The Director of Career Services Initiatives provides operational, data analysis, and project support to the Associate Provost for Career Services and University-wide Career Services initiatives at Pepperdine University.

This position plays an important role in supporting the coordination and visibility of Career Services across the University. The Director of Career Services Initiatives manages day-to-day administrative and operational functions, assists with the collection and management of career and alumni outcomes data, and contributes to strategic projects designed to strengthen career readiness and employment outcomes for Pepperdine students and alumni.

The ideal candidate is highly organized, detail-oriented, collaborative, and comfortable working across multiple projects and constituencies. The position requires strong communication skills, proficiency with data and technology, and an ability to balance administrative responsibilities with creative and analytical work.

Duties

• Administrative & Operational Support:
  • Provide administrative and operational support to the Associate Provost for Career Services and University-wide Career Services initiatives.
  • Coordinate meetings, calendars, scheduling, and logistics for the Associate Provost and Career Services initiatives.
  • Prepare meeting agendas, materials, presentations, correspondence, and follow-up communications.
  • Support meetings and activities of the Career Services Leadership Team and other University-wide committees or working groups.
  • Maintain organized electronic records, shared files, contact lists, project documentation, and other Career Services resources.
  • Assist with event planning, meeting logistics, employer and alumni engagement activities, and special programs.
  • Track projects, deadlines, deliverables, and follow-up items.
  • Serve as a professional point of contact for internal and external partners as appropriate.
  • Create and edit digital and print materials, including flyers, one-sheets, presentations, email communications, newsletters, social media content, and other promotional materials.
  • Partner with IMC to ensure materials align with Pepperdine's brand standards and University communications strategies.
  • Assist with Career Services website content and updates in collaboration with appropriate University partners.
• Career Outcomes Data & Survey Management:
  • Support the collection, processing, organization, and reporting of career outcomes data across Pepperdine University.
  • Coordinate the administration and processing of student and alumni career surveys, including first-destination and career outcomes surveys.
  • Maintain accurate databases and records related to survey participation and outcomes.
  • Clean, organize, validate, and prepare data for analysis and reporting.
  • Track survey response rates and support strategies to increase student and alumni participation.
  • Coordinate data collection and follow-up efforts with Career Services offices and other University partners.
  • Assist in preparing dashboards, reports, presentations, and summaries of career outcomes data.
  • Support consistent data definitions, collection practices, and reporting processes across schools and programs.
  • Maintain appropriate confidentiality and data integrity when handling student and alumni information.
  • Collaborate with Institutional Research and other University partners as appropriate.
• University-Wide Internships & Employer Partnerships:
  • Support the Associate Provost for Career Services in the coordination and management of university-wide internship programs and strategic employer partnerships across Pepperdine's schools and campuses.
  • Serve as a central point of coordination for signature and exclusive internship partnerships, helping ensure opportunities are effectively communicated and accessible to appropriate Pepperdine students and alumni.
  • Coordinate the operational components of university-wide internship initiatives, including employer communications, timelines, application processes, student outreach, pre-screening, interview coordination, and program tracking.
  • Maintain a centralized database and tracking system for university-wide employer partnerships, internship opportunities, contacts, engagement activities, and outcomes.
  • Partner with Career Services offices across the University to coordinate employer engagement and minimize duplication while preserving school-specific relationships and programming.
• Special Projects & University Initiatives:
  • Provide project coordination and support for strategic initiatives led by the Associate Provost for Career Services.
  • Serve as the Operational lead for the annual Pepperdine Recruitment Day.
  • Other projects may include employer and alumni engagement initiatives, career readiness curricular programming, University-wide Career Services collaborations, conferences and events, research projects, and other emerging priorities.
  • Responsibilities include conducting research, gathering and organizing information, coordinating stakeholders, preparing materials, tracking timelines and deliverables, and assisting with implementation.
  • Perform other duties and special projects as assigned.
• Uphold University mission through work performed.

The above information has been designed to indicate the general nature and level of work performed by employees within this classification. It is not designed to contain or be interpreted as a comprehensive inventory of all duties, responsibilities, and qualifications required of employees assigned to this job.

Skills and Qualifications

Required:

• A Bachelor’s Degree
• Seven years of progressively responsible professional experience. Demonstrated ability to serve as a strategic thought partner to the Associate Provost.
• Strategic and systems-oriented thinker with the ability to understand complex organizations, identify opportunities for alignment and improvement, and connect initiatives across departments and functional areas.
• Project and program management skills, including experience managing multiple high-priority initiatives simultaneously and moving projects from concept through implementation.
• Strong executive-level written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to prepare briefings, presentations, correspondence, proposals, reports, and other materials for varied audiences.
• Strong analytical skills and demonstrated ability to interpret data, synthesize information, identify key insights, and translate findings into recommendations.
• Demonstrated ability to exercise sound judgment, discretion, initiative, and independent decision-making.
• Highly organized and proactive, with a demonstrated ability to anticipate needs, identify potential challenges, and ensure appropriate follow-through.
• Strong relationship-management skills and the ability to represent the Associate Provost and Career Services professionally with internal and external stakeholders.
• Commitment to Pepperdine University's Christian mission and the ability to contribute to a collaborative, service-oriented University culture.

Preferred:

• A Master's Degree in higher education, organizational leadership, business administration, communications, or a related field.
• Ten years of progressively responsible professional experience in higher education, career services, alumni relations, employer relations, or a related environment.

This is a Regular, Exempt, 40 hour per week position.

Expected Pay Range: $90,000 - $100,000 per year 

The above pay range reflects what Pepperdine University reasonably expects to pay for this position at time of posting. Actual compensation may vary based on relevant factors such as work experience, market conditions, education/training, and skill level. In addition to base pay, Pepperdine offers a robust and highly competitive benefits package.

Pepperdine is an Equal Employment Opportunity employer and does not unlawfully discriminate on the basis of any status or condition protected by applicable federal, state, or local law. Pepperdine is committed to providing a work environment free from all forms of unlawful discrimination and harassment. Engaging in unlawful discrimination or harassment will result in appropriate disciplinary action, up to and including dismissal from the University.

Pepperdine is religiously affiliated with the Churches of Christ. It is the purpose of Pepperdine to pursue the very highest employment and academic standards within a context that celebrates and extends the spiritual and ethical ideals of the Christian faith. While students, faculty, and staff represent many religious backgrounds, Pepperdine is permitted under applicable law and reserves the right to seek, hire, and promote persons who support the goals and mission of the institution, including the right to prefer co-religionists who support Pepperdine's Christian mission.

Qualified individuals should be able to show respect for workplace differences, and have the ability to work effectively with individuals from different backgrounds.

Offers of employment are contingent upon successful completion of a criminal, education, and employment screening. The University conducts such screenings in compliance with applicable laws and with the objectives of evaluating risk and supporting a safe environment for students, faculty, staff, and guests; safeguarding key University assets including people, property, information, and the University’s reputation; and providing comprehensive job-related information to University leaders to enable them to make prudent hiring decisions. Individuals will be required to disclose any criminal convictions on a designated form after receiving a conditional offer of employment; failure to disclose accurate information may result in withdrawal of the offer or termination of employment. Qualified individuals with criminal histories will be considered for employment in compliance with applicable laws, including the Los Angeles County Fair Chance Ordinance.