuse and Neglect Reporting Act (CANRA)

All employees who know of or have reason to suspect child abuse or neglect involving alleged victims under age 18 shall promptly inform local law enforcement or the county welfare department.