Director Career and Placement Services
Position Description
Title:
Dir. Career & Placement Serv.
Name
John Smith
Position Number:
456
Department:
Career & Placement Serv.
Present
Classification:
XYZ
Date
Completed:
April, 2000
Purpose:
Accountable for providing the University of Alberta leadership and coordination on
student career and employment activities. This includes the provision of comprehensive
services in career planning and work search to assist University Departments, facilities,
students and alumni. Also responsible for building and maintaining quality relationships
with employers through the provision of comprehensive services to market their
organizations in order to attract and retain quality employees from the University of
Alberta student population. Ensures that Career and Placement Services (CaPS) are a
responsive, centralized resource on employment issues, labour market trends and student
employment data to meet the needs of the University of Alberta and broader
communities.
Responsibilities and Activities:
1. Acts as an advisor and resource person on student employment and labour market
issues, employment programs and legislation for individuals or groups throughout the
University of Alberta, government, industry or the media to ensure all are well
informed.
Activities
 Develops, implements and analyzes university-wide graduate employment survey.
 Keeps up-to-date with labour market issues and legislation.
 Liases formally with external agencies on student employment labour issues.
 Represents the University of Alberta on student employment issues to variety of
individuals, organizations, government agencies and the media.
2. Recommends policy and procedural changes relating to student career and
employment issues to appropriate individuals and bodies for the delivery of
comprehensive services to a large and varied audience and to be able to respond to
changing demands.
Activities
 Remains in close contact with recruitment and career services activities.
 Tracks legislative requirements and operational changes within the University of
Alberta
 Interacts with the University of Alberta’s processes for developing policies in
ways that will ensure that policy suggestions are duly and properly considered.
Director Career and Placement Services
Position Description Continued
3. Leads the development and implementation of a broad range of comprehensive,
customized career planning and work search services and resources to ensure
effective career planning and employment of the University’s students.
Activities
 Develops services for individuals and groups advising on self-assessment, career
decision making, work search techniques, application preparation and interview
skills.
 Provides a Resources Centre containing work search tools.
 Plans various special events such as career fairs and forums bringing University,
students, alumni and representatives from the employer community together.
 Creates discipline specific publications to support activities.
 Ensures the availability of all programs and services outside of regular operating
hours to accommodate varying schedules as well as accommodating French
speaking individuals and individuals with disabilities.
4. Provides comprehensive recruitment programs, services and resources based on feefor-service to employers to ensure their recruitment of the University of Alberta’s
students.
Activities
 Ensures that a proactive program be in place to garner employer participation in
hiring students and alumni (including a position posting service; promotion of
provincial and federal government employment programs; facilities for employers
to interview students; assistance in the organization of employer information
sessions; making information about the employer available and accessible to
applicants)
 Represents the University of Alberta to employers and communicates the needs of
employers to appropriate university personnel.
 Advises employers on successful recruitment strategies.
 Responsible for ensuring that employers are knowledgeable of the quality of
students and alumni of the university and that they recruit these individuals.
 Promotes the University of Alberta’s program offerings
5. Provides overall direction to the staff of CaPS to ensure the efficient and effective use
of the department’s resources.
Activities
 Handles all personnel issues for CaPS
Director Career and Placement Services
Position Description Continued
Scope:
 CaPS includes 10 FTEs; 30 PT; 2 summer; 10 volunteer employees
 Operating budget of approximately $700,000 of which most is raised annually.
 The CaPS centre conducts approximately 150 workshops and presentations and 1,200
one-on-one consultations.
 This position is 1 of 12 reporting to the Dean of Students.
 Reporting directly to this position are five full-time positions: Manager Recruitment
Services; Manager Career Services; Finance Records Clerk; Employment Advisor;
and Secretary/Receptionist.
Knowledge, Skills & Abilities:
 Ability to provide information and advice to all levels across the University of
Alberta and external agencies.
 Project and resource management skills
 Excellent written and oral presentation skills
 Expertise in labour markets, employee legislation and the policies and student
population of the University of Alberta
Organization Chart attached
Signatures
The signatures below indicate that all signers have read and discussed the information in
this Position Description.
Incumbent
Name
Signature
Date
Name
Signature
Date
Name
Signature
Date
Supervisor
Dean/Vice-President
Career & Placement Services
Director
Financial
Records
Clerk
Secretary/
Receptionist
Manager
Recruitment
Services
Recruitment
Assistants
(2)
Manager
Career
Services
Coordinator
Resource
Centre
Coordinator
Events &
Fundraising
Summer
Staff
(2)
Volunteers
(10)
Employment
Advisor