Under the direction of the Senior Director, the Program Manager of Student Success & Career Advancement, provides project and technology management, development of enhanced processes, internship administration, event support, and data/analytics management that leads to greater student experience, success, and engagement.

In alignment with Graziadio’s mission to develop values-centered leaders, the Program Manager enhances student success by supporting departmental projects, events, communications, and technology platforms that emphasize career readiness, industry engagement, experiential learning, academic success, and engagement for a diverse student population. The Project Manager hires, supervises, and trains graduate student assistants to support departmental services and goals.

This position is hybrid-eligible in accordance with the University Policy Manual.

Duties

• Student Services Technology Lead
  • Serve as lead administrator for core student service and career technology platforms, web, and external service providers (e.g., Handshake, VMock, CareerLeader, Blue Steps, Wyzant, Grammarly, etc.).
  • Oversee platform configuration, adoption, maintenance, and develop and implement student/staff training.
  • Serve as lead content manager for departmental websites, ensuring all information (services, events, employment data) is accurate, engaging, and up to date.
  • Track, process, and assist in renewing platform contracts and external service provider partnerships.
  • Maintain ongoing awareness of technology, trends, patterns, and challenges impacting graduate career services and student success, using this knowledge to recommend/assist the department team in implementing new technologies/software to support student success.
• Supervision
  • Hire, train, and supervise Undergraduate and/or Graduate Assistant(s) for providing student services, such as marketing, communication, and general administrative support.
  • Facilitate the recruitment and hiring process for all departmental Student Assistant(s), serving as the central liaison between the department and the Student Employment Office.
  • Develop training materials and quality assurance protocols for Student Assistant(s) within the department.
  • Set clear goals and objectives for Student Assistant(s) to support a positive learning environment and to meet the needs of a diverse student population.
• Marketing, Events, and Communication
  • Develop and execute comprehensive student marketing and communication strategies (email, web, print, social media) to promote departmental services, employment opportunities, employment reporting, and professional development/engagement events.
  • Communicate with employers to qualify and post jobs and answer general inquiries. -Draft correspondence to students, employers, and alumni; answer complex student service inquiries by phone, email, and on-campus student drop-ins. -Maintain department email account(s).
  • Process financial transactions for the department, as needed.
  • Support departmental on-campus and virtual career, student engagement, and new student onboarding events, as needed.
• Student Internship and Support Services
  • Manage and administer the Graziadio Business School’s internship program and processes for the PGBS 695 internship courses, including student eligibility, internship review and approval, documentation, reports, and academic coordination.
  • Train department staff on internship processes and eligibility to support cohesive student communication. -Develop educational programming and clear communication to ensure students are prepared to navigate the internship process, timelines, and requirements, and take advantage of student support services.
  • Answer complex internship and support service inquiries by phone, email, and on-campus student drop-ins.
  • Serve as the administrator for the department's student academic support services, including processing Wyzant tutoring requests and maintaining the Grammarly user list.
  • Maintain a holistic approach to student success by 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.
• Employment Data Collection and Reporting
  • Support employment data collection and reporting, including setting up, distributing, and ensuring the integrity of employment data surveys and generating regular reports for internal and external stakeholders.
  • Run reports and provide data analysis to inform career development and employer outreach strategies.
• University and 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.
  • Participate in assessment projects with the Student Success and Career Advancement team.
  • Recommend and develop processes to enhance the efficiency and effectiveness of departmental/student service functions.
  • Participate in professional associations to remain apprised of current research and issues pertaining to higher education, career advancement, assessment, and student development (i.e., NASPA, ACPA, 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
• Two (2) years of relevant professional experience.
• Excellent organizational and project management skills with a focus on attention to detail.
• Ability to collect, manage, and report on data with strong analytical skills.
• Exceptional written and verbal communication skills for professional correspondence, presentations, and digital content creation (website/email) for diverse stakeholders.
• Ability to foster cross-departmental collaboration and communication, and facilitate problem resolution.
• Proven experience in planning and executing events and/or technology platforms, including communicating with external vendors and venues to ensure high-quality delivery.
• A self-starter who takes initiative to further the goals of the department by continually conceptualizing, coordinating, and implementing new and innovative offerings, technology, and tools to further student career readiness, 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 for promotion of events and services to the students, alumni, and external partners..

Preferred

• Previous experience in a higher education setting, preferably in career services, student services, or student affairs environment.
• Experience hiring, recruiting, supervising, and training student employees.
• Experience working with international student populations.
• Experience with internship program administration and compliance and/or student support services.
• Familiarity with standard employment data collection metrics and reporting (e.g., CSEA standards).
• Experience in a graduate business school or other professional school setting.
• Experience managing a career technology platform (e.g., Handshake).
• Knowledge of Pepperdine University software/tools such as ModernCampus (website editing/management), Trumba, Qualtrics, WaveNet, and 25Live.
• Understanding of artificial intelligence tools and other technologies to enhance career development and student engagement.

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

Expected Pay Range: $27.78 - $30.87 per hour

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.