Director of Career Advancement

Bemidji State University (BSU) invites applicants to join our team as the Director of Career Advancement. The Director of Career Advancement is a visionary leader and strategic architect behind Bemidji State University’s bold reimagining of career development. As one of the key driving forces in the university’s innovative Discover3 Initiative, the Director helps shape and elevate a dynamic, student-centered career ecosystem that bridges academics, industry, and community—empowering students to navigate their pathways with purpose from day one through post-graduate achievement.
 
At the heart of BSU’s mission to enhance social mobility and workforce readiness, the Director of Career Advancement transforms traditional career services into a forward-looking, integrated framework of exploration, experience, and engagement. This role leads cross-sector initiatives that unlock real-world opportunities through internships, apprenticeships, and employer partnerships—aligning them with the evolving demands of the regional and global economy. 
 
Responsibilities of the Director of Career Advancement include:  

• Leadership and Management of Career Advancement Initiatives. (45%)
  • Providing strategic leadership in Career Advancement to ensure students, alumni, and employers are effectively served. Strengthening the connection between students, alumni, and employers through networking events, Beaver Mentorship Program, and internship opportunities.
  • Overseeing career ecosystem initiatives that integrate Career Advancement, academic departments, employer engagement, and alumni relations to support student career wayfinding. Partnering with employers to identify job opportunities, internships, and experiential learning options.
  • Maintaining and enforcing student record confidentiality in compliance with state and federal laws.
  • Hiring, training, scheduling, supervising and evaluating Career Advancement staff.
  • Interpreting and applying university policies and procedures while providing guidance to administrators and faculty.
  • Implementing assessment and evaluation metrics to measure Career Advancement effectiveness, adjusting strategies based on data-driven insights.
  • Leading department outreach efforts, career fairs, and campus-wide career initiatives.
  • Developing and executing an annual strategic plan and work plan, reporting measurable outcomes each semester. 

• Building and Strengthening Employer, Alumni, and Industry Partnerships.  (25%)
  • Working closely with corporate relations and alumni relations to develop and sustain employer relationships to increase job and internship opportunities for students and alumni. Aligning outreach strategies and sharing key employer insights. Collaborating on employer-facing events such as career fairs, industry panels, and networking opportunities in collaboration with campus partners.
  • Collaborating with faculty, administrators, alumni relations, corporate relations and employers to ensure Career Advancement aligns with workforce needs. Utilizing labor market data to align career services with emerging industry trends and workforce needs.
  • Working with campus partners to create and maintain advisory groups to assess Career Advancement programming, labor market trends, and inclusive hiring practices.
  • Expanding Discover3 employer engagement efforts through collaboration in creating a culture of philanthropy, industry participation, networking events, and experiential learning opportunities. 

• Developing and Implementing a University-Wide Career Readiness Strategy. (15%)
  • Leading a career readiness initiative that integrates career development into academic programming, ensuring faculty incorporate career principles into curriculum and advising. Working closely with faculty, students, alumni, and industry partners to develop sustainable career pathways.
  • Fostering a welcoming, inclusive, and supportive environment for students from diverse backgrounds to engage in career development. Developing innovative strategies for access point creation, philanthropic/sponsorship engagement, and customized training development.
  • Providing industry and workforce trend analysis to inform university leadership, faculty, and students of emerging career opportunities.
  • Expanding career pathway programs, including internships, apprenticeships, and employer-sponsored training opportunities.
  • Working with faculty to embed career readiness into coursework and increase student awareness of career pathways inside and outside their majors.
  • Establishing best practices for staff development, supervision, and coaching to enhance service delivery. 

• Administration & Strategic Planning (10%)
  • Overseeing the Career Advancement budget, ensuring responsible financial planning and allocation of resources. Supervising staff and student workers supporting career services initiatives.
  • Seeking external funding sources (grants, corporate sponsorships, philanthropic gifts) to expand Career Advancement programming and enhance student services. Representing BSU Alumni & Foundation at conferences, professional associations, and external events.
  • Managing revenue-generating activities such as career fairs, employer partnerships, and event sponsorships.
  • Conducting annual evaluations for Career Advancement staff and providing professional development opportunities.
  • Serving on university committees, task forces, and system-wide Career Advancement work groups. 

• Other duties as assigned. (5%) 

• Master’s degree plus three (3) years of advanced professional experience, OR Bachelor’s degree plus four (4) years of advanced professional experience, OR an equivalent combination of post-secondary training, education, and/or advanced professional experience.
• Demonstrated ability to build partnerships with employers, alumni, and university stakeholders.
• Demonstrated knowledge of career development theories, student development models, and employer engagement best practices.
• Strong leadership, communication, and relationship-building skills.
• Knowledge of career development best practices and industry trends.
• Proficiency in career services technology and platforms (Handshake, LinkedIn, etc.). 

• Experience leading a Career Advancement team in higher education or workforce development.
• Proven success in building employer relationships and securing external funding. Familiarity with fundraising, sponsorship development, and corporate partnerships.
• Strong background in data-driven assessment and Career Advancement program evaluation.
• A demonstrated commitment to the principles of diversity, equity, inclusion, and anti-racism.

TO APPLY:
External Applicants: Apply for Vacancy Posting JR0000003014, on our career site: https://mn.gov/mmb/careers/search-for-jobs/ or at https://minnstate.wd1.myworkdayjobs.com/Minnesota_State_Careers/job/Bemidji/Director-of-Career-Advancement_JR0000003014-1.

Internal Applicants: All current employees will need to log in to the career site in Workday to apply for the position. Employees will search for “Browse Jobs – Employees” in Workday via the search bar at the top to view open positions.

If you have any questions, please contact Mary Miller at mary.miller@bemidjistate.edu