Handshake Jobs in Reading, MA (NOW HIRING)

About the Opportunity
JOB SUMMARY:
The Associate Director of Technology Career Advising serves as Northeastern University's dedicated career specialist for students pursuing full-time roles in software engineering, data science, artificial intelligence, machine learning, cybersecurity, IT, and adjacent fields including media, arts, architecture and gaming. As a core member of the Career Education Center's sector-based advising team, this role brings deep, current knowledge of the tech talent market to bear on every aspect of student career development from first-year exploration through full-time offer negotiation. The Tech Career Advisor designs and delivers sector-specific programming, maintains active employer relationships with tech companies across scales and geographies, and uses labor market data and AI-enabled tools to give students a competitive edge. This professional understands how the tech hiring landscape is being reshaped by AI including changes to hiring processes, in-demand skill profiles, and emerging roles, and translates that intelligence into practical, outcome-focused advising and workshops. The role is ideal for someone who has worked in or alongside the tech industry, speaks the language of engineering hiring managers and technical recruiters, and is energized by helping students land meaningful, high-quality internship and full-time employment in one of the most dynamic sectors in the economy.
This position will oversee 1-2 Assistant Directors.
MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:

• A bachelor's degree is required; master's degree in higher education, counseling, computer science, information systems, or a related field preferred.
• Minimum of 4-6 years of experience in career services, technical recruiting, workforce development, or the technology industry, with demonstrated understanding of tech sector hiring practices and role landscapes.
• Substantive knowledge of the technology, data science, and cybersecurity job markets including familiarity with software engineering hiring pipelines, data/AI role taxonomies, and cybersecurity certification pathways (e.g., CompTIA, CISSP, cloud certifications).
• Experience working with or advising students or early-career professionals in technical fields, with the ability to translate complex industry dynamics into accessible, actionable guidance.
• Experience managing others, including regular coaching and feedback, structured professional development, performance management, and engagement support that cultivates a high-performing, student-centered advising practice.
• Proficiency with career management platforms (e.g., Handshake), labor market intelligence tools (e.g., Lightcast, LinkedIn Talent Insights), and AI-enabled career development tools.
• Demonstrated ability to build and sustain employer relationships with tech companies from startups to large enterprises and convert those relationships into full-time hiring opportunities for students.
• Data fluency: ability to interpret employment outcome data, labor market trends, and program metrics to evaluate effectiveness and inform programming decisions.
• Strong presentation, coaching, and interpersonal skills; ability to engage effectively with students at varying levels of technical background and career readiness.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES & ACCOUNTABILITIES:

• Sector-Specialized Career Advising & Student Coaching

Provide individualized career advising and coaching to students and recent graduates pursuing full-time roles in technology, data, cybersecurity, media, arts, architecture and gaming. Guide students through technical job search strategy, resume and portfolio development tailored to engineering and data roles, technical interview preparation (including coding assessments, system design, and behavioral interviews), and offer evaluation. Managing up to 2 Assistant Directors of Career Development, providing coaching, professional development, feedback and support. Maintain a current, deep understanding of how AI is transforming tech hiring including AI-assisted screening, new role categories, and shifting skill expectations, and incorporate this intelligence into every advising interaction.

• Sector Programming Design & Delivery

Design, deliver, and continuously improve a calendar of sector-specific programming that addresses the full arc of the tech job search: industry exploration, networking in technical communities, technical skill showcasing, mock interviews, career fairs and employer showcases, and salary negotiation in tech. Develop programming in partnership with faculty, student organizations (e.g., coding clubs, cybersecurity teams, AI/ML groups), and employer partners. Evaluate program effectiveness using attendance, engagement, and downstream employment outcome data, and iterate accordingly.

• Employer Engagement & Full-Time Hiring Pipeline

Cultivate and steward relationships with a targeted portfolio of tech sector employers - including software companies, financial technology firms, consulting practices with tech capabilities, defense and intelligence contractors, and cybersecurity organizations with the explicit goal of generating full-time job opportunities for Northeastern graduates. Collaborate with the employer relations team to coordinate on-campus recruiting, info sessions, and hiring events. Track employer pipeline health and proactively identify gaps in sector coverage or geographic reach.

• Labor Market Intelligence & Data-Informed Practice

Monitor tech labor market trends including hiring volumes, emerging roles (e.g., AI/ML engineering, prompt engineering, data governance), compensation benchmarks, and geographic hiring hubs - and synthesize this intelligence into programming, advising content, and student-facing resources. Maintain sector-specific employment outcome data, contribute to the center's reporting cadence, and identify opportunities to improve student placement rates. Share market insights with colleagues, academic partners, and students through regular communications and resources.

• Cross-Campus Collaboration & Sector Representation

Serve as the Career Education Center's embedded expert and representative for the technology, data, and cybersecurity sector in cross-campus partnerships. Build working relationships with the Khoury College of Computer Sciences, College of Engineering, and other colleges with significant tech student populations. Participate in relevant curriculum, advising, and student success initiatives. Represent the sector at career center team meetings, contribute to strategic planning, and share sector expertise to strengthen team-wide knowledge.
Position Type
Student Services
Additional Information
Northeastern University considers factors such as candidate work experience, education and skills when extending an offer.
Northeastern has a comprehensive benefits package for benefit eligible employees. This includes medical, vision, dental, paid time off, tuition assistance, wellness & life, retirement- as well as commuting & transportation. Visit https://hr.northeastern.edu/benefits/ for more information.
All qualified applicants are encouraged to apply and will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, religion, color, national origin, age, sex, sexual orientation, disability status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable law.
Compensation Grade/Pay Type:
110S
Expected Hiring Range:
$76,335.00 - $107,823.75
With the pay range(s) shown above, the starting salary will depend on several factors, which may include your education, experience, location, knowledge and expertise, and skills as well as a pay comparison to similarly-situated employees already in the role. Salary ranges are reviewed regularly and are subject to change.