Department: Career Advancement
Salary/Grade: EXS/7

The mission of Northwestern Career Advancement (NCA) is to foster excellence in career development, preparation, and professional opportunities for undergraduate and graduate students by providing comprehensive services and programming and by promoting strong partnerships with employers, academic departments, and the university community. Learn more about the Northwestern Career Advancement department here:

About Student Affairs: By pursuing justice, equity, and belonging, Student Affairs cultivates student programs, services, and skills; disrupts barriers; and partners across Northwestern and neighboring communities to create an inclusive culture in which all students can thrive. Learn more about the Division of Student Affairs here:

Job Summary:

The Assistant Director serves as the career adviser for undergraduates enrolled in the Kellogg Certificate Program for Undergraduates including both the Financial Economics Certificate and the Managerial Analytics Certificate. In addition, the position will support students from academic programs such as the Business Institutions Minor.

As a career adviser, this position empowers students to make decisions associated with their career goals and objectives including providing guidance on different career options, advising students job and internship search strategies, and supporting students throughout the career development process. Advising and counseling focuses on self-assessment, research, job and internship search strategies, reflection, and strategic decision making. This position assesses individual situations and circumstances, many complex in nature, and creates, implements and monitors recommendations, partnering with internal/external constituencies and resources that meet student needs.

The position also develops programming to support specific career-related interests for students enrolled in the Kellogg CPU or similar certificate or business curriculum. Finally, the position facilitates the connection of CPU alumni and employers to current students educating students on various career paths by collaborating with NCA employer relations staff.

Pay: The salary range for this Assistant Director position is $62,000-68,000 annually, based on experience, skills, and internal equity.

Principal Accountabilities:

Advising/Counseling 40%

• Implement/provide personalizing counseling and advising that focuses on self-assessment, research, job and internship search strategies, reflection, and strategic decision making.
• Connects students with alumni and professionals for employment opportunities. Maintains knowledge of job market trends and hiring practices in a range of fields.

Administration 20%

• Completes administrative activities such as assessment, operations planning, data management, and reporting.
• Researches best practices and peer institutions and market/economic conditions and recommends changes and enhancements to improve administrative effectiveness, services and/or resources.

Programs and Events 20%

• Manages planning and arrangement of programs - meetings, workshops, trainings, events, etc. designed to provide information, promote resources and to build internal and external relationships.
• Researches best practices to enhance, improve, and innovate program topics and delivery to better meet goals and objectives.

Relationships 10%

• Collaborates with student affairs, academic departments, student organizations and administrative offices to develop programs and publicize opportunities spanning a broad range of industries and geographies.
• Builds and maintains a network of potential employers and alumni that can provide opportunities for mentoring, internships and/or jobs.

Evaluation 10%

• Manages development and maintenance of evaluation processes including associated metrics and key performance indicators.
• Collaborates with internal/external partners to implement changes designed to improve/increase program goals/objectives.

Minimum Qualifications:

• Successful completion of a full 4-year course of study in an accredited college or university leading to a bachelor's or higher degree; OR appropriate combination of education and experience and 3 years' career counseling/advising in higher education or 3 years' of industry experience; or other relevant experience required; OR
• Successful completion of a full course of study in an accredited college or university leading to a master's or JD or higher degree; OR appropriate combination of education and experience and 2 years' career counseling/advising in higher education or 2 years' of industry experience; or other relevant experience required.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Familiarity with a broad range of career paths, particularly business related career paths including consulting, finance, marketing, etc.
• Evidence of the ability to collaborate and build partnerships across institutions and professional organizations
• Ability to be flexible and function effectively in team settings as a leader and contributor
• Demonstrated ability to work with diverse populations

Benefits: At Northwestern, we are proud to provide meaningful, competitive, high-quality health care plans, retirement benefits, tuition discounts and more! Visit us at to learn more.

Work-Life and Wellness: Northwestern offers comprehensive programs and services to help you and your family navigate life's challenges and opportunities, and adopt and maintain healthy lifestyles. We support flexible work arrangements where possible and programs to help you locate and pay for quality, affordable childcare and senior/adult care. Visit us at to learn more.

Professional Growth and Development: Northwestern supports employee career development in all circumstances whether your workspace is on campus or at home. If you're interested in developing your professional potential or continuing your formal education, we offer a variety of tools and resources. Visit us at to learn more.

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The Northwestern campus sits on the traditional homelands of the people of the Council of Three Fires, the Ojibwe, Potawatomi, and Odawa as well as the Menominee, Miami and Ho-Chunk nations. We acknowledge and honor the original people of the land upon which Northwestern University stands, and the Native people who remain on this land today.

Northwestern University is an Equal Opportunity, Affirmative Action Employer of all protected classes, including veterans and individuals with disabilities. Women, racial and ethnic minorities, individuals with disabilities, and veterans are encouraged to apply. Click for information on EEO is the Law.