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Working Title:

Director of Career Advancement

Institution:

Bemidji State University

Classification Title:

MSUAASF Range D

Bargaining Unit / Union:

211: Minnesota State University Association of Administrative Service Faculty

City:

Bemidji

FLSA:

Job Exempt

Full Time / Part Time:

Full time

Employment Condition:

Unclassified - Unlimited Academic

Salary Range:

$54,344.00 - $116,608.00

Job Description

Bemidji State University (BSU) invites applicants to join our team as the Director of Career Advancement. The Director of Career Advancement is a visionary leader and strategic architect behind Bemidji State University’s bold reimagining of career development. As one of the key driving forces in the university’s innovative Discover3 Initiative, the Director helps shape and elevate a dynamic, student-centered career ecosystem that bridges academics, industry, and community—empowering students to navigate their pathways with purpose from day one through post-graduate achievement.

At the heart of BSU’s mission to enhance social mobility and workforce readiness, the Director of Career Advancement transforms traditional career services into a forward-looking, integrated framework of exploration, experience, and engagement. This role leads cross-sector initiatives that unlock real-world opportunities through internships, apprenticeships, and employer partnerships—aligning them with the evolving demands of the regional and global economy.

Responsibilities of the Director of Career Advancement include:

Leadership and Management of Career Advancement Initiatives. (45%)
- Providing strategic leadership in Career Advancement to ensure students, alumni, and employers are effectively served. Strengthening the connection between students, alumni, and employers through networking events, Beaver Mentorship Program, and internship opportunities.
- Overseeing career ecosystem initiatives that integrate Career Advancement, academic departments, employer engagement, and alumni relations to support student career wayfinding. Partnering with employers to identify job opportunities, internships, and experiential learning options.
- Maintaining and enforcing student record confidentiality in compliance with state and federal laws.
- Hiring, training, scheduling, supervising and evaluating Career Advancement staff.
- Interpreting and applying university policies and procedures while providing guidance to administrators and faculty.
- Implementing assessment and evaluation metrics to measure Career Advancement effectiveness, adjusting strategies based on data-driven insights.
- Leading department outreach efforts, career fairs, and campus-wide career initiatives.
- Developing and executing an annual strategic plan and work plan, reporting measurable outcomes each semester.
Building and Strengthening Employer, Alumni, and Industry Partnerships. (25%)
- Working closely with corporate relations and alumni relations to develop and sustain employer relationships to increase job and internship opportunities for students and alumni. Aligning outreach strategies and sharing key employer insights. Collaborating on employer-facing events such as career fairs, industry panels, and networking opportunities in collaboration with campus partners.
- Collaborating with faculty, administrators, alumni relations, corporate relations and employers to ensure Career Advancement aligns with workforce needs. Utilizing labor market data to align career services with emerging industry trends and workforce needs.
- Working with campus partners to create and maintain advisory groups to assess Career Advancement programming, labor market trends, and inclusive hiring practices.
- Expanding Discover3 employer engagement efforts through collaboration in creating a culture of philanthropy, industry participation, networking events, and experiential learning opportunities.
Developing and Implementing a University-Wide Career Readiness Strategy. (15%)
- Leading a career readiness initiative that integrates career development into academic programming, ensuring faculty incorporate career principles into curriculum and advising. Working closely with faculty, students, alumni, and industry partners to develop sustainable career pathways.
- Fostering a welcoming, inclusive, and supportive environment for students from diverse backgrounds to engage in career development. Developing innovative strategies for access point creation, philanthropic/sponsorship engagement, and customized training development.
- Providing industry and workforce trend analysis to inform university leadership, faculty, and students of emerging career opportunities.
- Expanding career pathway programs, including internships, apprenticeships, and employer-sponsored training opportunities.
- Working with faculty to embed career readiness into coursework and increase student awareness of career pathways inside and outside their majors.
- Establishing best practices for staff development, supervision, and coaching to enhance service delivery.
Administration & Strategic Planning (10%)
- Overseeing the Career Advancement budget, ensuring responsible financial planning and allocation of resources. Supervising staff and student workers supporting career services initiatives.
- Seeking external funding sources (grants, corporate sponsorships, philanthropic gifts) to expand Career Advancement programming and enhance student services. Representing BSU Alumni & Foundation at conferences, professional associations, and external events.
- Managing revenue-generating activities such as career fairs, employer partnerships, and event sponsorships.
- Conducting annual evaluations for Career Advancement staff and providing professional development opportunities.
- Serving on university committees, task forces, and system-wide Career Advancement workgroups.
Other duties as assigned. (5%)

Salary Range:

Depends on Qualifications; Range D ($54,344 - $116,608).

Minimum Qualifications

Master’s degree plus three (3) years of advanced professional experience, OR Bachelor’s degree plus four (4) years of advanced professional experience, OR an equivalent combination of post-secondary training, education, and/or advanced professional experience.
Demonstrated ability to build partnerships with employers, alumni, and university stakeholders.
Demonstrated knowledge of career development theories, student development models, and employer engagement best practices.
Strong leadership, communication, and relationship-building skills.
Knowledge of career development best practices and industry trends.
Proficiency in career services technology and platforms (Handshake, LinkedIn, etc.).

