Dean of Career Integration at InsideHigherEd

Saint Mary's College in Notre Dame, IN, seeks a visionary and accomplished leader to launch and grow the newly reimagined career and student success ecosystem. This new effort will aim to transform the career readiness experience of the college's 1,700 students, resulting in alumnae who flourish in their vocations and positively impact their communities.The inaugural Dean of Career Integration will provide leadership and strategic direction to Saint Mary's integrated approach to career development, academic advising, internship and applied learning, and post-graduate and student employment opportunities. They will directly oversee the work of career development, influence those who work in student employment, fellowships, and pre-professional advising capacities, and build strong collaborations with academic advising, advancement, and Alumnae Affairs. Reporting to the Provost, the Dean is responsible for setting and realizing college career readiness goals, integrating career and applied learning efforts into the student experience, fostering robust partnerships with external constituents, and cultivating a premier career ecosystem where all students are equipped to find a lifetime of meaningful career success. In collaboration with university leadership, they will help grow The Avenue Experience, Saint Mary's curriculum-to-career journey that empowers students to reach their potential and fulfill their goals. The result of this leader's work will bring to life Saint Mary's unique curriculum-to-career experiences that combine coursework with professional mentoring, skill building, and internships, awakening students' undiscovered talents and enriching their academic journey.RESPONSIBILITIESLead and Executive Strategy● Report to the Provost; serves on the Provost Office Team and the President's Cabinet.● Under the direction of the Provost, influence the strategy and tactics to realize the Avenue Experience - a holistic approach to student flourishing - with a particular focus on efforts in the co-curricular experience of students; collaborate with faculty leadership of the Avenue Experience for integration within the curriculum.● Establish, integrate, and grow a newly integrated office of professionals focused on career success, student employment, post-graduate fellowships, and pre-professional advising.● Serve as the thought leader and chief strategist to grow and integrate career and student success into the Saint Mary's experience.● Develop strategy and realize goals for applied and work-based learning.● Coordinate efforts to integrate career readiness with the divisions of Mission, Belonging, and Student Engagement & Enrollment.● Foster strong relationships with leadership within academics and co-curricular areas; grow and facilitate engagement with faculty to integrate career readiness within the academic experience of students.● Lead strategic planning for near and long-term efforts, with a focus on growing and scaling efforts, and realizing the vision of The Avenue Experience as it relates to career and student success.Cultivate and Assess Student Success● Cultivates career success into the fabric of the college, catalyzing the integration of career success across the student experience, realizing the promises of The Avenue Experience.● Align the work of student employment, post-graduate fellowships, and pre-professional advising with overall career and student success objectives.● Create shared goals and metrics for the newly integrated office, teams, and individuals, to realize integration of the Avenue Experience and career success.● Work with the Division for Advancement to leverage strategies, programs, and tools - such as The Bridge (People Grove) - to grow student and alumni relationships.● Lead assessment and evaluation of career-related efforts, including but not limited to First Destination Survey, Career Learning Outcomes, internship and work-based learning, and overall program effectiveness.● Utilize data-driven insights to inform the improvement of career development practices and initiatives.Build and Expand Opportunities● Lead efforts to expand robust partnerships with employers and other external partners in key industries and geographies.● Increase engagement of employers and alumnae with current students and faculty through strategic programming and integrated experiences.● In collaboration with Advancement, grow opportunities for alumnae external partners to financially support the college's mission, with a focus on career and vocation.● Lead and grow partnerships within the tri-campus partners of The University of Notre Dame and Holy Cross College.● Represent Saint Mary's externally through regional partnerships, professional associations, and other committees as assigned.Direct Teams and Staff● Oversees the staff members within the career development team, and future staff focused on student employment, post-graduate fellowships, and pre-professional advising.● Manages budgets and other finances related to the office's goals.● Grows capacity to advise students on post-graduate programs and fellowship opportunities.● Work closely with the Dean of Student Academic Services to influence the work of academic advising staff and other individuals involved in serving students within the co-curricular experience.Grow the Story of Success● Partner with campus constituencies to raise the profile and impact of career development within and external to the college.