Assistant Director of Career & Employer Engagement

The Hubbard School of Journalism and Mass Communication within the College of Liberal Arts at the University of Minnesota extends an invitation for applications for a full time Assistant Director of Career & Employer Engagement.

About the Position:

The Assistant Director of Career & Employer Engagement will provide leadership and execution of all one-on-one career development, internship, professional recruitment and employer-relationship services as well as programs and workshops designed and delivered for the working student population (MA in strategic communication) and provide internship development and placement support for the School's undergraduate professional programs. This role reports directly to the Associate Director for Student Services and works closely with the Graduate Coordinator for working professionals to plan programming for this population. The Assistant Director serves as liaison to the appropriate program departments and serves as an advocate for these students. The Assistant Director also provides active support to the employer relations and business development area of the School. In this role, this person also coaches the other populations serviced by the student services center, as needed.

Job Responsibilities:

Career Coaching and Recruitment- 30%

• Provide general one-on-one career coaching and recruitment information regarding professional education to all students served by the Hubbard School. During the school year, coaching and recruitment should account for 25-35% of the individual's work hours in a given week.
• Provide specialized support for working professional populations. Identify needs of the student population and develop career advising strategies designed to meet those needs.
• Share insights, best practices, challenges, and ideas for assigned student audience(s) with the professional program academic director and other members of the student services team. This includes knowledge sharing through discussion and preparation of coaching guides.
• Working with our program directors and selected marketing recruitment firm, maintain a database for recruitment and coaching. All notes must be entered into the coaching and recruiting system within a timely manner.
• Actively participate in the employment tracking and outreach process. Maintain regular contact with assigned students. Attend regularly scheduled tracking meetings and come prepared with updates on all still-seeking students. Develop strategies for helping individual students achieve their goals.

Program Management - 30%

• Lead the design, development and execution of all Hubbard School career programming and services for professional student and undergraduate populations(s) including workshops, events and weekly newsletters.
• Partner with the Associate Director, program leaders and graduate coordinator to lead the development and delivery of career coaching workshops. Develop and deliver high-quality, relevant content.
• Regularly partner with student organizations on career-related programming and events. Share insights and co-sponsor events where appropriate.
• Develop surveys on career programming to solicit student feedback. Use data to make recommendations for improving future workshops and events.
• Design and implement a communication strategy for assigned student populations, including pre-program communication, as well as regular communication throughout the academic year.
• Manage the employment tracking and outreach process for students enrolled in working professional programs. Provide timely and relevant reporting and metrics to program leadership for all assigned student audiences.
• Identify external, employer programs, conferences, site visits, or treks that are relevant to undergraduate and professional MA students. Partner with Hubbard School student services, events and communication team to plan and execute these events for students.
• Collaborate with student affairs, admissions, and alumni/corporate relations on programs of interest to our students. Take a lead role in developing, delivering and marketing programs to students.

Marketing and Business Development - 30%

• Take a lead role in supporting the Hubbard School marketing and internship development plan through involvement with company visits, conferences, professional associations, career fairs, and other networking events.
• Identify and communicate ideas for new company relationships that are a fit with student interests and career goals. Where appropriate, partner with the business development team to build relationships and market our students to these employers.
• Interact with campus interviewers to build productive relationships and develop current market insight. This includes attendance at company information sessions and lunch meetings during on-campus recruiting.

Leadership, Supervision, Management, and Special Projects - 10%

• Maintain an active role as a liaison to Hubbard School organizations that are relevant to assigned student audience(s) - this could include programs offices, admissions, enterprises, and others.
• Actively participate in cross-functional project teams with peers and others from admissions, student affairs, and other organizations.
• Serve as a key liaison with leaders of Hubbard School graduate programs to identify and address student needs.

Required Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree
• 4+ years of post-graduation experience in coaching, professional/org development, or in professional strategic communication roles

Preferred Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree in strategic communication, marketing or a related professional field with 5+ years of post-graduation experience, or a Master's degree and 3+ years of post graduation experience
• Excellent relationship-building skills
• Ability to prioritize, perform and follow through on initiatives
• Experience in and understanding of career center management or corporate recruiting
• Industry experience and/or knowledge of the strategic communication marketplace-specifically, functions and industries of interest to Strategic Communication MA students (including consulting, public relations, advertising, etc.)
• Self-driven, motivated, and results oriented
• Able to work individually and as part of a team
• Demonstrated project/program management skills
• Strong leadership skills
• Attention to detail

About the Hubbard School

The Hubbard School of Journalism and Mass Communication is the second-largest undergraduate major-serving unit in the University of Minnesota's College of Liberal Arts and is accredited by the Accrediting Council for Journalism and Mass Communication. In 2025-26, the School expects to serve nearly 1,000 undergraduate, professional, and graduate students in its degree-granting programs. The Hubbard School offers majors in Strategic Communication - Advertising and Public Relations, Professional Journalism, and Media and Information; and minors in Media and Information and Digital Media Studies. The Hubbard School offers an academic M.A. and Ph.D. in Mass Communication and a Professional M.A. in Strategic Communication.

