Executive Director-Career & Workforce Development

Executive Director, Career and Workforce Development
Malcolm X College

The mission of Malcolm X College is to provide accessible liberal arts and health-focused education that fosters personal and professional achievement. To fulfill this mission, we focus on the following core values: accountability, community, diversity, empowerment, learning, and respect.  Malcolm X College (MXC) Career Center supports students’ persistence and completion efforts in achieving their goals towards graduation and career readiness. We are currently searching for a full-time Executive Director, Career and Workforce Development to serve our alumni, students, and community by providing comprehensive services in career planning and career readiness.

PRIMARY OBJECTIVE

Reporting to the college President, the Executive Director, Career and Workforce Development provides leadership and management oversight of comprehensive student services relating to career advising, career education programming, and workforce development. The Executive Director manages professional staff and directs the delivery of student services provided through the Career Center in alignment with MXC’s strategic plans for student engagement, retention, and success strategies.

Accountabilities include:

• Manage a staff of Career Service Advisors and create and facilitate innovative career development programming.
• Collaborate with key stakeholders in building relationships with potential employers to cultivate job, apprenticeship, and internship opportunities for students.
• Increase students’ awareness and competency in career readiness skills.
• Partner with the workforce planning team to connect students with job placement opportunities. 
• Consistently and sustainably expand, develop, and refine career center offerings; and perform related duties as required.

 

ESSENTIAL DUTIES

• Design, develop and operationalize a new space to address the workforce and career readiness skills for all current and prospective student of Malcolm X College as well as members of the community.
• Implements strategies and programming designed to assist and guide alumni, students, and other members of the community in making informed decisions about their careers and successful transition into the workforce.
• Directs staff working with new/enrolled students and alumni in researching and selecting career and/or academic pathways and implementing plans to achieve their identified goals.
• Guides staff of Career Services Advisors in meeting the unique needs of identified student populations including veterans, students with disabilities or other challenges, as well as alumni looking to re-direct their careers.
• Takes a holistic and well-rounded approach to career planning, placement, and development, including interview preparation, offering professional attire and other self-care services to students, and partnerships and networks within the community.  
• Works closely with the Director-Workforce Partnerships to solicit, catalog within the jobs bank and display job opportunities to align with job seekers (both on campus and external),
• Oversees the provision of services and resources to assist students and job seekers pursuing a career in their field of study or interest.
• Directs the development and delivery of workshops and presentations aimed at supporting students’ career and workforce exploration and attainment of goals.
• Collaborates with Director-Workforce Partnerships, academic programs, and external partners on developing new opportunities and initiatives to support student success 
• Supports Student Services program staff, providing workshops and expert advice on topics relating to career planning including use of career assessment instruments and job-search tools.
• Researches and ensures staff remains knowledgeable of current labor market trends, career placement and transfer and articulation resources and related best practices.
• Plans and coordinates campus events, in coordination with workforce partnerships to include career and employment fairs and professional association visits.
• Ensures timely and accurate data collection, analysis and reporting of Center’s initiatives and services, and tracking of career-related outcomes for institutional planning and improvement.
• Monitors and evaluates current scope of services and programs and makes recommendations for change to remain responsive to student career development needs and evolving market trends.
• Collaborates with Marketing & Communication to produce and maintain Center’s webpage and promote the Center’s services and programs via social media, newsletter, calendar of events and other communications.
• May represent the Career Center on CCC committees and work groups.
• Performs other duties as assigned.
  

REPORTING RELATIONSHIPS

Reports To	College President
Direct Supervision	Career Services Advisors

QUALIFICATIONS

• Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university in student affairs, higher education or administration, career education, workforce development or a related field

• Master’s degree is highly preferred
• Five years of experience at the administrative or supervisory level in career services or career related programming in a higher education or nonprofit setting
• A combination of education and experience may be taken into consideration based on the applicant’s credentials, provided the minimum degree requirement is met
• Demonstrated knowledge and understanding of student support services in areas of career development and planning
• Experience in the use of student information systems and data analysis
• Excellent oral, written and interpersonal skills
• Ability to work with people from diverse cultures and collaborate with multiple and diverse constituents to accomplish goals.
• Proficiency in the use of Microsoft Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint)
  

WE OFFER: Excellent health benefits at a low cost; Investment plans 403(b) & 457(b); SURS Retirement Plan; Generous vacation, holidays, personal and sick days; Tuition Reimbursement and Public Service Loan Forgiveness. For a more detailed overview of benefits please visit our benefits page.

Chicago residency is required for all full-time employees within 6 months of hire. 
We are an equal opportunity and affirmative action employer. 
Thank you for your interest in City Colleges of Chicago!

Malcolm X College has been named a 2024 Most Promising Places to Work in Community Colleges award winner! NISOD joins Diverse: Issues in Higher Education in recognizing Malcolm X College’s best-in-class student and staff recruitment and retention practices, inclusive learning and working environments, and meaningful community service and engagement opportunities.

Additional Information