Career Development Director

Career Development is a key unit within a newly reorganized Student Success structure at FHSU. The unit encompasses all aspects of career development for undergraduate and graduate students, including Career Services, Career Advising & Exploration, and Exploratory Student Academic Advising. The Director of Career Development is responsible for leading strategy to create a career ecosystem that promotes career readiness for all FHSU students, including online learners and students seeking global experience. This collaborative career ecosystem will assist students in developing focused career objectives and plans for achieving them through strategic initiatives and collaborations across the University and beyond. Some of these initiatives and collaborations include but are not limited to major and career exploration, expanding internships, apprenticeships, and experiential learning opportunities, and supporting faculty mentors, advisors, success coaches and instructors with career development resources and opportunities.

The Director will oversee daily operations, manage the budget, and leverage data-driven insights for decision-making. Responsibilities include hiring, developing and evaluating career team personnel, designing strategic programming for major and career exploration, and enhancing job search and graduate/professional school preparation for FHSU students.

Collaboration is essential—engaging faculty mentors, graduate advisors, deans, and department heads and other campus stakeholders to build a strong career development framework is a key responsibility. Additionally, fostering relationships with alumni to expand employment and internship opportunities, along with developing and expanding connections with local, regional, national, and global employers, will be vital to the team’s success.

The Director reports directly to the Assistant Provost for Student Success at FHSU (a newly developed role at FHSU).

What We’re Looking For:

• A leader in higher education and/or industry with excellent communication skills.
• An innovative leader in the field of career planning and employer relations.
• Someone with a strong commitment to working with students and contributing to student success initiatives.
• A leader with a strategic planning/visioning aptitude.

Responsibilities:

• Serve on the FHSU Student Success Collaboration Team which is charged with carrying out the new FHSU Student Success Reorganization Plan.
• Facilitate and manage vision and change for career development in higher education. 
• Display courageous leadership to “strategically stop” and “strategically start” initiatives and programs to align with needs of students and industry. 
• Proactively initiate communication and collaboration with faculty, staff, employers, alumni, and professional schools as it relates to career development.
• Lead the team in developing and delivering comprehensive career programming.
• Utilize results-oriented programs to expedite referral of qualified candidates to prospective employers.
• Engage in data-informed decision-making.  
• Lead the team in program evaluation and annual assessment plans and processes.
• Lead and support efforts to increase opportunities for all FHSU students and their use of career services offered at FHSU.
• Create cohesive, collaborative partnerships with faculty mentors, professional undergraduate advisors, and graduate advisors.
• Collaborate with our affiliates and the VP for Economic and Workforce Development to create unique internship and apprenticeships opportunities for our students.
• Coordinate alumni job network with faculty and university alumni.
• Coordinate a graduate tracking process.
• Assist in providing various opportunities to assist with preparation for the job search process and graduate/professional school admission.
• Adhere to all federal and state reporting requirements, including to the Kansas Board of Regents.
• Maintain appropriate professional organization memberships.

• Other duties as assigned.

Minimum Qualifications:

• Master’s degree from an accredited institution of higher education.
• At least three years of supervisory experience.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Strong collaborative skills focused on bringing a new vision for career focused services to life through strategy development with a team. 
• A minimum of five years of professional work experience in both higher education and the private sector including management and supervision in career services/counseling services, human resources, and placement or employee relations.
• Background in strategic planning and implementation.
• Ability to work independently and with a team, as well as with various constituents.

• Demonstrated ability to build and lead high-performing teams.
• Experience in data-informed decision making.
• Knowledge of program assessment and continuous improvement practices.
• Track record of successful collaboration across academic and administrative units.
• Knowledge of labor market trends and employer needs and an understanding of academic program structures and pathways.
• Demonstrated success building partnerships with faculty, students, staff, alumni, and employers.
• Strong communication skills
• Knowledge of current trends and best practices in career education, experiential learning, and integrating career readiness in higher education

Other Requirements:

• Applicants must be currently authorized to work in the United States at the time of employment.
• Applicants must be able to travel within and outside the state of Kansas.
• Position is located in Hays, KS on the FHSU campus.

Salary: Commensurate with education and qualifications.

Appointment Date: Negotiable with a preference of July 1, 2026

Application Priority Deadline:  Screening of complete applications will begin May 1st, 2026 and will continue until the position is filled.

Benefits: To review our competitive benefit package, please visit FHSU Benefits.

Application Process: To apply for this position, please visit FHSU Careers. Only electronic applications submitted through the webpage will be accepted.

Required Application Documents: Applicants should submit a cover letter, resume, and names and contact information for three professional references. Applicant documents should be submitted in one PDF.

If you have questions regarding the position, please contact:

Name: Dr. Keith Bremer

Email: kabremer@fhsu.edu

Phone: (785) 628-4321

Community of Hays

FHSU is located in Hays, a vibrant college town of approximately 20,000, located halfway between Kansas City and Denver on Interstate 70. Hays is the regional center for education, health care, professional services, shopping, culture, and recreation for the western half of Kansas. The community boasts excellent recreational programs and facilities, including the comprehensive Center for Health Improvement, Hays Aquatic Park, Smoky Hill Country Club, Hays Municipal Golf Course, and extensive walking, running, and biking trails. Hays is within 45 minutes of two large lakes that offer great opportunities for boating, fishing, and camping. The Hays Municipal Airport provides connecting service to Denver with several flights daily. The Hays community is home to excellent Pre-K and K-12, public and private schools. With over 60 restaurants, major retail outlets, a low unemployment rate, and very short commute times, the city provides a safe, welcoming, low-cost, high-quality living environment for the residents who call "Hays, America" home.

Notice of Non-discrimination: FHSU is committed to providing equal opportunity and access to its educational programs, employment, services, and activities in compliance with federal and state nondiscrimination laws. FHSU prohibits discrimination, harassment, and retaliation on the basis of race, color, national origin, ethnicity, religion, sex (including pregnancy, sexual orientation, and gender identity and expression), age, disability, genetic information, marital status, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable law in its programs, activities, admissions, or employment.

Background Check: Final candidate will have consented to and successfully completed a criminal background check.

Notice to KPERS retirees applying for a position: Recent legislation changes working-after-retirement rules for both you and your employer if you go back to work for a KPERS employer. Please contact your KPERS representative or www.kpers.org for further information on how this might affect you.