Preferred Qualification

Experience leading a Career Advancement team in higher education or workforce development.
Proven success in building employer relationships and securing external funding. Familiarity with fundraising, sponsorship development, and corporate partnerships.
Strong background in data-driven assessment and Career Advancement program evaluation.
A demonstrated commitment to the principles of diversity, equity, inclusion, and anti-racism.

Other Requirements

All applicants must be able to lawfully accept employment in the United States at the time of an offer of employment.
Official transcript(s) must be provided to Human Resources upon hire.
Employment for this position is covered by the collective bargaining agreement for the Minnesota State University Associate of Administrative and Service Faculty (MSUAASF) – see agreement.
In accordance with the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities (MinnState) Vehicle Fleet Safety Program, faculty and staff driving on college/university business, who use a rental or state vehicle, shall be required to complete a vehicle Use Agreement form and conform to MinnState’s vehicle use criteria and consent to a motor vehicle records check.
BSU is a tobacco free workplace (see policy).

A complete application will include the following attachments:

Cover letter, which addresses the required qualifications and your specific interest in working at BSU.
Resume / Curriculum Vitae.

Working Conditions:

This position operates primarily Monday-Friday during the regular workday, in a professional office environment in the BSU Alumni & Foundation Office with occasional travel required for employer visits, conferences, and networking events. Evening and weekend hours may be necessary for special events.

Physical Effort

Some sitting, walking/movement and moving items up to 10 pounds.

Work Shift (Hours / Days of work)

Unlimited / Exempt / Full-Time Probationary / Monday – Friday with occasional evening and weekend hours for special events.

Telework (Yes/No)

Telework currently not available for this position.

Inquiries about the position:

Angela Schmidt, Director of Alumni & Career Advancement

Phone: (218) 755-2599

Email: angela.schmidt@bemidjistate.edu

If you have general questions about this posting or submitting an application, contact Mary Miller at mary.miller@bemidjistate.edu.

About

UNIVERSITY / COMMUNITY

WHY BEMIDJI:

It’s more than a job. It’s an opportunity for the extraordinary.

On the idyllic shores of Lake Bemidji, cradled among the limitless natural beauty of the North Woods and neighbored by Minnesota’s three largest Indigenous nations, Bemidji State University offers opportunities for the extraordinary.

Bemidji State University has been ranked as one of the top 30 public institutions in the Midwest region by U.S. News & World Report each year since 2019. BSU offers its diverse student body a comprehensive spectrum of opportunities with nearly 120 undergraduate degrees and emphasis areas in more than 50 areas of study, 14 pre-professional programs, and 14 graduate programs and certificates.

As Bemidji State continues its second century of service, our vision is simple: we educate people to lead inspired lives. To achieve this, BSU centers diversity, equity and inclusion as a core value and strives to create a campus culture in which all members are free to be their authentic selves. BSU also proactively engages with Indigenous communities in northern Minnesota and nationwide toward its goal of becoming a destination university.

BSU is a member of the Minnesota State system of colleges and universities, the third-largest system of higher education institutions in the United States. It shares a unique alignment with Northwest Technical College, with administration and student services generally having dual responsibilities to serve both campuses. Through this alignment, NTC students can take advantage of services, support, activities, and opportunities at BSU that expand and enhance their college experience — such as full access to BSU’s library and the ability to live in BSU’s on-campus resident housing.

For the first time, a joint strategic planning process will guide the future directions for both institutions. The schools are pursuing four shared strategic priorities: student success, the Nisidotaading initiative, northern distinction, and telling our story. These priorities will serve as the foundations for master planning processes for facilities, academic programs, fundraising, information technology, intercollegiate athletics, and diversity, equity, and inclusion, among others.

The Nisidotaading initiative — named for an Ojibwe phrase meaning “building mutual understanding” — is creating a statewide center of excellence. It will develop communities of practice meant to help Minnesota State colleges and universities better educate their campus communities on historical trauma and lived experiences of their Indigenous populations, and how to most effectively guide Indigenous students toward their educational goals. In addition, BSU is the first university in the United States to expose all of its students to a course on Indigenous people before graduation.

Bemidji State University acknowledges that it is located on land and water that is the current and ancestral homeland of the Ojibwe and Dakota. We acknowledge the painful history of genocide, forced assimilation, and efforts to alienate the Indigenous inhabitants from their territory here. We honor and respect the many diverse Indigenous peoples still connected to this land, retained tribal sovereignty, treaty rights, and cultural resilience. Indigenous people are spiritual and physical caretakers of this land to which we all belong. Bemidji State University respects these sacred lands, stands with the community members from these Nations, and will fight injustice in all its forms.

