Virginia Tech School of Public and International Affairs

The University of Virginia’s Office of Graduate and Postdoctoral Affairs is deeply committed to the professional, personal, and career development of graduate students and postdoctoral scholars in all fields and disciplines. Central to this commitment is PhD Plus, a university-wide program that supports the development of versatile graduate students and post-graduates, capable of long-term success in a wide variety of career fields. Established in 2019, PhD Plus has become an essential component of graduate and professional degree students and postdoctoral education and training at the University of Virginia.

JOB PROFILE SUMMARY

PhD Plus seeks an Assistant Director for Career Exploration to contribute directly to developing new programs that introduce graduate students and postdocs to a broad range of career opportunities and job sectors, and support their exploration of these opportunities. Reporting to the Director of Career and Professional Development, this position will provide individual advising, manage and lead career development programming, and work collaboratively with a dynamic team within the Office of Graduate and Postdoctoral Affairs, as well as our university and external partners.

The Assistant Director will be responsible for planning, organizing, and leading programs and services that foster a culture of proactive career planning among graduate students and postdocs. Through individual appointments and structured graduate student- and postdoc-centered programs, they will guide trainees through a process of self-assessment and career exploration to identify how their academic and research skills and professional experiences match a variety of career fields. These programs will guide trainees’ career planning and help them discover potential career paths as well as the required skills and training that they can pursue while at UVA.

The Assistant Director will work closely with partners across Grounds, including career-focused administrators within the university’s schools, Career Center professionals, graduate student organizations, university alumni, and external partners as they develop new programs and improve existing resources.

JOB DESCRIPTION

The Assistant Director for Career Exploration will work collaboratively to advance the following goals and objectives:

Career Programming Development & Implementation (50%)

• In collaboration with the Director, establish a strategic vision and implementation plan for services that foster a culture of proactive career planning among graduate students and postdocs.
• Design and implement PhD Plus workshops, training modules, and courses for trainees that enable graduate student- and postdoc-centered approaches to exploring diverse careers.
• Coordinate career exploration initiatives such as alumni shadowing, career-sector panel discussions, substantive mentoring opportunities, experiential learning opportunities, and more.
• Identify and collaborate with internal and external partners to establish exploratory workshops or bootcamps that align with highly desired career sectors that are currently not offered (i.e., commercialization, industry, non-profit).
• Collaborate with members of the office, university partners, stakeholders, alumni, and employers to conceive, design/refine, and host programs that enable trainees to gain the professional skills and competencies required for a broad range of career sectors.

Individual & Group Advising (25%)

• Provide individual and group advising to graduate students in all stages of career planning, and to postdocs who are considering a wide range of fields.
• Support early-stage academics (graduate to postdoc) in reflecting on their future career goals and possible career pathways, and empowering them to take initial steps in exploring those opportunities.
• Guide graduate students and postdocs through self-assessment tools and reflective exercises to clarify their values, interests, and professional strengths.

Collaboration & Outreach (15%)

• In partnership with the Director, explore opportunities to integrate career development programs into graduate schools and department-level orientations, seminar series, and required courses.
• Build strong relationships with graduate school administrators, faculty and staff, Career Center professionals, graduate student and postdoc-led organizations, and other partners to identify and offer career services for trainees with advanced degrees.

Assessment & Continuous Improvement (10%)

• Contribute to the development of evaluation tools and criteria, regular program assessments, and facilitate opportunities for direct feedback from program participants and stakeholders across the university.
• Lead the assessment of career exploration programs and related advising services through data collection and analysis.
• Contribute to reporting and strategic planning efforts.
• Stay informed of trends in graduate student development, career decision-making, and workforce needs.

In addition to the above job responsibilities, other duties may be assigned.

To facilitate these goals, the Assistant Director will have access to existing university resources, such as institutionally subscribed systems and databases, including Handshake, and will have the opportunity to leverage additional resources to meet the objectives outlined above. Additionally, the selected candidate will have financial support to attend professional development programs, present at conferences, contribute to periodic research and publications related to program outcomes, and participate in professional society meetings.

QUALIFICATIONS:

Required Qualifications

The Assistant Director will possess excellent collaborative, communication, and interpersonal skills and experience working with graduate students, postdocs, faculty, administrators, and alumni from a wide range of fields across the university. They will be able to manage multiple projects and priorities with various content and organizational responsibilities and separate deadlines. Additionally, they will have demonstrated experience in building relationships and the ability to collaborate with diverse stakeholders.

• A Master’s degree is required.
• At least two years of experience in advising, career counseling, or career coaching experience and knowledge of the current career trends for advanced degree holders in the US and abroad.
• Demonstrated understanding of career outcomes for PhDs and postdocs in diverse sectors, including academia.
• Experience providing outreach and programming that supports the professional, personal, and career development of students in a college or university, or professionally within an organization.
• Demonstrated ability to work with data and engage in evidence-based practices.
• Ability to work independently and manage multiple time-sensitive projects.
• Demonstrated excellence in written and verbal communication, including presentation skills.
• Excellent organizational and interpersonal skills.

Additional desired qualifications and experience:

• Experience with project management, strong organizational work skills, and experience defining tasks and prioritizing assignments.
• Knowledge of the current career trends for advanced degree holders outside of the US.
• Experience in counseling or providing career coaching to post-baccalaureate or early career professionals.
• Demonstrated success in establishing a culture of proactive career planning, with a graduate student- and postdoc-centered philosophy.
• Experience in supporting trainees or early-career professionals in identifying experiential opportunities that align with their career goals and directly supporting them through the application process.
• Experience designing and implementing multi-session workshops or for-credit courses in the general area of career design or exploration that enable self-reflection, career assessment, and planning (e.g., IDPs, CliftonStrengths, 1Mentor, Riipen).
• Instructional experience, including teaching, leading workshops, etc., at the college level.
• Development of electronic resources and communication (websites, newsletters, e-blasts, social media posts, etc.).
• Experience using career services and university platforms (e.g., Handshake, 12Twenty, Workday, Canvas).

About the Position

The salary for this position is $70,000 - $80,000 and will be commensurate with education and experience. This is a Restricted position contingent on performance and continuation of funding. This is primarily a sedentary job involving extensive use of desktop computers. The job will occasionally require traveling some distance to attend meetings and programs.

This position is hybrid with in-office presence on the UVA Grounds in Charlottesville, VA, typically two days per week. This is an exempt-level, benefited position; learn more about UVA Benefits. This position will not be able to sponsor applications for immigration now or in the future.

Application Timeline

This position will remain open until filled. Review of applications will begin in early April 2026.

How to Apply

Applicants not employed at UVA please apply through the UVA job board; current employees please search and apply for jobs on the UVA Internal Careers website and complete an application. Complete an application with the following documents:

• Resume
• Cover Letter

Applications without all required documents will not receive full consideration.

Reference Check Process

Please note that finalists will be asked to provide a list of three professional references. The selected applicant will pass a criminal background check.

About UVA and the Community

To learn more about UVA and in the Charlottesville area, visit UVA Life and Embark CVA.

Contact

For questions about the application process, please contact Michele Jarman, Academic Recruiter.

The University of Virginia is an equal opportunity employer. All interested persons are encouraged to apply, including veterans and individuals with disabilities. Learn more about UVA’s commitment to non-discrimination and equal opportunity employment.