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Director of Career Development (4983C) - Jacobs Institute

At the University of California, Berkeley , we are dedicated to fostering a community where everyone feels welcome and can thrive. Our culture of openness, freedom, and belonging makes it a special place for students, faculty, and staff, who are among the most talented and accomplished anywhere, including Nobel laureates, Pulitzer Prize winners, and MacArthur Fellows. Since our founding in 1868, we have been an engine for innovation - driving intellectual, economic, and social progress that benefits California, the U.S., and beyond. Together, we change the world.

At Berkeley, the best careers are built on a foundation of continuous learning and growth . We actively support professional development by providing all full-time staff employees with at least 80 hours of paid time per year and providing space for supportive colleague communities via numerous employee resource groups.

The Berkeley Master of Design (Berkeley MDes) is a professional graduate degree offered in partnership between the College of Engineering and the College of Environmental Design, with a curriculum focused on designing emerging technologies and the social and cultural contexts in which these technologies are shaped.

Berkeley MDes is a studio-based program in which students are immersed in community, collaboration, and hands-on learning. Over three semesters and one summer, students complete a total of eight required core courses and four electives. In the final semester, students develop and present a thesis project that represents the culmination of their intellectual journey in the program.

MDes is housed in Jacobs Hall, a 24,000 square foot building equipped with design studios and equipment rooms featuring the latest in digital fabrication technologies. Second and third semester MDes students have dedicated studio desks and full 24/7 access to the MDes Studio.

Jacobs Hall is managed by the Jacobs Institute for Design Innovation (Jacobs Institute) which operates a makerspace open to all UC Berkeley students, conducts undergraduate courses in design innovation, and supports learning and making at the intersection of design and technology through grants, public programming, and community building. The Jacobs Institute and MDes collaborate across their operations in order to leverage common knowledge and practices.

The Director of Career Development will lead the planning and delivery of career development programs and services that help students translate their academic experiences into meaningful career opportunities. This role provides strategic career advising and counseling while building strong relationships with students, alumni, and employers to create connections and opportunities that support students' professional success.

The First Review Date for this job is: August 24, 2026 - Open Until Filled

Career Development Program Design, Implementation, and Management

• Design and implement a suite of career development services and programs that provide students and alumni with a career advantage. Collaborate closely with the MDes Faculty Director(s), MDes Director of Academic Affairs and the Jacobs Institute Senior Director of External Affairs, as well as the College of Engineering, College of Environmental design, campus, and external partners to identify opportunities for synergy with existing programs.
• In collaboration with the MDes Faculty Director(s) and staff leadership, research, develop, and execute new career development programs and outreach services for MDes students and alumni.
• Manage career program improvement processes. Regularly conduct needs assessments, and evaluate program effectiveness. Collaborate with faculty and other members of the University community to update, enhance, or eliminate programs and services.
• Extend select programs and services to the undergraduate population, including the Berkeley Certificate in Design Innovation (BCDI) and the Berkeley Engineering Design Scholars (BEDS).
• Develop customized services and provide tailored content to support engagement strategies. Make use of a variety of marketing strategies and methods from in-person networking and seminars to large-scale virtual events, newsletters, and use of social media.
• Organize career-focused MDes events, such as recruitment events and career panels.
• Participate in other key MDes programs and events, such as Visit Day, orientation, and the Commencement reception.
• Work with MDes students to ensure alignment of student career desires with plans to target companies and to provide general recruiter feedback on their knowledge, skills, and abilities.
• Present sensitive and difficult information about the career program, including presentations to the media and the public.
• Manage career development services logistics and information systems. Use thorough knowledge of career programs and information systems to build applications and improve web sites and other supporting technologies

Career Planning Advising: Students and Alumni

• Provide career coaching in complex areas, working with both junior and mid- to senior-level students and alumni — including those looking to advance, switch functions, or pivot industries entirely. Leverage an understanding of careers at the intersection of design and technology to advise on MDes-aligned career paths and strategies.
• Provide resources and support to MDes students to secure internships or other professional opportunities both during and following the completion of the program. Manage the professional development grant program.
• Use quantitative and qualitative assessments to help students define career goals, and provide decision-making and goal-setting tools to help identify interests, values, skills,
• and obstacles. Identify personal crisis situations and refer students to appropriate resources.
• Provide feedback on job search and professional development assets (portfolios, resumes), tailoring guidance to specific roles and industries. Ensure students have current information on job markets and recruiter perceptions.
• Develop and facilitate workshops and programs — such as panels with senior designers or hiring managers — to convey current trends in the design career landscape and job search process.

