Senior Director of Career and Professional Development

Career Guide

A Senior Director of Career and Professional Development leads the strategy and delivery of career services that help students or employees build skills, find opportunities, and advance in their careers. The role typically oversees a team, sets measurable goals, builds employer partnerships, and ensures programs are inclusive, high quality, and aligned with organizational outcomes.

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Key Responsibilities

Set the career development strategy and annual goals
Lead and coach a team of career counselors and program managers
Design and improve career programs such as coaching, workshops, and career fairs
Build and maintain relationships with employers and recruiting partners
Track outcomes such as placements, internships, engagement, and satisfaction
Create policies and service standards for career advising and programming
Manage budgets, vendors, and contracts for career platforms and events
Partner with academic leaders or business leaders to embed career readiness into learning
Develop equitable access initiatives for underrepresented groups
Oversee communications and marketing for career services
Implement career technology tools and improve the user experience
Present results to senior leadership and recommend improvements

Top Skills for Success

Leadership

People Management

Strategic Planning

Program Management

Stakeholder Management

Communication

Change Management

Budget Management

Data Literacy

Outcome Measurement

Career Coaching

Employer Partnerships

Event Strategy

Talent Market Knowledge

Equity and Inclusion

Student Success Strategy

Workforce Development

Learning Program Design

Career Progression

Can Lead To

Director of Career Services

Director of Professional Development

Director of Employer Relations Director of Talent Development

Director of Workforce Development

Transition Opportunities

Vice President of Student Success

Vice President of Career Services

Chief Learning Officer Head of Talent Development

Head of Employee Experience

Head of People Operations

Executive Director of Workforce Programs

Common Skill Gaps

Often Missing Skills

Advanced data reportingEmployer relationship developmentBudget forecastingProcess improvementTechnology platform selectionExecutive presentationTeam performance management

Development SuggestionsBuild a simple outcomes dashboard with clear definitions, lead a cross functional employer partnership initiative, own an annual budget cycle, and practice executive updates that link program outcomes to organizational goals.

Market Intelligence Report

Senior 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 LevelTypically not applicable for this title

Mid LevelUSD 120,000 to 165,000

Senior LevelUSD 165,000 to 230,000

Growth Trend

Stable to growing demand, especially in higher education, workforce development, and large employers investing in retention, upskilling, and early career talent pipelines.

Companies Hiring

Major Employers

Universities and collegesCommunity collegesLarge employers with internal learning teamsHealthcare systemsFinancial services firmsTechnology companiesConsulting firmsNonprofit workforce organizationsGovernment workforce agenciesEdTech providers

Industry Sectors

Higher EducationWorkforce DevelopmentCorporate Learning and DevelopmentHealthcareFinancial ServicesTechnologyGovernmentNonprofit

Recommended Next Steps

Collect recent job descriptions and highlight recurring requirements

Create a portfolio of programs delivered with outcomes and lessons learned

Strengthen employer partnerships through a targeted outreach plan

Build a metrics plan that includes placement, participation, and satisfaction

Assess team structure and define roles, goals, and development plans

Review career technology tools and identify quick improvements to user experience

Prepare executive ready updates that connect work to retention and career outcomes

Join professional associations and peer groups for career services and talent development