Director of Career Development

Center for Career & Professional Development (CCPD), reporting to the Division of Student Success, is the university’s centralized career planning and employment assistance service for USF students and alumni. The programs in the CCPD are designed to help students and graduates assess, explore, develop, and implement their career goals, gain employability skills and career-related experiences, prepare for a successful transition into graduate/professional school or the labor market, and connect with employers to obtain part-time jobs, internships, cooperative education, and professional employment. The CCPD holds the values of community, excellence, integrity, service, and well-being at the core of all they do.

The ideal candidate will report directly to the Associate Vice President/Executive Director of Career Services, this role works closely with the Career & Professional Development (CCPD), team and across the University, and strategic partners. In addition, they manage Assistant Directors and a team of Career Coaches and Peer Careers to:
• Train new career coaches and provide ongoing professional development opportunities for team
• Strategically establish the annual program/workshop schedule 
• Respond to program requests and delegate to appropriate CCPD staff  
• Develop partnerships with faculty and academic departments to provide students with the career knowledge and tools to successfully obtain internships, jobs, and/or graduate school admission
• Develop relationships with non-academic offices on campus that have direct contact with students to collaborate on programs
• Oversee program assessment, data collection, analysis, and reporting for the Career Development team 
• Coordinate involvement in Orientation and ensure all responsibilities are covered
• Provide one-on-one career coaching, develop and deliver workshops, provide assessment administration and interpretation, and conduct resume reviews
• Oversee the creation of career development content for career guides, tip sheets, the website, or other modes of delivery with assistance from the marketing and communications officer

Special Skills/Training:

• Knowledge of student and development and career development theories, implementation of high-impact educational practices, educational best practices, client record management, and job search techniques
• Experience in student and employer coaching, student and employer programming, and/or experience in a career center of a college/university or working with students in a higher education setting, or relevant role interfacing with students and employers.
• Knowledge of labor market trends, and state/federal labor laws related to the recruitment and hiring process
• Knowledge of relationship management with diverse stakeholders
• Proficiency in standard office applications/software, and the demonstrated ability to utilize computer applications and databases, manage data, spreadsheets, and documents, and create reports for the execution of work responsibilities.

Working at USF

With approximately 16,000 employees, the University of South Florida is one of the largest employers in the Tampa Bay area. We are dedicated to cultivating a talented, engaged and driven workforce that strives to be bold. Employees excel in USF‘s rich academic environment, which fosters their development and advancement. In 2025, Forbes recognized USF as one of Florida’s best large employers, ranked No. 1 among the state’s 12 public universities. Our first-class benefits package includes medical, dental and life insurance plans, retirement plan options, employee and dependent tuition programs, generous leave, and hundreds of employee perks and discounts.

About USF 

The University of South Florida is a top-ranked research university serving approximately 50,000 students from across the globe at campuses in Tampa, St. Petersburg, Sarasota-Manatee and USF Health. USF is recognized by U.S. News & World Report as a top 50 public university and the best value in Florida. U.S. News also ranks the USF Health Morsani College of Medicine as the No. 1 medical school in Florida and in the highest tier nationwide. USF is a member of the Association of American Universities (AAU), a group that includes only the top 3% of universities in the U.S. With an all-time high of $738 million in research funding in 2024 and as a top 20 public university for producing U.S. patents, USF uses innovation to transform lives and shape a better future. The university generates an annual economic impact of more than $6 billion. USF’s Division I athletics teams compete in the American Athletic Conference. Learn more at www.usf.edu.

Compliance and Federal Notices

This position may be subject to a Level 1 or Level 2 criminal background check.

Applicants have rights under Federal Employment Laws: 

The University of South Florida is an equal opportunity employer that does not discriminate against any employee or applicant for employment based on any characteristic protected by law.  The University maintains programs for protected veterans and individuals with disabilities in accordance with all applicable federal and state laws.

Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA)

Applicants for USF employment are entitled to request reasonable accommodation(s) in the application process. A request is to be made at least five (5) working days prior to the time the accommodation(s) is needed. Visit the Central Human Resources ADA Accommodations webpage for more information on requesting an accommodation during the application/interview process.

Equal Employment Opportunity

The University of South Florida is an equal opportunity employer that does not discriminate against any employee or applicant for employment based on any characteristic protected by law.  The University maintains affirmative action programs for protected veterans and individuals with disabilities in accordance with all applicable federal and state laws.  This job description does not constitute an employment contract.