NACE JobWire

Lead a comprehensive and integrated career and professional development center focused on Sanford students.  Responsible for strategy, program development, implementation, and coordination of all career services and professional development activities for undergraduate Public Policy majors, Master of Public Policy (MPP) and Master of International Development (MIDP) students.  Serve as a resource and connector regarding global public policy job markets for students, staff, alumni, employers, Sanford leadership, the Duke Community, and external audiences. Manage staff, formulate, and ensure completion of office work plans and budgets. Contribute as an active member of the Sanford senior managers’ leadership team. Work includes individual advising, group programming, employer outreach, and connecting with alumni for career networking. This position reports to the Associate Dean of Academic Programs and Student Services.

WORK PERFORMED:

General Management and School Responsibilities

• Determine the fiscal requirements of the Career Services Office and prepare budget recommendations for approval by the Dean. Monitor, verify, and reconcile expenditure of budgeted funds, and ensure compliance with University policies and procedures.
• Set strategic directions for services delivery, career coaching, and programming, in collaboration with the undergraduate, MPP and MIDP academic teams.   Plan and expand programs to ensure quality of skills in career decision-making and self-marketing strategies, including job and internship searches, networking, resume and cover letter prep, interview techniques, and employment assessment.  Ensure offerings are competitive to similar programs.
• Develop and implement comprehensive data collection, analysis, and reporting plans to inform Directors of Graduate Studies, the Director of Undergraduate Studies, and other Sanford faculty and leaders about student needs and interests, staff activities, and career outcomes and trends.
• Supervise and coordinate the work of the career services team staff, including setting goals and priorities, ensuring clear communication about deadlines and work products, preparing annual work plans, directing day-to-day operations, and determining the balance of work among team members based on prioritized needs and individuals’ strengths.
• Manage and mentor staff, executing performance reviews, encouraging professional development and soliciting their input on programs and processes.
• Provide regular reports to the Dean and Board of Visitors regarding student success in career services. Provide periodic assessments of alumni career satisfaction, salaries, and other data to help Sanford’s academic programs.
• Manage the implementation and ongoing operation of career services management software, Advance, Storm and other programs. Assure that all data managed is as accurately as possible. Manage vendor relationships.
• Maintain ongoing collaborations with MPP, MIDP, and undergraduate academic staff and faculty to manage student professional development needs and programming, and to increase interdepartmental communication and collaboration.
• Build and maintain subject matter expertise in domestic and international job markets of interest to our students, including sectors (public sector, nonprofit sector, public-private partnerships, private sector consulting and other public-facing private sector markets, international organizations such as World Bank and United Nations, and international NGOs) and policy areas (global health, international development, education, national security, foreign policy, technology policy).
• Partner with the Sanford’s Development and Alumni Relations team and the Duke Alumni Association to facilitate the engagement of Sanford alumni in career services activities, including as speakers, resource persons, student mentors, and employers.
• Assist the MPP and MIDP admissions teams, as needed.
• Assist the Development team as needed to secure donations for internship stipends and program operations by meeting with potential donors, preparing written materials, and collaborating on language for endowment agreements.
• Coordinate with other career services offices across campus to provide student programming, staff professional development, and issue advocacy to Duke leadership.
• Work with MPP and MIDP student government and undergraduate majors union to ensure satisfaction with the career services office.
• Participate in Sanford leadership team meetings, program reviews, new initiatives, and other committees and groups as needed.
• Manage initiatives across campus to increase support for students interested in post-graduate opportunities in public service, including creating strategic plans and budgets as well as seeking resources around campus. Create active partnerships with other organizations on campus, such as DukeEngage, POLIS, and others.
• Represent Sanford to external audiences such as the Partnership for Public Service, Volcker Alliance, NASPAA, Devex, and other associations.

Student Assistance

• Collaborate with MPP and MIDP Directors of Graduate Studies and senior staff to ensure that professional development programs and activities are appropriate for the curriculum and job market needs for both the domestic and international markets.
• Advise and coach individual students regarding career planning process, goals, and potential employers. Review resumes, cover letters and other written documents to assist students with the job search process. Connect students with alumni and other contacts to provide networking opportunities.
• Provide relevant information to students regarding services provided by the career services office, and address questions about work visas, security clearances, and other job-specific topics.
• Create and implement career services orientation activities for MPP and MIDP students.
• Design and deliver workshops (in-person and online videos) on professional skills such as career planning, resume writing, interviewing and networking to serve both MPP and MIDP audiences, updating as the student population changes and the needs of employers evolve.
• Design, organize, and implement programming for career fairs, employer panels, and other networking events.  Determine appropriate topics and secure speakers, and ensure there is an appropriately diverse range of topics and interest represented.
• Design and implement processes for awarding internship stipends through the Sanford Internship Fund.
• Work with program staff to approve all MPP and MIDP internships based on program requirements and information submitted by individual students.
• Provide support to Undergraduate Internship Career Specialists as needed to ensure all Public Policy majors secure policy internships as required by the Sanford School.
• Review both student and sponsor post-internship evaluations to monitor and assess student performance and quality of intern site.  Collect and record data on internship experiences and develop metrics to capture how the internship experience helped the student to satisfy particular competencies required by the degree program.
• Resolve issues between students and intern sponsors as needed.
• Prepare resource materials for students on both professional skills and policy area topics.
• Provide limited career advising assistance to Sanford alumni in transition.

Employer and Intern Sponsor Development

• Maintain current relationships and establish new connections with public agencies, private and nonprofit organizations and other potential internship sponsors and employers for undergraduate and Sanford professional masters students.
• Bring employers to campus in person or via remote connection whenever possible to inform and recruit students.
• Arrange employer and alumni panels to help students learn about different organizations and internship opportunities, for both in-person and virtual sessions.
• Strengthen relationships with Sanford alumni to encourage them to help students with their career and internship searches.
• Communicate the recommendations of employers regarding student skills and curriculum to appropriate faculty.
• Help intern sponsors design meaningful internships as needed.

EXPERIENCE:

Work requires a minimum of 7-10 years of experience in academic, instructional or advising programs or public policy to acquire skills necessary to plan, coordinate and implement a variety of program activities and events for Sanford students. Experience 

Desired Skills:

• Knowledge of public policy and programs.
• Knowledge of or experience with career services such as advising or coaching.
• Excellent written and oral communications skills.
• Experience managing staff and structuring office workflow.
• Knowledge of Microsoft Office programs and internet research skills 
• Excellent organizational and time management skills. 
• Good public speaking and interpersonal skills.  Ability to speak persuasively to groups and with individuals.
• Cross-cultural communications skills and sensitivity.
• Customer service orientation.