Director, Career Development Systems, Data, and Operations

Department

Harris School Career Readiness

About the Department

Policy with real impact doesn’t evolve from ideology or intuition, or even experience. At the University of Chicago Harris School of Public Policy, developing effective public policy is a science, based on data and measurable impact.Addressing today’s interconnected, global challenges requires rigorous inquiry. It also requires innovative people who will face the facts, gather data, and understand why current policies exist to improve them.For more than 30 years, the University of Chicago Harris School of Public Policy has been steadfastly committed to serving society by advancing analysis- and evidence-informed policy. Guided by this exacting mission, our community of faculty, students, and alumni from the public, private, and nonprofit sectors are taking on the world’s most important problems by using the latest tools of social science.Harris Public Policy offers a full range of degree and executive education programs and is the academic home to research centers, institutes, and labs that study and engage the public on areas such as conflict, democracy and effective government, economic and political development, education, energy and environment, health, municipal finance, public safety, social policy, and urban policy.

Job Summary

As a key member of the Harris School of Public Policy’s Career Development Office, the Director, Career Development Systems, Data, and Operations is responsible for systems administration, vendor and data management, event logistics, student communications. The Director ensures operational excellence, accurate reporting, and seamless student experiences across career service functions (career coaching and employer partnerships).
This role reports to the Associate Dean of Career Services and will have two reports. One direct report will have a dotted line to Career Coaching and one report will have a dotted line to Employer Partnerships.

Responsibilities

• Oversee and maintain all career services technology platforms, including career management systems (e.g., HarrisLink, VMock, DevEx), student databases (Salesforce), and be the primary CDO team lead for other shared school resources (HubSpot, JotForm, Monday.com, Slate, etc.), websites, and other digital properties. 
• Lead the team’s AI adoption and operating policy, including AI tools for students, employers, and communications, coordination of an AI user group, and development of AI-enabled tools and presentations.
• Own and manage relationships with external vendors and service providers related to career services platforms, events, and workshops.
• Track operational metrics and identify opportunities for process improvement within career service systems and workflows, for both career coaching and employer partnerships teams.
• Ensures coordination of operational systems, data, and event logistics to support the collaborative efforts between the career coaching team and employer partnerships team, maximizing student access to opportunities and resources.
• Oversee the management and coordination of the logistics of career-related events across career coaching and employer partnerships, such as workshops, panels, conferences, fairs, treks, and networking events.
• Develop and execute comprehensive communications plans for students regarding career services events, initiatives, resources, and opportunities.  Oversee and manage schedule of students communications and identify opportunities for automation.
• Support the employer partnerships team in streamlining communications to employers and alumni, including seeking opportunities for automation. 
• Standardize employer and student communication templates across Salesforce, Outlook, and HarrisLink, and oversee off-cycle graduate communications and ongoing improvement of HarrisLink newsletters.
• Oversee the collection, validation, and analysis of career outcomes data, including post graduation employment and internships as well as other outcomes (graduate school, starting business, etc.); coordinate outcomes surveys; generate reports for internal and external stakeholders.
• Develop and manage process to maintain accurate alumni career information to be made available to staff using Harris Salesforce. 
• Conducts complex 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 lead 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.
• Works independently to write timely and effective articles about career management topics for a variety of student publications. Conceptualizes, develops, and delivers career management programming and published materials.
• Researches organizations that are hiring and partners with a wide variety of employers to ensure recruitment strategies meet their needs. Maintains contact with a portfolio of employers to serve as their dedicated Career Advancement liaison.

• 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 7+ years of work experience in a related job discipline.

Certifications:

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Preferred Qualifications

Education:

• Bachelor’s degree.

Experience:

• Minimum of 7 years of experience in operations, data management, event planning, or student services, preferably in higher education.
• Demonstrated expertise in system administration and data analysis, including familiarity with relevant platforms (e.g., Symplicity, VMock, MS Office Suite, Salesforce).

Preferred Competencies

• Strong project management and organizational skills.
• Experience with vendor management and event logistics.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to build internal and external relationships with broad constituencies; a demonstrated commitment to customer service; and the ability to work both independently and in a team environment.

Working Conditions

• Hybrid Work Schedule.
• May require some evening and weekend hours as needed.

Application Documents

• Resume (required)

The University of Chicago uses AI-assisted tools to streamline and augment some recruitment processes; however, AI is not used to make hiring decisions.
When applying, the document(s) MUST be uploaded via the My Experience page, in the section titled Application Documents of the application.

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

$104,500.00

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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