Texas Christian University (TCU) invites inquiries, nominations and applications for an experienced, innovative, committed, and collaborative professional to serve as the next Executive Director of the BNSF Career and Professional Development Center.
About TCU:
TCU’s vision is to be a world class, values centered university. Founded in 1873, TCU, a distinguished teaching and research university is classified by U.S. News and World Report as a Tier 1 University and a Doctoral/Research university by the Carnegie Foundation. The Carnegie Commission lists TCU’s undergraduate profile as “More Selective,” its highest rating. TCU enjoys a long history of commitment to student success, personalized teaching, collaborative research, and a wide range of internships and study-abroad opportunities designed to ensure that students are prepared for their role as ethical leaders and responsible citizens in a global community. TCU enrolls approximately 8,900 undergraduates, and the graduate/professional students will increase from 1,500 to approximately 1,800 with the addition of medical students. TCU offers 119 undergraduate majors and 53 master’s level programs, including 28 doctoral fields of study.
This past year, TCU began the development of a new strategic plan for the university – Vision In Action: Lead On. This plan has identified four key strategic areas: 1. Strengthen Academic Profile and Reputation –We will continue to pursue the brightest students, increase undergraduate enrollment while addressing size, balance and diversity, areas of study with expansion opportunities, our ability to compete and excel in a power athletic conference, and develop the TCU and UNTHSC School of Medicine; 2. Strengthen Endowment – We will lessen the pressure and unsustainability of continual tuition increases. We also make the TCU experience as accessible as reasonably possible, and increase our competitive advantage in research and scholarship; 3. Strengthen TCU Experience and Campus Culture – We will focus on inclusion and engagement, continue to develop a spirited sense of belonging, and strengthen our brand so that our community fully embraces the TCU story; 4. Strengthen Workforce – TCU plays a meaningful role preparing tomorrow’s leaders and will offer programs and courses that encourage career awareness and readiness, and leverage opportunities with employers for internships and full-time careers after graduation.
TCU is located in a residential neighborhood five miles from the heart of downtown Fort Worth, Texas, a city recognized for its rich western heritage, preeminent arts amenities and entertainment venues. It is the 16th largest city in the United States, with diverse populations and cultures, yet it has retained a small-town sensibility. Fort Worth boasts a world-class museum district, a renowned performance hall, a top-ranked zoo, the Historic Stockyards District, and a dynamic downtown that is nationally recognized as a model of urban rebirth.
The Division of Student Affairs provides guidance, support services, educational programs, and social activities designed to complement the academic interests of TCU’s students. The division is committed to creating opportunities that allow students to build leadership skills, maintain health and well-being and become contributing members of the community.
About the Position:
Reporting to the Vice Chancellor of Student Affairs, the Executive Director of the BNSF Career and Professional Development Center is responsible for the strategic direction and vision for a program that engages students and alumni in career preparation and continuing development for success in a global workplace. The role requires strong supervision, management, goal setting, innovation, budgetary responsibility, friend and fund raising, assessment, engagement with the college community, and internship and employment opportunities in a global marketplace.
The Executive Director manages a budget of approximately $1.6m and oversees 17 staff members. The Center operates as a hybrid model providing services in the BNSF Railway Career Center that serves as the primary office for the university’s colleges and alumni, and the Alcon Career Center that is a satellite office serving students in the Neeley School of Business.
The Executive Director must exhibit collaborative leadership working with both university and external stakeholders to extend the reach of the BNSF Career and Professional Development Center. Partnering with TCU faculty and staff is imperative in creating a campus culture that supports career and professional development as part of a successful student experience. This culture must be fostered and developed beginning in students’ first year on campus. The Executive Director will actively interact with top level executives in corporations and organizations in the Dallas/Fort Worth area, nationally and internationally as we grow. He or she will build partnerships with a wide range of industry partners including alumni to create employment and mentoring opportunities.
Duties and Essential Job Functions:
- Hires, trains and supervises 17 full-time professionals working as career advisors, internship and employer developers and support staff.
- Provides organizational responsibility for the program planning and evaluation of career services offered centrally and, in each college, and school.
- Provides administrative responsibility for budget preparation, administrative oversight, compliance and strategic planning for the department.
- Facilitates continuous improvement and leads innovative changes to ensure the department and staff are responsive to student career development needs and evolving market trends.
- Implements effective data collection, analysis and reporting systems that demonstrate career-related outcomes and informs strategic resources allocation and direction.
- Maintains relationships with a robust number of established employers and implements outreach efforts to new employers to develop internship and employment opportunities for students and alumni. Collaborates with the University Advancement Director of Corporate Relations to identify undeveloped opportunities and creates plans for expanding employment opportunities through these relationships.
- Communicates regularly with academic administrators and student affairs professionals on changing needs in the workplace.
- Makes presentations to prospective students, parents and alumni on the opportunities to engage in career and professional development services.
- Performs other related duties as assigned.
The Successful Candidate:
The successful candidate will be a strategic and innovative thinker, a self-starter who demonstrates strong interpersonal skills and creative vision; possesses organizational and analytical ability to enhance a student-centered metric-driven career and professional development program; practices progressive career development; communicates articulately and persuasively, both verbally and in writing; and is goal-oriented handling multiple tasks simultaneously meeting a myriad of deadlines.
The successful candidate has the:
- Ability to supervise a student-centered, fast-paced, 24/7, multidimensional organization.
- Ability and strong desire to lead a large team serving internal and external constituencies.
- Ability to communicate and collaborate with university leadership, alumni, students and parents.
- Ability to assess program effectiveness, recommend changes and lead others through strategic change.
- Ability to train and lead staff, plan and execute events and programs, and report program effectiveness.
- Ability and desire to engage alumni, employers and donors in support of TCU career and professional development of students and alumni.
Required Education and Experience:
Master’s degree in relevant or related field required, doctoral degree preferred.
Progressive experience in career and professional development and at least five years of experience in leadership, management, and administration at a high-level position, including program creation and implementation, program evaluation and staff supervision.
How to Apply:
Interested candidates should send a letter of application and resume that relates the applicant’s skills, abilities, knowledge and professional experiences to the stated qualifications for the position and notable achievements. The packet should be sent to EDCCTCU@wspelman.com. The subject line in email should be EDCCTCU.
Confidential inquiries may be made by contacting Susan Salvador at Susan@wspelman.com or at 585-230-4013.
For full consideration, all materials should be received by June 29, 2018. The process will continue until the position is filled.
Texas Christian University is an AA/EEO employer and does not discriminate on the basis of age, race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, gender expression, national origin, ethnic origin, disability, genetic information, covered veteran status, or any other basis protected by law.
