Associate Director of Career Coaching

Career Guide

An Associate Director of Career Coaching leads a team and program strategy that helps students or professionals reach career goals. The role blends coaching expertise with people leadership, employer engagement, and measurable outcomes such as job placement, internship rates, and learner satisfaction.

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Key Responsibilities

Set career coaching strategy and program goals
Lead and develop a team of career coaches
Create coaching frameworks and service standards
Oversee delivery of one to one coaching and group workshops
Build partnerships with employers and hiring managers
Coordinate with academic teams and student services teams
Use data to track outcomes and improve services
Manage budgets, vendors, and career platforms
Design resources such as guides, templates, and learning modules
Handle complex learner cases and escalations
Train staff on inclusive and equitable coaching practices
Report performance to senior leadership and key stakeholders

Top Skills for Success

Coaching Practice

People Management

Program Management

Stakeholder Management

Employer Relationship Building

Workshop Facilitation

Career Development Theory

Outcome Measurement

Data Literacy

Change Management

Conflict Resolution

Equity Centered Coaching

Career Progression

Can Lead To

Director of Career Services

Director of Career Development

Director of Student Success

Director of Employer Partnerships

Head of Career Coaching

Transition Opportunities

Talent Development Manager Learning and Development Manager People Operations Manager

University Relations Manager

Workforce Program Manager

Common Skill Gaps

Often Missing Skills

Advanced analyticsBudget managementTeam performance managementEmployer partnership strategyCRM managementMarketing collaborationProcess designChange leadership

Development SuggestionsBuild a simple outcomes dashboard, request ownership of a small budget line, run structured one to one manager check ins, partner with employer relations on a quarterly plan, and learn one CRM well enough to coach others on consistent usage.

Market Intelligence Report

Associate Director of Career Coaching is part of the Business Development 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 Level$75,000 to $95,000

Mid Level$95,000 to $125,000

Senior Level$125,000 to $160,000

Growth Trend

Steady demand driven by higher focus on job outcomes, career mobility, and employer partnerships across higher education, online learning, and workforce programs.

Companies Hiring

Major Employers

Universities and collegesCommunity collegesBootcamps and online learning providersWorkforce development nonprofitsProfessional associationsCorporate learning providersStaffing and recruiting firmsGovernment workforce agencies

Industry Sectors

Higher educationEdTechNonprofitGovernmentProfessional servicesStaffing and recruiting

Recommended Next Steps

Benchmark your program goals against placement and satisfaction metrics

Create a quarterly coaching quality review using recordings and rubrics

Standardize learner journey milestones from intake to offer acceptance

Launch an employer advisory group to validate skills and hiring needs

Implement a coach training plan with onboarding and ongoing calibration

Prepare a portfolio of program results and team impact for promotion readiness