Housed in Murphy Hall, a state-of-the-art facility for teaching and research of journalism, strategic communication, and emerging media studies, the Hubbard School is home to the Silha Center for the Study of Media Ethics and Law, the Minnesota Journalism Center, the Hubbard Digital Studios, and the Digital Information Research Center/Sevareid Library. Hubbard facilities also include the Murphy Hall conference center, multimedia classrooms, and psychophysiological communication research labs, and a focus group room, which is used to support graduate-level experimental research. For further information, please visit the Hubbard School of Journalism and Mass Communication's website, at: https://cla.umn.edu/hsjmc

About the College of Liberal Arts

Home to the arts, social sciences and humanities disciplines and programs, the College of Liberal Arts is the largest college in the University of Minnesota and comprises 31 academic departments, and over 20 interdisciplinary research centers and administrative/support units. CLA has over 1,300 faculty and staff spanning research, teaching, advising, outreach, and administrative functions. CLA units reside in over twenty buildings on the East Bank and West Bank of the Twin Cities campus. CLA enrolls nearly 13,000 undergraduate students, over 40% of the undergraduate enrollment on the Twin Cities campus, 1,400 graduate students, and has an annual all-funds budget of $290 million.

CLA is a destination for curious, compassionate individuals who are committed to making our increasingly interdependent and diverse global community work for everyone. That foundational
commitment begins in our CLA Constitution. CLA is committed to increasing enrollment of underrepresented and under-resourced students, diversifying our faculty across all disciplines, recruiting, and retaining a diverse staff, and promoting the expression and exploration of diverse perspectives and viewpoints-so that we all gain the background knowledge and analytical skills we need to understand and respect differences.

Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in CLA
Working in CLA
The Benefits of Working at the U

Pay Range: $56,000 - $72,000; depending on education/qualifications/experience

Time Appointment Category: 100%

Position Type: P&A Staff

Please visit the Office of Human Resources website for more information regarding benefit eligibility.

The University offers a comprehensive benefits package that includes:

• Competitive wages, paid holidays, and generous time off
• Continuous learning opportunities through professional training and degree-seeking programs supported by the Regents Tuition Benefit Program
• Low-cost medical, dental, and pharmacy plans
• Healthcare and dependent care flexible spending accounts
• University HSA contributions
• Disability and employer-paid life insurance
• Employee wellbeing program
• Excellent retirement plans with employer contribution
• Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) opportunity
• Financial counseling services
• Employee Assistance Program with eight sessions of counseling at no cost
• Employee Transit Pass with free or reduced rates in the Twin Cities metro area

While our salary ranges provide a framework, it is important to note that most of the time, the initial pay may not reach the maximum of the range. This approach ensures that compensation reflects the value and unique contributions of each candidate while maintaining equity within our organization. As part of our commitment to fair and equitable compensation, please be aware that the salary offered to incoming candidates will be based on their individual credentials and experience.

Applications must be submitted online. To be considered for this position, please click the Apply button and follow the instructions. You will be given the opportunity to complete an online application for the position and attach a cover letter and resume.

Additional documents may be attached after application by accessing your "My Job Applications" page and uploading documents in the "My Cover Letters and Attachments" section.

• A completed application will include:
  • Resume
  • Cover letter that addresses how experience relates to the four main job responsibilities
  • List of 3 references

Review of applications will begin July 28, 2025. This position will remain open until filled.

To request an accommodation during the application process, please e-mail employ@umn.edu or call (612) 624-8647.

The University recognizes and values the importance of diversity and inclusion in enriching the employment experience of its employees and in supporting the academic mission. The University is committed to attracting and retaining employees with varying identities and backgrounds.

The University of Minnesota provides equal access to and opportunity in its programs, facilities, and employment without regard to race, color, creed, religion, national origin, gender, age, marital status, disability, public assistance status, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity, or gender expression. To learn more about diversity at the U: http://diversity.umn.edu

Any offer of employment is contingent upon the successful completion of a background check. Our presumption is that prospective employees are eligible to work here. Criminal convictions do not automatically disqualify finalists from employment.

The University of Minnesota, Twin Cities (UMTC)

The University of Minnesota, Twin Cities (UMTC), is among the largest public research universities in the country, offering undergraduate, graduate, and professional students a multitude of opportunities for study and research. Located at the heart of one of the nation's most vibrant, diverse metropolitan communities, students on the campuses in Minneapolis and St. Paul benefit from extensive partnerships with world-renowned health centers, international corporations, government agencies, and arts, nonprofit, and public service organizations.

At the University of Minnesota, we are proud to be recognized by the Star Tribune as a Top Workplace for 2021, as well as by Forbes as Best Employers for Women and one of America's Best Employers (2015, 2018, 2019, 2023), Best Employer for Diversity (2019, 2020), Best Employer for New Grads (2018, 2019), and Best Employer by State (2019, 2022).