Program Director

Department

ESA Deputy Director STEM Programs - Direct Reports

About the Department

Career Advancement serves a student population of approximately 6,000 arts and sciences undergraduate students, in addition to alumni who have graduated within the last five years. Career Advancement plays a vital role in ensuring our students’ success after graduation. Career Advancement offers innovative and comprehensive career development services focusing on pre-professional preparation, experiential education, and access to internship and full-time opportunities. Through career advising, programs, and comprehensive resources, Career Advancement supports undergraduate students and alumni as they develop the skills necessary to manage their career development while working with alumni and employers to provide students with meaningful opportunities. For more information, please visit the Career Advancement website at careeradvancement.uchicago.edu.

Job Summary

The Program Director, STEM Careers will utilize industry knowledge and program management skills to scale up programming and resources designed to prepare students for successful careers in the physical sciences. Working independently with limited supervision, this team member will organize and execute events, develop impactful pre-professional workshops and experiential programs, provide one-on-one advising for students, and support the management of outcomes reporting. In addition, this team member will be the primary liaison to several academic departments, developing strong cross-campus relationships. The Program Director will also maintain employer partnerships in key industry areas to foster strong career opportunities for students pursuing careers in the sciences.

This position requires a passion for impacting students through career services, the ability to think strategically about program management, and the skills to independently drive initiatives forward. The ideal candidate will be an energetic and talented team player with a record of success in complex, fast-paced environments where collaboration is critical to success.

Responsibilities

• Utilizes prior professional experience to thoughtfully design programming that supports the professional development of students pursuing careers in the sciences.
• Assists students with professional resumes/cover letters, interview preparation, graduate school applications, general career guidance, and industry exploration discussions.
• Manages and executes student-employer and student-alumni engagement opportunities.
• Maintains efficient methods of tracking student data, quantifying student engagement, and reporting on student outcomes.
• Develops and maintains relationships with campus partners and registered student organizations (RSOs).
• Conducts job search and career management related large lectures, hands-on workshops, special events, training programs, and one-on-one career coaching sessions. Acts as a resource for and directs students to other career resources as needed.
• Analyzes markets and trends as they relate to job searches. Assesses student feedback and evaluations and collaborates with other career services staff members, student organizations, or other staff to determine program offerings and innovations.
• Performs other related work as needed.

Minimum Qualifications

Education:

Minimum requirements include a college or university degree in related field.

Work Experience:

Minimum requirements include knowledge and skills developed through 5-7 years of work experience in a related job discipline.

Certifications:

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Preferred Qualifications

Education:

• Bachelor’s degree or higher in a STEM field.

Experience:

• Prior experience working in higher education or a STEM-related field.
• Background working with college-aged students and/or recent college graduates.

Technical Skills or Knowledge:

• Proficient in Microsoft Outlook, Word, Excel, and PowerPoint.
• Proficiency with tools commonly used in innovation, such as data analysis tools and other industry-relevant technical skills.

Preferred Competencies

• A demonstrated passion for supporting the success of students in their career development.
• Excellent verbal and written communications skills.
• Demonstrated success in maintaining collaborative relationships with diverse constituencies.
• Strong interpersonal skills, demonstrated initiative, and work both independently and collaboratively, with flexibility and adaptability.
• Deep commitment to customer service, prioritize and balance different work streams, meet deadlines, and work successfully in a fast-paced environment.
• Strong coaching or counseling skills.
• Communicate to large groups as well as one-on-one with students, senior management, faculty, donors, and alumni.

Working Conditions

• Work evenings, occasional additional weeknight and weekend days.
• Travel two to three times per year.

Application Documents

• Resume/CV (required)
• Cover Letter/Statement of Interest (required)
• Professional References Contact Information (3)(required)

Job Family

Student Affairs & Services

Role Impact

Individual Contributor

Scheduled Weekly Hours

37.5

Drug Test Required

No

Health Screen Required

No

Motor Vehicle Record Inquiry Required

No

Pay Rate Type

Salary

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FLSA Status

Exempt

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Pay Range

$87,550.00 - $113,300.00

The included pay rate or range represents the University’s good faith estimate of the possible compensation offer for this role at the time of posting.

Benefits Eligible

Yes

The University of Chicago offers a wide range of benefits programs and resources for eligible employees, including health, retirement, and paid time off. Information about the benefit offerings can be found in the Benefits Guidebook.

Posting Statement

The University of Chicago is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, or expression, national or ethnic origin, shared ancestry, age, status as an individual with a disability, military or veteran status, genetic information, or other protected classes under the law. For additional information please see the University's Notice of Nondiscrimination.

Job seekers in need of a reasonable accommodation to complete the application process should call 773-702-5800 or submit a request via Applicant Inquiry Form.

All offers of employment are contingent upon a background check that includes a review of conviction history.A conviction does not automatically preclude University employment.Rather, the University considers conviction information on a case-by-case basis and assesses the nature of the offense, the circumstances surrounding it, the proximity in time of the conviction, and its relevance to the position.

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