Executive Director of Student Careers and Employment Placement Services
Description
About the Job
The Student Careers and Employment Placement Services team is responsible to connect academic programs with careers for CCU students. The goal of this team is to give students real tools that support persistence and retention, to prepare students for meaningful work, and to help them make financial choices that reduce the stress of student debt.
The Student Careers and Employment Placement Services team is responsible to connect academic programs with careers for CCU students. The goal of this team is to give students real tools that support persistence and retention, to prepare students for meaningful work, and to help them make financial choices that reduce the stress of student debt.
The vision for this department is stated by President Hogue, “Our commitment through SCEPS (Student Careers and Employment Placement Services) is to ensure that every student graduates with both spiritual formation and the professional competencies that command respect in the marketplace.”
The Executive Director provides visionary leadership and strategic oversight to advance CCU’s mission by providing proven experience to initiate and implement programs that integrate academic learning with experiential opportunities. In addition to faith integration, this person will develop innovative programs and secure external partnerships.
The Executive Director will ensure the Core Values of: 1) Faith Integration & Calling-Centered Career Development; 2) Servant Leadership and Exceptional Exployability; 3) Cultural Impact (Grace and Truth); and 4) Academic Excellent and Rigor translate from the class room to a career.
This opportunity will require the ability to connect with students from their freshman year through their senior year, to assist in development of professional skills and in building a career exploration mindset.
Additionally, this role will include CCU’s Adult and Online students through mentorship programs, resume support, online profiles, recruiting campaigns, professional associations, and other effective strategies to place students into meaningful jobs.
This person must have five or more years of proven experience where they have successfully collaborated internally and externally with employers in the marketplace. This individual will be responsible for developing various levels of partners for placing students in their field of choice – education, business, the church, government, and medical fields, as an example.
Job Location
Fully on-site - must reside and work legally in the U.S. Regular work location: Lakewood, Colorado
About CCU
Colorado Christian University is the premier interdenominational Christian university in Colorado and the Rocky Mountain region, delivering world class education to thousands of students. The fully accredited, nonprofit University is located in Lakewood, Colorado, a suburb of Denver.
Colorado Christian University was founded in 1914. CCU’s motto is--grace and truth. This motto comes from John 1.14: “And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, the glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.” (ESV) CCU's mission is Christ-centered higher education transforming students to impact the world with grace and truth.
Colorado Christian University cultivates knowledge and love of God in a Christ-centered community of learners and scholars, with an enduring commitment to the integration of exemplary academics, spiritual formation, and engagement with the world. We envision graduates who think critically and creatively, lead with high ethical and professional standards, embody the character and compassion of Jesus Christ, treasure the gospel, and who thereby are prepared to impact the world in their callings.
CCU embraces an educational model that was present at the foundation of many of the great western and American universities. It is made up of three pillars—competence, character and Christ-centered faith. Secular universities have abandoned two of those pillars. We think this is a major oversight that eventually undermines education. Furthermore, we believe this classical educational model is both life-giving and greatly needed in our time.
A leader in higher education, CCU has been consistently ranked in the top 2 percent of colleges and universities nationwide for its core curriculum by the American Council of Trustees and Alumni. CCU has had ten consecutive years of enrollment growth and has been named one of the five fastest-growing master’s granting universities by The Chronicle of Higher Education.
Colorado Christian University is the premier interdenominational Christian university in Colorado and the Rocky Mountain region, delivering world class education to thousands of students. The fully accredited, nonprofit University is located in Lakewood, Colorado, a suburb of Denver.
Colorado Christian University was founded in 1914. CCU’s motto is--grace and truth. This motto comes from John 1.14: “And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, the glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.” (ESV) CCU's mission is Christ-centered higher education transforming students to impact the world with grace and truth.
Colorado Christian University cultivates knowledge and love of God in a Christ-centered community of learners and scholars, with an enduring commitment to the integration of exemplary academics, spiritual formation, and engagement with the world. We envision graduates who think critically and creatively, lead with high ethical and professional standards, embody the character and compassion of Jesus Christ, treasure the gospel, and who thereby are prepared to impact the world in their callings.
CCU embraces an educational model that was present at the foundation of many of the great western and American universities. It is made up of three pillars—competence, character and Christ-centered faith. Secular universities have abandoned two of those pillars. We think this is a major oversight that eventually undermines education. Furthermore, we believe this classical educational model is both life-giving and greatly needed in our time.
A leader in higher education, CCU has been consistently ranked in the top 2 percent of colleges and universities nationwide for its core curriculum by the American Council of Trustees and Alumni. CCU has had ten consecutive years of enrollment growth and has been named one of the five fastest-growing master’s granting universities by The Chronicle of Higher Education.
CCU offers more than 200 degree program options for traditional and adult students through its two colleges--the College of Undergraduate Studies and College of Adult and Graduate Studies. More than 9,000 students attend the University on the main campus, in regional centers throughout Colorado, and online.
What is most appealing about working at CCU?
- Faith-friendly: CCU’s culture is unique to higher education. Where else can you pursue academic excellence yet read the Holy Bible, pray with teammates and students at work, and work to impact our culture in support of Christian values?
- Convictionally Christian: As a university, we have an enduring commitment to Christ, his kingdom and the truth of God’s Word.
- Live out your calling: We are a traditional evangelical university where you can invest your God-given talents and abilities alongside coworkers and teammates, while having a profound influence on students as they deepen their relationship with Jesus Christ.
