Job Summary

The Executive Director is responsible for the advancement of Career Services to ensure that the most innovative efforts are being implemented to assist students and alumni in their career planning and development.

Department Summary

Career Services’ comprehensive programs include career development, planning, counseling, events, recruitment services, employment services and a robust assessment practice. This role is an advocate for Cal Poly academic programs to develop talent pipelines for the State of California.

Key Qualifications

• Thorough knowledge and experience leading large organizations/functions that deliver career services, including, career development, career counseling, career planning, recruitment, employment and internships.
• Strong leadership/supervisory talents. Ability to effectively lead the department to deliver exceptional programs and services that support the mission and goals of Cal Poly, drive department goals and plans and develop a high-functioning staff team to execute the day-to-day operations of a core student service on campus.
• Ability to foster communication and teamwork by maintaining a positive, cooperative work atmosphere.
• Strong fiscal management and analytical skills; experience with budget planning and implementation; understanding of statistical methods and techniques to produce meaningful reports.
• Ability to develop and implement long-range program and staffing plans that align with the Student Affairs Division-wide strategic plan, support Cal Poly’s vision and mission and serve the campus community.

Education and Experience

Education and Experience:

• A Bachelor’s degree or higher and 5 years progressively responsible experience related to career services, career planning and development, recruitment, and employment services.

Licenses, Certificates, Credentials:

• Possession of a valid driver’s license or the ability to obtain by date of hire.

Salary and Benefits

Cal Poly offers a best-in-class benefits program, including health, dental and vision insurance, retirement participation in the Public Employees' Retirement System, and educational benefits for eligible employees. See our benefits website for additional information. 

Cal Poly

Cal Poly is a nationally-ranked public university located in San Luis Obispo, California, and known for its Learn by Doing philosophy. Each year more than 20,000 top-tier students come to San Luis Obispo to put knowledge into action, taking their learning outside the classroom as they prepare for careers in engineering, agriculture, science, business, humanities and the built environment. Cal Poly’s hands-on philosophy, small class sizes and close student-faculty mentorships result in graduates ready from day one to impact their communities, California and the world. For more information, visit calpoly.edu.

Diversity Statement

At Cal Poly, we believe that cultivating an environment that embraces and promotes diversity is fundamental to the success of our students, our employees and our community. Bringing people together from different backgrounds, experiences and value systems fosters the innovative and creative thinking that exemplifies Cal Poly's values of free inquiry, cultural and intellectual diversity, mutual respect, civic engagement, and social and environmental responsibility.

Cal Poly's commitment to diversity informs our efforts in recruitment, hiring and retention. Cal Poly is an equal opportunity employer. 

Supplemental Information

CSU requires faculty, staff, and students who are accessing campus facilities to be immunized against COVID-19 or declare a medical or religious exemption from doing so.  Any candidates advanced in a currently open search process should be prepared to comply with this requirement. The systemwide policy can be found at https://calstate.policystat.com/policy/9779821/latest/ and questions may be sent to humanresources@calpoly.edu.

Following a conditional offer of employment, a background check (including a criminal records check) must be completed satisfactorily before any candidate may start work with Cal Poly. Failure to satisfactorily complete the background check may result in the withdrawal of the offer of employment. Current employees who are offered positions on campus will be required to undergo a background check for any position where a background check is required by law or that Cal Poly has designated as sensitive.

The person holding this position is considered a 'mandated reporter' under the California Child Abuse and Neglect Reporting Act and is required to comply with the requirements set forth in CSU Executive Order 1083 as a condition of employment.

This position may be "Designated" under California State University's Conflict of Interest Code. This would require the filing of a Statement of Economic Interest on an annual basis and the completion of training within 6 months of assuming office and every 2 years thereafter.

Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo is not a sponsoring agency for staff positions (i.e. H-1B visas).