Executive Director, Hameetman Career Center
Career Development Center
Our Institution
About Occidental College
Founded in 1887, Occidental is a small, highly selective and diverse liberal arts college in a big city. We
are located near the heart of Los Angeles in Eagle Rock, one of the city's most eclectic and interesting
neighborhoods. “A small town in the big city, Eagle Rock is a multicultural neighborhood…with upscale
restaurants, coffee shops, and art galleries.” (Los Angeles Times). As one of only a few liberal arts
colleges in a major metropolitan area, we give our community members access to all of the cultural,
educational, and recreational opportunities available in Southern California.
In 2015 Occidental received 6,070 applications for a first-year class of approximately 540 students.
Admission is highly selective; about 41% of applicants are admitted. Three-quarters of our students
receive financial aid. Need-based aid and merit scholarship programs can make our costs comparable to
public universities. We meet all of demonstrated financial need.
Our Community
Academics
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Students can major in 31 areas -- including seven interdisciplinary majors -- double major, declare a
minor, or choose a self-designed course of study.
We have a 10:1 student-faculty ratio.
Average class size is 19 students.
Students can take classes at nearby Caltech or Art Center and earn joint degrees at Columbia
University, Keck Graduate Institute, and Caltech.
Our faculty is known for excellence in teaching and research. Ninety-five percent above the rank of
instructor have a Ph.D. or other terminal degree.
Occidental's Undergraduate Research Program is widely regarded as one of the best in the country.
Each student is assigned to the College Advising Center and to a faculty member for academic
advising.
Our Campus
 Almost three-quarters of our students live in the residence halls.
 Our 13 student-governed residence halls are coed, and the focus of many educational, cultural, and
social activities.
 More than 100 clubs and organizations, 21 varsity and seven club sports are available.
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Our beautiful campus has been featured in more than 80 movies and television shows since the first
filming took place in 1919.
Architect Myron Hunt, whose projects included the Rose Bowl and Huntington Library, designed the
campus and many of its major buildings.
Students
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2,128 students from 44 states, Washington, D.C. and 24 foreign countries.
56% women, 44% men
4.4% black or African-American
12.7% Asian
15.6% Hispanic of any race
0.2% Native American or Alaska Native
0.2% Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander
9.0% two or more races
50.8% Caucasian
2.3% race and ethnicity unknown
4.8% International
Our Mission
"The mission of Occidental College is to provide a gifted and diverse group of students with a total
educational experience of the highest quality -- one that prepares them for leadership in an increasingly
complex, interdependent and pluralistic world.
The distinctive interdisciplinary and multicultural focus of the College's academic program seeks to
foster both the fulfillment of individual aspirations and a deeply rooted commitment to the public
good."
This mission is anchored by four cornerstones: excellence, equity, community and service. These building
blocks, in one form or another, have long been the basis for the College's commitment to providing
responsible leaders and citizens for our democratic society. Choosing them to support the future helps to
ensure that the College remains true to its mission while adapting to a changing world.
Position Summary
The Career Development Center at Occidental College is embarking on phase two of a multi-year
strategic plan to establish itself as a national leader of career services among small, liberal arts
institutions.
Under the leadership of President Veitch, our work aligns with our institutional commitment to provide
meaningful experiences for students in the city of Los Angeles, the nation, and worldwide:
http://www.oxy.edu/our-story/strategic-plan-2012-2017
The plan continues with a million dollar plus capital campaign to open the new Hameetman Career
Center which will house Career Development, Pre-Health Advising and National Awards.
The duties and skills demanded of executive leadership in career services have expanded dramatically in
the last decade. Under the supervision of the Dean of Academic Affairs, the Executive Director will
oversee a team of 7 current staff, with planned expansion for additional staff, as well as manage an
increased budget that has grown significantly in the last three years. The Executive Director will lead
the college into the next phase of its current strategic plan with a particular focus on enhancing external
strategic partnerships with alumni and parents as well as broadening existing partnerships to provide a
wide variety of options for students and graduates. The executive director must have the ability to
translate the valuable skills gained from an Occidental liberal arts education to employers by engaging a
wide variety of constituents including students, faculty, trustees, community and business leaders, and
friends of the College.
To learn more about our center and our institution, please view our website at
http://departments.oxy.edu/career/
Essential Functions
 Oversee a team of seven staff, with a planned expansion ahead.
 Serve as the primary liaison with trustees and key stakeholders such as alumni and parents.
Develop relationships across the institution and externally in service of our current students and
their employment goals.
 Work closely with advancement office to engage potential donors to support the operations and
programming of the Center.
 Set the strategic agenda, extending the current strategic plan and expanding a plan for
outreach.
 Increase our students’ understanding about the many ways to embark on a successful career,
and work with the team to create innovative programs to increase exposure to various career
options.
 Understand the unique challenges of working with students from diverse backgrounds, including
first-generation and international students.
 Develop metrics for employment success including working with the staff to continue the
current alumni survey work and assure data is communicated to and interpreted for faculty,
parents, employers, senior management and other parties desirous of utilizing the data.
 Understand assessment and lead the assessment of results in the office, including
understanding the current landscape for employment regionally and nationally so that we are
serving our students in the best way possible.
 Develop ongoing nationwide partnerships and employment opportunities, including establishing
a new Career Services Advisory Board, creating opportunities to enhance career opportunities
for students and alumni.
Skills and Requirements
 A master’s degree in student development in higher education, business administration or
related field is required.
 The successful candidate must have significant knowledge of career development practices;
demonstrated success in advancing employment prospects and programs ideally in a liberal arts
setting and familiarity with the special needs of diverse groups of students, alumni, employers,
and faculty. Superior communication and presentation skills are also required.
 A minimum of eight years professional experience in a leadership role in career services,
admissions, fundraising, professional services, human resources and/or recruiting is
essential. The ideal candidate will demonstrate proven results in employment growth
and success for undergraduate applicants in a college or university setting. Experience in
managing small teams in a consensus-driven work setting; encouraging of advancement
and growth for the team.
 Knowledge of employment trends and career ambitions of millennial-aged students
seeking an intellectual, non-vocational oriented liberal arts education
 Experience in designing and developing successful career events that attract national
employers seeking entry-level, liberal arts-trained hires.
 Ability to enhance and expand a national network of professionals seeking entry-level
hires
 Outstanding communication skills; able to design a compelling narrative of the value of
an Occidental education and the role of career services to any and all key stakeholders
to the college.
 Experience connecting and working with employers, major donors, and friends of the
college to establish relationships that serve students is highly desired.
 Comfortable allocating budget in the context of strategic planning.
 Superior report writing abilities tailored to external stakeholders; experience grantwriting a plus.
To apply, please submit a resume and cover letter to: resumes@oxy.edu