- Equip students for kingdom work: You can be a part of helping students discover their callings and preparing them for positions of significant leadership in the church, business, government, education, and other professions, as a key part of our University's Strategic Priorities.
We're looking for candidates who have:
- Five or more years proven experience in Christian higher education, business, or a related profession where best practices are apparent to support and enhance CCU’s student job placement experience. A master’s degree is preferred.
- Ability to recruit, train, coach, and supervise the placement services team. Use CCU’s University Performance Model for goals and growth opportunities.
- Demonstrated passion for supporting students to find meaningful career opportunities.
- Proficiency in technology to develop systems and use data for analyzing information to improve processes.
- The ability to stay self-motivated, personable, and organized while working effectively both independently and as part of a team.
- Strong written and interpersonal communication skills that connect students, staff, faculty, and stakeholders outside of CCU. Be able to speak effectively within the CCU campus and outside in the community at targeted events.
- Proven ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced work environment.
Key Job Duties
- Contribute to CCU’s mission: CCU provides Christ-centered higher education to transform students to impact the world with grace and truth. The Assistant Director contributes to this mission by guiding and encouraging students to fulfill their God-given calling and educational goals by providing quality, Christ-centered advising to enhance and advance exemplary academics, spiritual growth, and engagement with the world
- Build and implement a best practice model to prepare students for career/job opportunities; enhance the student experience during their entire student experience; and produce successful outcomes leading to student choices and/or job placements.
- Recruit, train, coach, and supervise a professional team within the Student Careers and Employment Placement Services department.
- Develop, review, evaluate, and implement the policies related to career planning, learning, and student employment services.
- Collaborate with internal stakeholders: faculty and staff, while building a large network of professional networks within business, education, the church, medical field, government, and so on for placement of students.
- Support students in discerning their vocational calling, faith development, service involvement, personal and spiritual growth, and life goals for meeting their career objectives.
- Create marketing campaigns and strategies to promote CCU’s students with outside organizations for quality partnerships that will produce interviews and jobs.
- Support students on our traditional undergraduate campus (College of Undergraduate Studies) in Lakewood and our online students in our College of Adult and Graduate Studies.
- Develop and maintain systems for collecting, reporting, and analyzing student outcomes. Leverage data by using it for informed decision making to optimize strategies and by consistently refining student career outcomes.
- Will manage staffing and budgets, to ensure effective plan implementation. Must be able to build a business case for short- and long-term department needs.
- Work outside of CCU with organizations and within CCU’s Advancement team to place Alumni in mentoring programs.
- Design and implement programs that promote lifelong career development through job boards, mentoring programs, and networking opportunities for career choices.
- Other duties as assigned.
Work Environment
While performing the duties of this job, you may be required to walk, stand, sit, reach with hands and arms, balance, stoop, speak with clarity, and have appropriate vision and hearing capabilities. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 25 pounds. You may be required to work occasional irregular hours, including some nights and weekends.
What we offer our employees:
We offer competitive compensation and benefits packages to all employees. Our benefit package includes: a tuition waiver program, excellent healthcare, generous paid time off, matching 403(b) retirement plan, and additional organizational paid benefits and voluntary benefit offerings. Pay and benefits will be discussed in more detail as candidates progress through the interview process.
Colorado Christian University’s pay philosophy is based on internal and external data for pay equity; along with budgetary considerations for effective stewardship. Pay will be assigned based on relevant experience at a range of $100,000 - $125,000. We reserve the right to pay an equitable rate that we believe is within our salary structure or that may fit a candidate’s qualifications or experience for the job. A wage range posted is not a guarantee of a specific wage range for a job offer. CCU reserves the right to make pay decisions based on economic and equity considerations to attract the best possible talent. CCU does not determine pay based on sex or any other protected status.
What we offer our employees:
We offer competitive compensation and benefits packages to all employees. Our benefit package includes: a tuition waiver program, excellent healthcare, generous paid time off, matching 403(b) retirement plan, and additional organizational paid benefits and voluntary benefit offerings. Pay and benefits will be discussed in more detail as candidates progress through the interview process.
Colorado Christian University’s pay philosophy is based on internal and external data for pay equity; along with budgetary considerations for effective stewardship. Pay will be assigned based on relevant experience at a range of $100,000 - $125,000. We reserve the right to pay an equitable rate that we believe is within our salary structure or that may fit a candidate’s qualifications or experience for the job. A wage range posted is not a guarantee of a specific wage range for a job offer. CCU reserves the right to make pay decisions based on economic and equity considerations to attract the best possible talent. CCU does not determine pay based on sex or any other protected status.
Application Deadline: Posted until position is filled.
Spiritual Requirements
- Committed follower of Jesus Christ, who believes there is no salvation apart from faith in his atonement on the cross, by grace alone becoming "born again" thus beginning a personal relationship with Christ, the Son of God.
- Able to effectively communicate personal faith and apply biblical principles and convictions in the workplace. Must have a strong sense of calling to the ministry of Colorado Christian University.
- Regularly attend and be engaged in meaningful involvement in a Bible-believing evangelical local church. Knowledgeable about the Word of God and passionate about Christian education.
- Must be a traditional evangelical Christian whose lifestyle is in consonance with sound Christian principles, is compatible with CCU’s Statement of Faith, and is in agreement with the Strategic Priorities promulgated by the University.