Assistant Director for Career Education and Development

Position Details Position Information Announcement Number

STAFF - VA - 26388

For questions regarding this position, please contact: Elizabeth Feary 406-994-4385 elizabeth.feary@montana.edu Classification Title Program Mgr Working Title Assistant Director for Career Education and Development Brief Position Overview Are you an innovative and thoughtful leader? Join a dynamic team at Montana State University, where guiding students is a passion and privilege. From Orientation to Graduation and Beyond, MSU Career Services empowers our students to explore career possibilities, build purpose, and launch their future. Through connection, collaboration, and innovation, we help every student turn their Montana State experience into lifelong opportunity. We leverage the spirit of teamwork, hard work, and dedication to make our strategic plans become an operational reality. The Assistant Director, Career Education and Development, provides peer-to-peer leadership for university-wide career readiness initiatives at Montana State University. Reporting to the Director of Career Services, this role is responsible for the design, implementation, assessment, and continuous improvement of career readiness resources and services that advance student persistence, timely graduation, and positive post-graduation outcomes. Position Number 4M0518 Department Career Services Division Division of Student Success Appointment Type Classified Contract Term Fiscal Year Semester If other, specify From date If other, specify End date FLSA Exempt Union Affiliation Exempt from Collective Bargaining FTE 1.0 Benefits Eligible Eligible Salary $27.00 per hour, commensurate with experience, education, and qualifications Contract Type Classified Salary If other, please specify Recruitment Type Open Position Details General Statement The Assistant Director, Career Education and Development, leads the development and execution of comprehensive career education initiatives that prepare MSU students for meaningful careers and lifelong professional growth. This role collaborates closely with faculty, campus partners, employers, and external organizations to integrate career development across the student experience and to ensure MSU Career Services delivers high-impact, equitable, and outcome-driven programming.

Duties and Responsibilities AI & Technology Integration:

Lead the hands-on implementation and maintenance of AI-driven career tools and digital platforms to automate service delivery and modernize the student experience.

Curriculum & Program Management:

Manage the end-to-end delivery of design-centered career development programming, ensuring high-quality instruction and alignment with student persistence and graduation outcomes.

Workflow & Systems Oversight:

Design and optimize internal operational workflows and technical infrastructure (e.g., Handshake, CRM systems) to ensure seamless coordination across university-wide initiatives.

Team Supervision:

Provide direct supervision and technical training for student staff or peer leads, managing daily work assignments and ensuring operational excellence.

Data-Informed Coordination:

Perform in-house data collection and functional reporting on program participation and student outcomes to identify trends and suggest operational improvements.

Stakeholder & Vendor Liaison:

Act as the primary operational contact for campus departments, external employers, and technology vendors to facilitate recruitment events and troubleshoot technical issues. Required Qualifications -

Experience, Education, Knowledge & Skills Education:

Bachelor's degree in Education, Sociology, Communications, Business, or a related field.

Experience:

5-7 years of professional experience in program management, student support services, or educational technology coordination.

Technical Competency:

Demonstrated high level of proficiency with standard office productivity suites, SharePoint, and other higher ed platforms.

Operational Leadership:

Proven experience in managing complex administrative workflows, coordinating large-scale events, or supervising small teams/student workers. Preferred Qualifications -

Experience, Education, Knowledge & Skills Education:

Master's degree in Education, Sociology, Communications, Business, or a related field.

Adaptability:

A "future-focused" mindset with the ability to quickly learn and pivot as new AI tools and labor market trends emerge.

Collaborative Diplomacy:

The ability to build rapport with diverse students, faculty, and external employers to move projects forward.

Proactive Problem Solving:

A self-starter attitude with the ability to troubleshoot technical or logistical hurdles independently.

Effective Communication:

The ability to translate complex technical processes or career data into clear, actionable information for a non-technical audience.

The Successful Candidate Will Instructional Technology:

Practical skill in using Learning Management Systems ( LMS ) or AI-enhanced educational software.

Project Management:

Proficiency in tools like SharePoint, Asana, Trello, or Monday.com to track multi-phase career initiatives.

Data Literacy:

Ability to perform basic data cleaning and visualization to tell a story with program metrics.

Design Thinking Application:

Experience applying "Life Design" or "Design Thinking" frameworks to curriculum and problem-solving.

Professional Networking:

Comfort in using LinkedIn and other digital platforms for employer outreach and student engagement. Position Special Requirements/Additional Information This position will require occasional scheduled evening and potential weekend hours to host events and interact with students. This job description should not be construed as an exhaustive statement of duties, responsibilities or requirements, but a general description of the job. Nothing contained herein restricts Montana State University's rights to assign or reassign duties and responsibilities to this job at any time. Physical Demands To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily with or without reasonable accommodations. The requirements listed above are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. This position has supervisory duties? Yes Posting Detail Information Number of Vacancies 1 Desired Start Date Upon completion of a successful search. Position End Date (if temporary) Open Date Close Date Applications will be: Screening of applications will begin on May 15th; however, applications will continue to be accepted until an adequate applicant pool has been established. Special Instructions This position is not eligible for new sponsorship EEO Statement Montana State University is an equal opportunity employer. MSU does not discriminate against any applicant on the basis of race, color, religion, creed, political ideas, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, marital status, national origin, physical or mental disability, or any other protected class status in violation of any applicable law. In compliance with the Montana Veteran's Employment Preference Act, MSU provides preference in employment to veterans, disabled veterans, and certain eligible relatives of veterans. To claim veteran's preference, please complete the veteran's preference information located in the Demographics section of your profile. Applicant Documents Required Documents Resume Cover Letter Optional Documents Supplemental Questions Required fields are indicated with an asterisk (•).