Associate Director and Career Specialist

Job no:

R-0000002883

Position Title:

Associate Director and Career Specialist

Faculty or Staff:

Staff

Full Time or Part Time:

Full time

In-Person, Hybrid, or Remote:

In-Person

Minimum Starting Rate of Pay:

Rate of pay commensurate with experience

Start Date:

02/02/2026

Job Description:

Mount Holyoke College seeks an Associate Director to spearhead inclusive career preparation efforts while providing expert, industry-specific career advising. This pivotal role requires an individual who can strategically connect career resources to identity-based student organizations, manage internal diversity, equity & inclusion initiatives, and serve as an industry specialist within assigned Career Communities.

Primary Responsibilities:

Inclusion

• Direct the Career Development Center’s (CDC) internal Justice, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (JEDI) efforts and coordinate the JEDI committee activities.

• Lead efforts to broaden and deepen relationships with the Offices of Community & Belonging, DEI, Residential Life, and other partners.

• Enhance the inclusivity of CDC advising, programming, and practices, advancing connections with identity-based student groups.

• Collaborate to assess incidents of bias and the impact of CDC programs on student engagement. Design and implement programmatic responses in alignment with College strategic priorities.

• Collaborate on the development of advising content and programs that are connected, consistent, and inclusive of all stages of student career development.

• Stay abreast of DEI best practices (MHC and national) and recommend updates to CDC advising as needed.

Programming & External Engagement

• Design, coordinate, and deliver specialized industry resources, events, and programs for assigned Career Communities (e.g., workshops, group advising), collaborating with MHC staff, faculty, and student organizations.

• Partner with the External Relations team to coordinate programs like Industry Meet-Ups, Lynk on the Road, employer/alum spotlights, and new industry-specific events.

• Identify, engage, and activate alums in related industries to support programming, mentorship, and student connections.

• Utilize CRM systems and digital platforms (e.g., Handshake, Salesforce) to support outreach, track engagement, and inform data-driven program development.

Career Specialist Advising

• Provide specialized advising and interview preparation to students and alums for assigned Career Communities, offering guidance on industry standards, timelines, and hiring practices.

• Educate and prepare students on search strategies, networking, resume/interview preparation, and offer negotiation for experiential learning, employment, and graduate school.

• Collaborate on creating content for a monthly career community-specific newsletter.

• Leverage platforms (LinkedIn, Handshake) to identify and share relevant, timely opportunities with students in assigned Career Communities.

Required Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree and 3-5 years of experience in counseling, higher education, human resources, or business.

• Demonstrated commitment to principles of diversity and the ability to effectively relate to a diverse student population.

• Ability to work independently, creatively lead large-scale programs, and build and sustain relationships with a wide diversity of constituents (students, faculty, staff, alums).

• Excellent writing, presentation, organizational, and analytical skills.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Master’s degree.

• Experience working with college students from diverse identities in a liberal arts setting.

• Ability to utilize data for strategic decision-making.

Hiring Range: $60,957 - $68,577

Full Job Description

What We Offer:

• 403(b) Retirement Plan (College contributes 10.5% of salary)

• Comprehensive medical, dental and vision insurance

• Flexible Spending Account (FSA)

• Disability and Leave Benefits

• Life Insurance (College paid coverage 1x salary)

• Employee Assistance Program

• Tuition Benefits (to Mount Holyoke College or others)

• Generous Paid Time Off

• Access to Kendall Sports & Dance Complex

Background Checks:

Mount Holyoke College is committed to providing a safe and secure environment, supported by qualified employees that will allow all of its students, faculty, staff and those associated with them to successfully carry out the mission of the college. As a condition of employment, the College will conduct appropriate background checks for all new hires. Mount Holyoke has designated the Office of Human Resources as the office responsible for ensuring that background checks (CORI, SORI, Credit History, & Driver Credential) are completed and utilized in the hiring process and Five College Office of Compliance and Risk Management as the office responsible for facilitating background checks as articulated in this policy.

Special Instructions for Applicants: 

Apply online; application materials must include:

• A cover letter summarizing interests and qualifications

• A complete resume or curriculum vitae

• For faculty positions, statements on mentoring, teaching, and research will also be required.

​It is unlawful in Massachusetts to require or administer a lie detector test as a condition of employment or continued employment.