At Minnesota State, the work we do is more than just a job. In their pursuit of purpose, connection, and growth, our employees play a critical role on our campuses. They develop policies, provide essential services, and work to improve the well-being and quality of life for our students and for all Minnesotans. Minnesota State is committed to equity and inclusion, and we invest in our employees by providing benefits, support resources, and training and development opportunities. Unlock your potential through possibility.

The City of Bemidji

Bemidji State University and Northwest Technical College lie amid the lakes and forests of northern Minnesota. Bemidji State occupies a wooded campus along the western shore of Lake Bemidji while Northwest Technical College lies just three miles east, near Bemidji’s robust industrial district. 

The city sits between Minnesota’s three largest American Indian tribal nations: the Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe, the Red Lake Nation and the White Earth Nation. When settling the Bemidji area in 1750, the Ojibwe people named the lake Bemidjigamaag, which means “a lake with crossing waters” as the Mississippi River flows in from the south and exits on the east. Today, a city proper with a population of around 15,000 serves as a regional economic and cultural hub for about 100,000 Minnesotans.

Located just minutes away from a thriving downtown Bemidji, both the BSU and NTC campus communities have convenient access to affordable restaurants, fine-dining experiences, cozy coffee shops, grocery stores — including a natural foods co-op — city parks, and nearly unlimited outdoor recreational opportunities. Small, locally-owned shops and art sculptures line Bemidji's downtown streets, while national chains are also found in and around the area. The historic Paul Bunyan Playhouse has a calendar of classic shows, restaurants offer weekly live music performances, the First Friday Art Walk provides a tour of new monthly art exhibits, and annual festivals bring the community together throughout the year. 

Additionally, the North Woods setting means students, staff, and faculty have a variety of activities available at their fingertips year-round. With more than 400 lakes — and a 240-acre research forest owned by BSU — within 25 miles of the city, there is easy access to kayaking, canoeing, swimming, boating, paddle boarding, hunting, hiking, biking, foraging, fishing, and more. An expansive network of multi-use trail systems is available for running, cross-country skiing, single-track or fat-tire biking, and skijoring. Further, downhill skiing, snowboarding, and tubing lie just north of Bemidji at the Buena Vista Ski Area.

Bemidji is also near two of Minnesota’s 66 state parks: Lake Bemidji State Park, which sits along Lake Bemidji’s northern shore, and Itasca State Park, home to the majestic Mississippi River Headwaters. Both parks are popular recreational and camping destinations where locals and tourists gather for sailing, swimming, and fishing during the summer months, and skating, hockey, curling, and—yes—more fishing in the winter. 

Of course, no tour of Bemidji is complete without a visit to — and a selfie with — its two most famous residents: the iconic statues of Paul Bunyan and his trusty companion, Babe the Blue Ox. The famed duo, which has greeted visitors to Bemidji since 1937, is on the National Register of Historic Places and was once ranked by Kodak as the second most-photographed statue in America.

For further information About BSU visit our website at http://www.bemidjistate.edu.

Review a "special report on how this former lumber town has rebuilt itself as a high-speed, regional center of enterprise" at Bemidji 2.0

Other Resources:

Visit Bemidji – https://www.visitbemidji.com/
218 Relocate / Greater Bemidji – https://www.218relocate.com/
Bemidji Area Chamber of Commerce – https://www.bemidji.org/
Explore Minnesota – https://www.exploreminnesota.com/article/top-things-to-do-bemidji

Statement of Notice

Bemidji State University prohibits discrimination and sexual violence of any kind. Contact the Title IX Coordinator if you have concerns regarding discrimination and/or sexual violence.

Per Minnesota State System Procedure 1B.3.1, all universities and colleges must provide contact information of their Title IX Coordinator.

Megan Zothman, Campus Human Resources Officer & Title IX Coordinator

Email: TitleIX@bemidjistate.edu or Megan.Zothman@BemidjiState.edu

Phone: (218) 755-2502

1500 Birchmont Drive NE, Deputy Hall, Room 335, Bemidji, MN 56601

Bemidji State University is an Affirmative Action Equal Opportunity Employer and Educator. This document is available in alternative formats to individuals with disabilities. Consumers with hearing or speech disabilities may contact us via their preferred Telecommunications Relay Service.

Benefits Information:

At Minnesota State, we have a GREAT BENEFITS PACKAGE! Our generous benefits include 11 paid Holidays, Vacation Time, Sick Time, six weeks of Paid Parental Leave, low cost medical and dental insurance with low deductibles ($250 - $1500), a Pension Plan, 457(b) and 403(b) retirement plans and other retirement investment options, pre-tax medical and dental expense (with roll-over option) and dependent care accounts, employer paid life insurance, short and long term disability, as well as professional development and a tuition waiver program for employees and their dependents, etc. We promote the health and well-being of our employees and take work/life balance seriously.

Desired Start Date:

09-22-2025

Position End Date:

Open Date:

08-04-2025

Close Date:

09-03-2025

Posting Contact Name:

Mary Miller

Posting Contact Email:

mary.miller@bemidjistate.edu