Assistant Director of Career Services

About Ashesi University:

Our vision is a flourishing Africa whose leaders make ethical decisions in the best interests of their communities, and where innovation drives economic, cultural and social growth. We educate leaders who will make this vision a reality, and we collaborate with other institutions to multiply this work.

Joining Ashesi means becoming part of a vibrant community dedicated to excellence, innovation, and a transformed Africa. We provide opportunities for everyone to do their most meaningful work, through cross-functional collaboration in an environment that encourages intellectual and personal growth.

About the Department/Unit

Ashesi Career Services supports students and alumni in making meaningful connections between their education, experiences, and the world of work. We provide career guidance, coaching, skills development, experiential learning opportunities, and access to employers and career opportunities to help students confidently navigate their career journeys. Our work spans the full student experience, from self-discovery and career exploration to building professional skills, gaining relevant experience, connecting with employers, and transitioning successfully into the workplace. We also partner with faculty, staff, employers, and alumni to create opportunities that strengthen students’ career readiness and expand their professional networks. Ultimately, Career Services seeks to ensure that every Ashesi student is equipped not only to secure their first opportunity after graduation, but to take ownership of their career development and thrive throughout their professional journey.

About the Role

The candidate will apply career, professional and industry-specific knowledge in performing career services for Engineering and Graduate students and alumni. This involves strategy development,
creation and delivery of career development programs, workshops, and student resources, as well as fostering internal and external relationships as a means of furthering student and alumni career and professional development outcomes such as professional-level internships and/or permanent placement in a wide variety of corporate or non-profit organizations.

Duties and Responsibilities:

Student Career Development and Advising

• Provide quality individual and group career counseling and advising sessions for Graduate and Engineering students. Career counseling must support all career options for life after Ashesi, including traditional employment, start-up opportunities, profit and non-profit options, civic engagement opportunities, and graduate opportunities.
• Student Career Development Workshops – Develop, coordinate, and facilitate training and skill development workshops and seminars on career exploration and planning, major choice and change, preparation towards internship and experiential learning, resume and cover letter preparation, graduate school planning, job search strategy, interviewing, career change, business etiquette, professional networking, business correspondence, professional preparedness and other career related needs.
• Work with and advise faculty and college administrators on methods to enhance the quality of students’ experiential learning and career development opportunities and to expand departmental participation.
• Develop and maintain relationships with academic departments, student organizations, students’ services and other departments to impact whole student learning.
• Develop tailored communications and other written materials customized for Engineering and Graduate students. This includes writing and maintaining specific sections of the Career Services website and social media outlets, email correspondence, publicity materials and career services resources.
• Stay current on industry trends, job market demands, and best practices in career development to provide relevant and up-to-date information especially for Engineering and Graduate students.
• Participate in conversations involving industry such as workshops, seminars, conferences to enhance the
• Support with collecting program impact and placement data for Graduate and Engineering students to enhance strategy development and program refinement.
• Assist in planning and executing Career Fairs, Workshops, Information Sessions, Site Visits, Employers Forum and other career services events.

Employer Engagement

• Develop and maintain an effective employer relationship program to enhance employer participation in events and student career development process as well as experiential learning, job shadowing, internship and full-time career opportunities for students.
• Engage Employers in the student career development and skill building process to enhance students’ career success and employability outcomes.
• Research key industry hiring trends and opportunities affecting Graduate and Engineering students and provide information to Faculty, Administration and Management for program enhancement.

Job Qualifications and Skills

• Master’s degree in a discipline directly related to psychology, career development and planning, student counseling, education, business administration, employer-college relations, human resources or a similar field.
• At least 5 years’ work experience in a similar role or in a role that has made use of the skills required for this role.
• Strong career counseling skills.
• Experience in data analysis and strategy development. Advanced proficiency in Excel as well as strong analytical and quantitative skills.
• Ability to create presentations and associated material to both lead and participate in cross departmental, university internal meetings as well as external meetings with employer partners, professionals and other stakeholders as required.
• Demonstrate capacity, skill and willingness to engage students and to contribute to student success.
• Contribute toward creating a positive and respectful workplace defined by personal and professional competence, integrity and collaboration.
• Strong administrative and organizational skills including ability to independently prioritize work and handle multiple tasks.
• Demonstrated program coordination and leadership skills.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
• Experience and sensitivity in working with people of diverse backgrounds and cultures.
• Accuracy and attention to detail

 Advantage

• Industry experience within the Engineering sector.
• Working experience with Graduate level students.
• Certified in the Strong Interest Inventory or Myers Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI).

This position requires that the jobholder is very proactive, takes initiative, and displays a high level of maturity and confidentiality in handling issues that come to his/her attention. Ethical behavior is of prime importance in this role.

 
What We Offer:

Our success is driven by our people, which is why we offer a comprehensive compensation package.
Compensation at Ashesi is regularly reviewed against industry benchmarks, and total compensation includes health insurance, retirement benefits, and paid leave, which are designed to support the holistic well-being of our staff.
We also invest in continuous learning, development and research opportunities, allowing our teams to grow with the university and achieve meaningful impact.