Associate Director, High Impact Learning and C2C

Associate Director, High Impact Learning and C2C

Wayne State University is searching for an experienced Associate Director, High Impact Learning and C2C at its Detroit campus location. Wayne State is a premier, public, urban research university located in the heart of Detroit, Michigan where students from all backgrounds are offered a rich, high-quality education. Our deep-rooted commitment to excellence, collaboration, integrity, diversity and inclusion creates exceptional educational opportunities which prepare students for success in a global society. Essential functions (job duties) :

Job Purpose The Associate Director, High-Impact Learning and Career Engagement supports university-wide efforts to integrate career-engaged learning into the student experience at Wayne State University. Reporting to the Vice Provost for Partnerships and Workforce, the associate director is responsible for coordinating and advancing initiatives that connect high-impact practices, such as internships, undergraduate research, community-based learning, and experiential education, to career readiness outcomes. Collaborating with academic units, career services, employer relations teams, and external partners, the Associate Director helps expand opportunities for students to develop professional competencies and successfully transition from college to career. The Associate Director also manages assessment efforts, partnership development activities, communications, and operational processes related to high-impact, career-engaged learning initiatives, supporting the broader strategic direction set by the Vice Provost. Support the operational coordination and advancement of the College to Career (C2C) initiative, ensuring alignment with university goals related to student success, workforce readiness, and community engagement. Develop, implement, and manage programs and services that integrate career development across academic, experiential, and co-curricular experiences. Serve as a key contributor and advisor to the Vice Provost for Partnerships and Workforce on career readiness strategies, employer engagement, and workforce development trends. Represent the Vice Provost and the College to Career initiative at internal and external meetings related to workforce development, partnerships, and career services innovation. Build and strengthen collaborative partnerships with academic units, career services, employer relations teams, experiential learning programs, and community organizations to expand career readiness pathways for students. Coordinate efforts with internal and external stakeholders to promote internships, co-ops, research experiences, and employment opportunities aligned with students' academic and professional development. Support employer engagement strategies to expand the network of organizations offering career-engaged learning opportunities. Collaborate with Institutional Research and other university offices to track, assess, and report on career outcomes, experiential learning participation, and career competency development. Assist in the design, rollout, and continuous improvement of career readiness tools and career exploration resources. Lead communication efforts related to the initiative, including the preparation of internal reports, development of promotional materials, management of website content, and coordination of career-engaged learning showcases. Oversee day-to-day operational activities, including budget tracking, resource planning, and workflow coordination, in support of the College to Career initiative. Supervise assigned professional staff, graduate assistants, or student workers involved in College to Career initiatives. Develop and maintain internal processes and project management systems to ensure efficient and effective initiative execution. Perform other duties as assigned.

Qualifications :

Education Master's degree - Master's degree in higher education, student affairs, career development, or related field preferred. Experience Specialist (minimum 5 years of job-related experience) - Minimum of 5 years of experience in career services, experiential learning, student success, workforce development, employer relations, academic administration, or a related field. - Demonstrated experience in program leadership, including developing, implementing, and assessing large-scale initiatives. - Experience building partnerships with internal (academic units, faculty, advising) and external (employers, community organizations) stakeholders. - Proven ability to use data to track outcomes, drive improvements, and report results to leadership and campus partners. - Experience supervising professional staff or coordinating project teams. - Grant writing or experience managing externally funded initiatives is preferred. Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities - Knowledge of career development theories, career readiness frameworks (e.g., NACE competencies), and workforce development trends. - Understanding of experiential learning models, including internships, research, community engagement, and co-curricular experiences. - Familiarity with higher education structures, student success initiatives, and partnerships between academic programs and employer communities. - Ability to develop, lead, and assess large-scale university initiatives with multiple stakeholders. - Ability to build effective partnerships with academic units, career services, employers, and community organizations. - Ability to use data for strategic planning, outcomes assessment, and continuous improvement. - Strong organizational and project management skills, with the ability to manage multiple priorities and meet deadlines. - Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to prepare reports, presentations, and promotional materials. - Ability to supervise, mentor, and coordinate staff and student employees. - Ability to think strategically while maintaining attention to operational details.

School / College / Division : H92 - VP Student Affairs Primary department : H9203 - Placement Services (H9203) Employment type : Regular Employee Job type : Full Time Job category : Executive Funding / salary information : Compensation type : Annual Salary Salary minimum : Salary hire maximum : Working conditions : Normal office environment and in person requirement flexibility. Job openings : Number of openings : 1 Reposted position : No Reposted reason : None (New Requisition) Prior posting / requisition number : Background check requirements : University policy requires certain persons who are offered employment to undergo a background check, including a criminal history check, before starting work. If you are offered employment, the university will inform you if a background check is required. The university welcomes applications from persons with disabilities and veterans. Wayne State is an equal opportunity employer.