Director of Career and Professional Development

Career Guide

A Director of Career and Professional Development leads an organization’s career services strategy. They build programs that help people explore careers, gain job-ready skills, and connect with employers. This role often sits in higher education, workforce development, and nonprofit settings and manages teams, budgets, and partnerships.

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Key Responsibilities

Set the vision and goals for career and professional development services
Design and improve career education programs and workshops
Lead a team of career coaches and program staff
Build employer partnerships to create internships and job opportunities
Oversee job placement support and career coaching delivery
Create outreach plans to increase participation across target groups
Develop and manage the department budget and resources
Track outcomes such as employment rates and engagement levels
Coordinate with academic leaders to connect career readiness with learning
Ensure inclusive services and remove barriers for underserved groups
Select and manage career platforms and tools
Represent the organization with employers, donors, and community partners

Top Skills for Success

Leadership

Stakeholder Management

Program Strategy

Coaching Management

Employer Partnerships

Team Development

Budget Management

Outcome Measurement

Data Literacy

Change Management

Communication

Equity Focus

Career Progression

Can Lead To

Associate Director of Career Services Employer Relations Manager Career Services Manager

Workforce Development Manager

Student Success Director

Transition Opportunities

Executive Director of Career Services

Dean of Student Success

Head of Talent Development Director of Workforce Partnerships

Chief Student Affairs Officer

Common Skill Gaps

Often Missing Skills

Advanced Outcome ReportingEmployer Engagement StrategyBudget ForecastingTeam Performance ManagementVendor ManagementCareer Platform Administration

Development SuggestionsBuild a simple outcome dashboard, shadow employer partnership meetings, take a short budgeting course, and lead a cross-team project to practice change management and executive communication.

Market Intelligence Report

Director of Career and Professional Development is part of the Product, Project & Program Roles - Other 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 LevelUSD 85,000 to 110,000

Mid LevelUSD 110,000 to 145,000

Senior LevelUSD 145,000 to 190,000

Growth Trend

Stable to growing demand, driven by student outcomes expectations, skills-based hiring, and increased focus on job placement results.

Companies Hiring

Major Employers

Universities and collegesCommunity collegesTechnical schoolsWorkforce boardsNonprofit youth organizationsBootcamps and training providersHealthcare systemsLarge employers with internal academies

Industry Sectors

Higher educationWorkforce developmentNonprofitPublic sectorHealthcareTechnology education

Recommended Next Steps

Audit current programs and prioritize the top three improvements tied to outcomes

Create a 12-month employer partnership plan with clear targets

Standardize coaching quality with shared templates and training

Define a small set of outcome metrics and reporting cadence

Review technology tools and identify quick wins for better student access

Develop a professional development plan for team leads

Gather feedback from participants and employers and use it to refine services