Network and Relationship Building

• Build long term relationships with students and alumni in mid and senior level positions. Facilitate networking opportunities among students and alumni/contacts in industry. Manage the Design Fellows program, and build opportunities and mechanisms for alumni engagement.
• Continually grow and diversify the employer pipeline for internships and placement, expanding industry and recruiter awareness of the MDes program and establishing new relationships beyond the current network.
• Cultivate alumni as an active pipeline — not just recipients of career services, but referral sources, mentors, and connectors to new companies and employers with whom the program doesn't yet have relationships.
• Identify and contact companies about recruiting MDes students, on and off campus. Work proactively to strengthen relationships with recruiting companies, assisting them in developing and executing recruiting and engagement strategies. Coordinate recruiter relationships with UC Berkeley Career Engagement as appropriate.
• Develop and nurture relationships and collaborations with career services professionals from other Berkeley masters programs.
• Promote employment and networking opportunities to appropriate student populations.
• Meet regularly with the Senior Director of External Affairs and Director of Academic Affairs to develop and implement alumni marketing and outreach programs. Establish protocols and programs for serving alumni, locally and in other regions. Travel as needed to meet program goals.

Data Management and Storytelling

• Establish metrics to track utilization of services, including advising and workshops/webinars, and compile data for program evaluation.
• Run annual campaign to collect First Destination Career Outcomes as well as alumni career changes. Leverage and filter data for student, alumni, leadership and prospective student audiences.
• Translate data into tailored presentations and marketing content for different audiences — including College of Engineering/College of Environmental Design management, students, prospective students, alumni, and campus professionals.
• Maintain and improve the Institute's customer relationship management (CRM) systems and mailing list databases to support tracking of students, alumni, mentors, industry partners, and campus allies.

• Advanced degree in related area and / or equivalent experience / training.
• Advanced knowledge of career development theories, adult development theory, counseling processes, career coaching techniques, career decision making, learning styles, and job search techniques.
• Advanced knowledge of needs assessment theory, processes, and practice; workshop and program design, development, facilitation, management, and promotion.
• Highly effective interpersonal, counseling, presentation, and oral and written communication skills, including expert active listening.
• Strong ability to work with people from diverse cultures.
• Experience coaching and advising entry level as well as mid-senior level career professionals.
• Knowledge of workshop/program design/development, facilitation, and management, and general event facilitation, and promotion
• Strong organizational and analytical skills, including experience maintaining and improving databases/CRMs.
• Relevant work experience growing new career development programs.
• Demonstrated interest in current issues in design, technology, entrepreneurship, leadership, global economics.
• Experience collaborating with business and technology executives and career professionals, with the ability to effectively and persuasively represent the Master of Design program, the Jacobs Institute, the College of Engineering, and the College of Environmental Design.
• Knowledge of career management, employer expectations, recruiting, staffing methods, and employment trends.
• Ability to excel in a fast-paced customer service oriented environment.
• Must be able to work evenings and, occasionally, weekends hours.
• Experience coaching and advising both entry-level and mid- to senior-level career professionals (students).

• Advanced knowledge of career development theories, adult development theory, counseling processes, career coaching techniques, career decision making, learning styles, and job search techniques — with particular depth in the design field.
• Advanced knowledge of UC career services programs.
• Relevant work experience growing new career development programs, preferably in design and/or technology. Experience in the design and/or tech field is a plus; outplacement, executive search, or industry recruiting experience for technologists/designers is helpful.

For information on the comprehensive benefits package offered by the University, please visit the University of California's Compensation & Benefits website.

Under California law, the University of California, Berkeley is required to provide a reasonable estimate of the compensation range for this role and should not offer a salary outside of the range posted in this job announcement. This range takes into account the wide range of factors that are considered in making compensation decisions including but not limited to experience, skills, knowledge, abilities, education, licensure and certifications, analysis of internal equity, and other business and organizational needs. It is not typical for an individual to be offered a salary at or near the top of the range for a position. Salary offers are determined based on final candidate qualifications and experience.

The budgeted salary or hourly range that the University reasonably expects to pay for this position is $84,420 to $118,545 yearly ($7,035 to $9,878.75 monthly). This is a 100% FTE career position eligible for full benefits. This position is FLSA Exempt and paid monthly.

This position is covered by the collective bargaining agreement between UAW (United Auto Workers) and the University of California Regents for SV.

This is a designated position requiring fingerprinting and a background check due to the nature of the job responsibilities. Berkeley does hire people with conviction histories and reviews information received in the context of the job responsibilities. The University reserves the right to make employment contingent upon successful completion of the background check.

As a condition of employment, the final candidate who accepts a conditional offer of employment will be required to disclose if they have been subject to any final administrative or judicial decisions within the last seven years determining that they committed any misconduct; received notice of any allegations or are currently the subject of any administrative or disciplinary proceedings involving misconduct; have left a position after receiving notice of allegations or while under investigation in an administrative or disciplinary proceeding involving misconduct; or have filed an appeal of a finding of misconduct with a previous employer.

“Misconduct” means any violation of the policies or laws governing conduct at the applicant’s previous place of employment, including, but not limited to, violations of policies or laws prohibiting sexual harassment, sexual assault, or other forms of harassment, discrimination, dishonesty, or unethical conduct, as defined by the employer. For reference, below are UC’s policies addressing some forms of misconduct:

The University of California is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, age, protected veteran status, or other protected status under state or federal law.