● Develop and implement a comprehensive communications plan for career development, segmented for key audiences, and connected with the Avenue Experience and other hallmark initiatives.● In collaboration with the Provost and marketing office, create and implement a comprehensive office identity and marketing plan for the new office and team.● Regularly present to and effectively communicate with university leadership, prospective families, alumnae, donors, and corporate leadership.QUALIFICATIONSBachelor's degree required; master's degree preferred.● Minimum of five years of related work experience; preference given to candidates with leadership experience in higher education, career development, recruitment, or corporate engagement.● Strong communication and presentation skills with the ability and confidence to influence leaders and key decision makers.● Ability to work well with a range of constituents, including students, faculty, prospective students/families, employers, and alumnae.● Exceptional organizational and time management skills; ability to manage multiple priorities and deadlines with effective tracking methods.● Preferred experience leveraging technology tools, such as job posting systems, student records platforms, and learning management systems.● Demonstrated ability to analyze and interpret data related to student engagement and employment trends.● Willingness to work flexible hours, including occasional evenings.● Willingness and ability to travel as needed.● Affinity for the mission of Saint Mary's College.ABOUT SAINT MARY'S COLLEGEFounded by the Sisters of the Holy Cross in 1844, Saint Mary's College promotes a life of intellectual vigor, aesthetic appreciation, religious sensibility, and social responsibility. Saint Mary's is a Catholic, residential, women’s, liberal arts college offering undergraduate degrees for women and graduate programs that are open to all. Saint Mary's is part of a vibrant tri-campus community that includes the University of Notre Dame and Holy Cross College. At Saint Mary's College, students feel as if they're surrounded by sisters and friends. It is a welcoming community of approximately 1,700 students, 160 talented professors, and a dedicated staff. Small classes averaging only 18 students encourage close, meaningful relationships between students as well as between students and faculty. These friendships last beyond the college years, and Saint Mary's alumnae return to campus to visit their professors and network with the next generation of Saint Mary's students.Saint Mary's fosters an academic and personal environment that nurtures scholarship, learning, and the growth of women. Through a liberal arts foundation, a broad-based curriculum, and faculty exemplifying excellence in teaching and scholarship, students are challenged to think critically and creatively, acquire depth and breadth of knowledge, and develop the skills to communicate with clarity and precision. The College cultivates a diverse residential community that encourages appreciation of different cultures, civic responsibility, and the habits of socially engaged citizens, guiding students to become women of self-knowledge, imagination, lifelong intellectual curiosity, and thoughtful, responsible action.A trailblazer in the education of women, the College fosters an inclusive, academic community where students discover and develop their talents as they prepare to make a difference in the world. All members of Saint Mary's College contribute to the mission in their response to the complex needs and challenges of contemporary life. Through a commitment to educating the whole student, Saint Mary's has developed both undergraduate and graduate students to engage in work that extends into the community and around the world.BELONGING AND EQUAL OPPORTUNITYEstablished in 1844, Saint Mary's College was founded and is sponsored by the Sisters of the Holy Cross. Saint Mary’s College is a liberal arts college for women, with a strong commitment to the education of undergraduate women, and graduate women and men. As a Catholic institution of higher learning, the College is also committed to creating and maintaining an environment that respects the human dignity and civil rights of all persons. All faith traditions are welcome among our administrators, faculty, staff, and students. We are dedicated to creating a welcoming environment where all students, faculty, and staff can flourish, while fostering a culture of academic and institutional excellence. For more information, visit the Division for Belonging: https://www.saintmarys.edu/belongingSaint Mary's College is an Equal Opportunity Employer. In keeping with the College's mission, the College seeks applicants who share a commitment to creating and maintaining an environment that respects the human dignity and civil rights of all persons. Here’s our Equal Opportunity Employment Statement.APPLICATIONS & DEADLINESInterested applicants should submit a cover letter, a current resume, and three references saved as a single document in Word or PDF format. The file name should start with your first and last names, such as “FirstName LastName - Saint Mary's College Application.” This should be emailed to [email protected] with the subject "Application for SMC - Dean of Career Integration."To be considered, interested applicants should submit the requested materials by Friday, January 16, 2026.