Career Services Manager
Career GuideKey Responsibilities
- Lead a team of career coaches and program staff
- Set goals for job placement rates and career support usage
- Design and improve career readiness programs
- Build relationships with employers and hiring partners
- Plan career fairs and recruiting events
- Create resources for resumes, interviewing, and job search strategy
- Track outcomes such as placements, wages, and time to hire
- Report results to leadership and recommend improvements
- Ensure services are accessible and inclusive for diverse candidates
- Manage budgets, vendors, and tools used by the career services team
Top Skills for Success
People Management
Coaching
Stakeholder Management
Program Management
Employer Relationship Building
Event Planning
Outcome Tracking
Data Fluency
Written Communication
Conflict Resolution
Career Progression
Can Lead To
Associate Director of Career Services
Director of Career Services
Director of Employer Partnerships
Head of Career Services
Transition Opportunities
Student Success Manager
Talent Acquisition Manager
Learning and Development Manager
Workforce Development Program Manager
People Operations Manager
Common Skill Gaps
Often Missing Skills
Employer Partnership StrategyPerformance MetricsChange ManagementBudget ManagementProcess ImprovementCareer Market KnowledgeTool Administration
Development SuggestionsBuild a simple outcomes dashboard, document a repeatable employer outreach process, and standardize coaching workflows. Practice presenting monthly results and improvement plans to leadership. Strengthen employer partnership skills through informational interviews with recruiters and hiring managers.
Salary & Demand
Median Salary Range
Entry LevelUSD 55,000 to 75,000
Mid LevelUSD 75,000 to 100,000
Senior LevelUSD 100,000 to 135,000
Growth Trend
Steady demand, especially in higher education, workforce development, and training providers. Hiring is strongest where outcomes reporting and employer partnerships are core to the business model.Companies Hiring
Major Employers
Universities and collegesCommunity collegesBootcamps and training providersOnline education platformsWorkforce development nonprofitsGovernment workforce agenciesStaffing and recruiting firmsLarge employers with early career programs
Industry Sectors
Higher EducationEducation TechnologyNonprofitPublic SectorStaffing and RecruitingCorporate Human Resources
Recommended Next Steps
1
Create a 90 day plan focused on outcomes, team health, and employer growth2
Audit current career programming and refresh resume and interview resources3
Set clear service standards for response times and coaching quality4
Define a small set of success metrics and review them weekly5
Build an employer target list and start a consistent outreach cadence6
Run one pilot program change and measure impact before scaling7
Collect candidate feedback after key touchpoints and act on trends