Assistant Vice President of Career Development

Career Guide

An Assistant Vice President of Career Development is a senior leader who sets strategy and oversees programs that help people explore careers, build job readiness, and secure employment outcomes. The role blends leadership, employer partnerships, student or client services, and data-driven program improvement.

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Key Responsibilities

Set the career development strategy and measurable goals
Lead and coach directors, managers, and career coaching teams
Oversee career coaching services and career education programs
Build employer partnerships to expand internships and job opportunities
Partner with academic leaders to connect curriculum to career outcomes
Create and manage budgets, staffing plans, and vendor contracts
Track outcomes such as placements, internships, and engagement
Improve processes to deliver consistent, high-quality services
Ensure equitable access to career support across populations served
Represent the organization with employers, alumni, and community partners

Top Skills for Success

Strategic Planning

People Leadership

Stakeholder Management

Executive Communication

Budget Management

Program Management

Change Management

Employer Partnership Development

Career Coaching Leadership

Workshop Design

Outcomes Measurement

Data Literacy

Equity and Inclusion Leadership

Higher Education Administration

Career Progression

Can Lead To

Director of Career Services Director of Employer Relations

Director of Student Success

Director of Workforce Development

Senior Manager of Career Development

Transition Opportunities

Vice President of Career Development

Vice President of Student Affairs

Chief Student Success Officer

Head of Talent Development Chief Learning Officer

Executive Director of Workforce Development

Common Skill Gaps

Often Missing Skills

Outcomes MeasurementBudget ManagementEmployer Partnership DevelopmentChange ManagementData LiteracyVendor Management

Development SuggestionsBuild a simple outcomes dashboard, lead a cross-functional improvement project, practice budget forecasting, and deepen employer engagement through structured partnership plans and regular executive-level check-ins.

Market Intelligence Report

Assistant Vice President of Career Development is part of the Education Administration category.Explore our market intelligence report to see how AI and hiring demand are shifting for these roles.

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Salary & Demand

Median Salary Range

Entry LevelNot typical for this title

Mid LevelUSD 110,000 to 160,000

Senior LevelUSD 160,000 to 220,000

Growth Trend

Steady demand, with stronger hiring tied to outcomes-focused education, workforce development funding, and increased emphasis on internships and employer partnerships.

Companies Hiring

Major Employers

Large public universitiesPrivate universitiesCommunity collegesMulti-campus university systemsLarge nonprofit workforce organizationsHealthcare systems with training programsFinancial services firms with early career programsTechnology firms with university recruiting teams

Industry Sectors

Higher EducationNonprofitWorkforce DevelopmentHealthcareFinancial ServicesTechnologyGovernment

Recommended Next Steps

Create a one-page career development strategy with goals, initiatives, and metrics

Gather baseline data on engagement, internships, and placements to prioritize improvements

Audit employer relationships and design a partnership tiering approach

Standardize coaching quality with playbooks, training, and feedback loops

Strengthen collaboration with academic and operational leaders through a shared governance cadence

Prepare a budget narrative that links spending to measurable outcomes