Under the general direction of the Senior Director of Student Success and Career Advancement, the Director of Career Advancement provides strategic leadership and oversight of career services, career education, and employer engagement for graduate business students at the Pepperdine Graziadio Business School, with a primary focus on advancing career readiness and employment outcomes for Full-Time MBA students.

This role leads a dynamic, student-centered team dedicated to helping students develop lifelong career management skills, cultivate confidence and fluency in the job search process, and actively engage in their professional development through high impact strategies, including peer-to-peer approaches and alumni connections.

In alignment with Pepperdine Graziadio Business School’s mission to develop values-centered leaders, this hybrid-eligible role focuses on delivering innovative career programming, data-driven insights, experiential learning, and employer partnerships to support student success. The position collaborates with faculty, alumni, and industry partners to create meaningful career opportunities, while also building strong connections through mentoring, networking, and referral pathways. This is an opportunity to contribute to purpose-driven student outcomes while working with a dynamic, mission-focused team.

Duties

• Strategic Leadership & Program Oversight: In collaboration with the Senior Director, lead the strategic planning and execution of career advancement initiatives that support student success, with a specific focus on Full-Time MBA student career outcomes. Develop, implement, and evaluate career and professional development programming that addresses the evolving needs of graduate business students pursuing internships, career transitions, and professional roles. Lead and facilitate the Full-Time MBA and Master of Science career courses, ensuring engaging and relevant content and activities to support student career readiness and success. Oversee all career advancement content and communication across web platforms and social media to ensure consistent messaging, alignment with strategic priorities, and engagement with students, alumni, and employers. Prepare and oversee the career advancement operating budget in alignment with strategic priorities and program goals.
• Career Coaching & Student Engagement: Provide career coaching and guidance to Full-Time MBA students in support of building their professional networks, designing a meaningful career, navigating the job and internship search, and other areas of advising as needed. Provide scalable coaching opportunities and career development resources for Master of Science and Part-Time MBA students. In collaboration with Graziadio alumni engagement and other stakeholders, strengthen the career readiness of students by developing and implementing mentoring, job referral pathways, and networking initiatives that connect current students with successful Graziadio alumni. Lead, implement, and evaluate the summer Full-Time MBA career onboarding, collaborating with the Student Success and Career Advancement team to seamlessly incorporate activities into the centralized new student onboarding schedule. In collaboration with the Senior Director, support and oversee student team competitions, and other activities related to the student experience, career growth, and success.
• Employer Engagement: Build and strengthen strategic partnerships with corporate and alumni networks to expand high-quality internship and full-time employment opportunities for MBA and specialized master's students. Identify, cultivate, and secure relationships with emerging and established employers across diverse industries to drive strong career outcomes.
• Staff Supervision: Recruit, hire, train, and supervise professional staff and student employees, providing an excellent developmental and enriching employment experience.
• Data Collection & Assessment: Initiate and conduct ongoing assessment to determine program effectiveness and if learning and career outcomes were achieved. Track and report internship and full-time employment outcomes for Full-Time MBA students in accordance with MBA CSEA standards. Leverage data and student feedback to improve services, inform strategy, and support accreditation, rankings, and program impact. Participate in assessment projects with the Student Success and Career Advancement team. Maintain ongoing awareness of artificial intelligence, technology, trends, patterns, and challenges impacting graduate student career outcomes, using such knowledge to recommend/assist the senior director in the development and implementation of future initiatives.
• Liaison: Actively build and maintain collaborative, strategic partnerships with University and corporate partners and alumni to expand the reach and effectiveness of Career Advancement programs and initiatives. Maintain a holistic approach to student success by staying informed about Pepperdine University resources and referring students to appropriate services, including academic advising, Office of Student Accessibility, Office of International Student Services, Hub for Spiritual Life, and the Thrive Wellness Program, and Counseling Center.
• University & Professional Expectations: Participate in ongoing professional development and attend all staff trainings and meetings. Participate in and provide staff support for departmental events as needed, such as New Student Onboarding and the Fall Kickoff. Recommend and develop processes to enhance the efficiency, fiscal responsibility, and effectiveness of departmental/student service functions. Participate in professional associations to remain apprised of current research, best practices, and issues pertaining to higher education, career advancement, assessment, and student development (i.e., NASPA, NCDA, CSEA). Support committees and other programs that promote student success and other department or University initiatives. Maintain confidentiality of student information at all times (as per FERPA). Perform other duties 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

• Bachelor’s degree.
• 5+ years related work experience, preferably in higher education.
• Demonstrated success in developing and leading career education and development programs.
• Proven ability to build and sustain relationships with employers, alumni, and industry partners at a national or global level.
• Strong leadership skills with experience supervising and developing staff and student employees.
• Exceptional attention to detail, organizational, strategic planning, and budget management skills.
• Excellent communication, presentation, networking, and interpersonal skills with diverse stakeholders.
• Ability to foster collaboration, garner cross-departmental support, and facilitate problem resolution.
• Self-starter who takes initiative to further the goals of the department by continually conceptualizing, coordinating, and implementing new, data-driven, and innovative offerings to further student career readiness, student engagement, and employment outcomes.
• Ability to articulate the Pepperdine University mission and incorporate it into daily work.
• Willingness to occasionally work evenings and weekends to support departmental programming.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office, Google Workspace/Apps, and online social media/community platforms.
• Ability to use various forms of technology and online platforms to promote events and services to the students, alumni, and external partners.

Preferred

• Master's degree in higher education administration, student affairs, counseling, business administration, or related field.
• 7+ years of progressive leadership experience in career services, employer relations, talent development, or related areas within a higher education setting.
• Experience leading strategic initiatives and/or employer engagement for a career development unit Strong understanding of MBA and specialized master’s student career paths across multiple industries (e.g., consulting, finance, tech, marketing).
• Experience in a graduate business school or other professional school setting.
• Knowledge of current labor market trends, employer expectations, evolving career landscapes, and best practices in student success and career development.
• Track record of innovative program development and scalable career services delivery models.
• Experience with career outcomes reporting and data-driven decision-making.
• Familiarity with global recruiting trends and international student career support.
• Experience in managing events and working with external service providers, including negotiating and managing contracts with external vendors and venues to ensure high-quality delivery.
• Knowledge of Pepperdine University software/tools such as ModernCampus (website editing/management), Trumba, Qualtrics, WaveNet, UConnect, 25Live, and Simpler.
• Understanding of artificial intelligence tools and other technologies to enhance career development and student engagement.

This is a Regular, Exempt, 40 hour per week position that may be eligible for remote or hybrid work in accordance with the University Policy Manual.

Expected Pay Range: $83,700 - $93,000 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.

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.