Director, Career Education & Advising

Director, Career Education & Advising

Position Summary

Reporting to the Assistant Dean, Career Education & Advising (CEA) the Director, Career Education & Advising works as part of a team to advise and educate the Business School’s 1,800+ full-time MBA, MBAxMS, and speciality masters students. The Director sets the strategic vision and operations for career coaching across all graduate business populations, and oversees a high-performing team of full-time professionals, ensuring top-tier guidance for graduate business students navigating highly competitive, high-interest industries.

Collaborating closely with the Assistant Dean, the Director will implement the core CMC Coaching Framework, define advising metrics, and design innovative, scalable career programming. They are responsible for ensuring the quality and consistency of the advising experience, and providing ongoing professional development to CMC’s team of advisors and student fellows (who provide peer-to-peer advising services). This role will provide a unique opportunity for a highly-talented, team-first professional with a passion for working with students to become part of a world-class, Ivy League institution.

About Columbia Business School For over a century, Columbia Business School has helped develop leaders and builders of enterprises who drive value for their stakeholders and society at large through our MBA, MS, PhD, and Executive Education programs. We are equally committed to cultivating new scholars and teachers, and to creating and disseminating pathbreaking knowledge, concepts, and tools which advance the understanding and practice of management through our faculty research and PhD programs.

Our vision is simple: to develop ideas and leaders that transform the world—from the very center of business. Our ever-evolving curriculum - featuring pioneering courses, STEM certification, and immersive experiential learning -prepares students to excel in key areas such as digital transformation, entrepreneurship, and innovation, twenty-first century finance, the intersection of business and society, and climate and sustainability. The CBS administration enables CBS’ educational and scholarly mission through strategic and operational guidance and support, optimizing School resources through well-designed, transparent processes with a culture of respect for all.

Responsibilities

• Leadership & Strategic Planning

• Works with the Assistant Dean to define advising goals and learning metrics for all graduate populations.

• Develops, co-manages, and delivers the CMC Coaching Framework in conjunction with other CEA team members, training and managing student leaders and outside consultants for these programs as needed.

• Supervises a team to create, launch, and lead various career education and advising initiatives. Evolves and enhances the CMC coaching framework and defines clear advising standards, including service level expectations and target appointment volumes to meet demand.

• Collaborates with the Strategic Partnership team on development of policies and procedures related to the on-campus recruiting program as well as on individual student issues.

• Career Coaching & Advising

• Provides comprehensive career coaching and advising to graduate business students on a wide range of topics relating to job search strategies. Researches and develops advising programs and job search initiatives for graduate business students.

• Develops and maintains key relationships with select professional student clubs, Centers and Programs, and affiliated student leaders. Leverages the CMC Coaching Program to provide as-needed industry support to student clubs.

• Partners with CMC Advisors, Centers & Programs, and Coaches as part of industry-focused teams.

• Collaborates closely with the Strategic Partnership teams to maintain a working understanding of the logistics and policies related to structured and unstructured recruiting processes; educates staff and students on structured and unstructured recruiting opportunities and procedures.

• Program Development & Implementation

• Designs, launches, and manages advising delivery models and career education programs, including drop-in hours, career groups, and homerooms tailored to high-interest industries and functions.

• Creates and delivers research and market-driven career development workshops and advising frameworks.

• Provides strategic oversight for career programming for Master of Science (MS) degrees in Financial Economics, Accounting & Fundamental Analysis and Marketing Science.

• Data & Assessment

• Oversees and performs data collection and analysis related to advising touchpoints and career education workshop effectiveness; uses data to improve services.

• Assists in the tracking and collection of employment outcomes for all graduate student populations.

• External Representation

• Represents office in interactions with a wide range of internal and external constituents, including faculty, Dean's office, Executives-in-Residence, administrators in other departments, professionals from the private and public sectors, and counterparts at peer schools as needed.

• Participates in all-office events and initiatives, including on-campus recruiting, career fairs, orientation, student and recruiter feedback sessions, monthly All Hands meetings, and departmental and team off-sites.

• Performs other duties as assigned.

• Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree and/or its equivalent required; MBA highly preferred. Minimum 5-7 years related experience. In-depth understanding of MBA jobs in at least one MBA target industry. Demonstrated advising experience in either a corporate or academic setting. Strong knowledge of software including MS Excel and PowerPoint; familiarity with CRM tools a plus. Ability to travel when requested (up to 5% of time). Outstanding interpersonal/relationship management, communication, and writing skills, previous advising/mentoring experience, teaching and/or presentation skills a must. Customer service orientation and proven ability to excel in a high-volume environment. Ability to balance independent delivery of work with strong team work/collaborative orientation. Experience managing others in a customer-focused environment is a plus. Ability to work flexible, long hours and early mornings/late evenings on a seasonal basis to meet student needs; some evening and weekend work may be necessary.

• Preferred Qualifications

• MBA, HR, Higher Education or other Master’s degree, along with 7+ years related experience strongly preferred. Superior business and political acumen, demonstrated ability to lead.

• Equal Opportunity Employer / Disability / Veteran

• Columbia University is committed to the hiring of qualified local residents.