Associate Vice President of Career Development

Career Guide

An Associate Vice President of Career Development is a senior leader who sets strategy and oversees campus career services. The role focuses on student career outcomes, employer partnerships, and scalable programs that connect learning to employment.

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Key Responsibilities

Set the vision and multi year strategy for career development services
Lead and develop teams that deliver advising, coaching, and programming
Build employer partnerships to expand internships and full time hiring pipelines
Use outcome data to improve services and report impact to campus leadership
Collaborate with academic leaders to embed career readiness into curricula
Oversee budgets, staffing plans, and operational processes
Ensure equitable access to career support for all student groups
Manage key platforms such as career portals and appointment systems
Strengthen alumni engagement to support mentoring and hiring
Represent the institution with employers, community partners, and peer networks

Top Skills for Success

Strategic Planning

People Leadership

Change Management

Stakeholder Management

Budget Management

Program Design

Employer Relationship Management

Student Career Coaching

Outcome Measurement

Partnership Development

Public Speaking

Policy Development

Career Progression

Can Lead To

Director of Career Services Executive Director of Career Development

Assistant Vice President of Career Development

Associate Vice President of Student Success

Transition Opportunities

Vice President of Student Affairs

Vice President of Student Success

Chief Student Experience Officer

Workforce Development Executive

Common Skill Gaps

Often Missing Skills

Advanced Data AnalysisEmployer Sales StrategyDigital Service DesignEquity Focused Program EvaluationContract NegotiationTechnology Vendor Management

Development SuggestionsBuild a simple dashboard of career outcomes, formalize an employer outreach plan, and lead a pilot that improves a high volume student service using clear metrics. Seek training in negotiation, vendor selection, and evaluation methods to strengthen executive readiness.

Market Intelligence Report

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

See the market intelligence report

Salary & Demand

Median Salary Range

Entry LevelUSD 110,000 to 150,000

Mid LevelUSD 150,000 to 200,000

Senior LevelUSD 200,000 to 260,000

Growth Trend

Stable demand with growth driven by increased focus on career outcomes, internships, and employer engagement. Hiring volume varies by institution size and funding.

Companies Hiring

Major Employers

Arizona State UniversityUniversity of MichiganPenn StateUniversity of California systemUniversity of Texas systemGeorgia State UniversityWestern Governors UniversitySouthern New Hampshire UniversityCity University of New YorkState community college systems

Industry Sectors

Higher EducationCommunity CollegesOnline EducationWorkforce DevelopmentNonprofit Education Services

Recommended Next Steps

Audit current career outcomes reporting and define three leadership level metrics

Create a 12 month employer partnership plan with target sectors and outreach goals

Document a scalable service model for high demand student support

Strengthen cross campus alignment through a standing council with academic and student leaders

Update your executive resume to emphasize outcomes, budget size, and team scope

Prepare a portfolio with two to three case studies showing measurable impact