Wagner Systems

Position Title: Director of Career and Life Success

Department: Career Services 
Reports To: Executive Vice President & Chief of Staff 
FLSA Status: Exempt
Location: On-Campus, Staten Island, NY

Position Summary

The Director of Career and Life Success will design, lead, and implement a comprehensive model that integrates career readiness, life coaching, and experiential learning to prepare Wagner College students for success during and beyond college.

Serving as both a strategic architect and hands-on mentor, the Director will provide individualized guidance and group coaching on career development, internships, and essential life skills. The Director will collaborate with academic schools, faculty, and staff to embed practical learning into the curriculum and will partner with Advancement and Alumni Relations to strengthen professional networks and pathways for students.

This is a highly visible, student-centered leadership role that reflects Wagner's "We Care" philosophy and commitment to holistic student growth.

Key Responsibilities

1. Strategic Leadership and Program Development

• Design and implement a long-term strategic plan for the Career and Life Success Office aligned with Wagner's institutional priorities and "We Care" culture.
• Lead the development of a scalable, data-informed career and life success model that integrates career readiness, life coaching, and experiential learning.
• Supervise and mentor a small professional team (1-2 staff or graduate assistants) to ensure coordinated delivery of programs and services.
• Establish clear goals, metrics, and annual reports demonstrating student impact and outcomes.

2. Institutional Collaboration and Partnerships

• Partner with academic deans, faculty, and student success staff to embed career readiness and life design principles into coursework and co-curricular programming.
• Collaborate with the Advancement Office and Alumni Relations to enhance alumni engagement, mentorship opportunities, and fundraising for career initiatives.
• Serve as a campus connector among academic programs, student support offices, and external partners to strengthen the student-to-career pipeline.

3. Employer and Alumni Engagement

• Develop and sustain partnerships with employers, alumni, and community organizations to expand opportunities for internships, clinical placements, and full-time employment.
• Coordinate networking events, career panels, and employer showcases that highlight student and alumni success.
• Leverage alumni networks to provide mentoring and career guidance to current students.

4. Student and Career Coaching Support

• Provide targeted coaching and small-group sessions for students, with a focus on career exploration, professional communication, and transition to life after college.
• Oversee the design and delivery of workshops such as "Life at College 101" and "Life After College", integrating topics like resume development, interviewing, networking, and financial literacy.
• Ensure equitable access to career support for all students, with tailored programming for each academic school.

Qualifications

Required:

• Master's degree in Higher Education, Counseling, Business, Human Resources, or a related field.
• At least 4 years of progressively responsible experience in career services, higher education leadership, workforce development, or student success.
• Proven experience developing and implementing programs that promote career readiness, life skills, or experiential learning.
• Exceptional communication, coaching, and relationship-building skills.
• Demonstrated ability to work effectively with diverse populations of students, faculty, staff, and external partners.

Preferred:

• Certification in career or life coaching (e.g., ICF, NCDA, Gallup Strengths, etc.).
• Experience collaborating with alumni and advancement teams on engagement or fundraising initiatives.
• Familiarity with both liberal arts and professional program pathways (nursing, PA, business, theatre, health sciences).
• Data-informed mindset and experience using career platforms (e.g., Handshake, Symplicity, etc.).

Core Competencies

• Student-Centered Leadership and Empathy
• Strategic Relationship Management
• Program Design and Evaluation
• Effective Communication and Presentation
• Inclusivity and Cultural Competence
• Collaborative and Innovative Thinking

Wagner College, founded in 1883, seamlessly blends professional programs with a liberal arts grounding for a comprehensive, experiential-forward education that fosters well-rounded, adaptable graduates. The college's verdant residential campus offers a traditional college experience on New York City's Staten Island.

Wagner prides itself on robust student support services, including personalized academic advising, comprehensive career counseling, and a wide array of wellness programs. Students are prepared not only for professional success but also for meaningful lives through the faculty's dedication to promoting scholarship, achievement, leadership and citizenship.

Wagner College offers a generous benefit package that includes medical, dental, vision, pension and paid time off benefits to all full-time employees. The Wagner College Office of Human Resources partners with all members of the College community to cultivate a work environment that values equal opportunity, diversity equity inclusion and access, professional development and individual excellence.

Wagner College provides equal employment opportunities (EEO) to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, colour, religion, sex, national or ethnic origin, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, marital status, age, disability or genetics. In addition to federal law requirements, Wagner College complies with applicable state and local laws governing non-discrimination in employment in every location in which the company has facilities. This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation and training.