Assistant Director Undergraduate Career Services (HR Title: Senior Career Counselor)
Southern Methodist University Inc

Description

Salary Range:

Salary commensurate with experience and qualifications

About SMU

SMU's more than 12,000 diverse, high-achieving students come from all 50 states and over 80 countries to take advantage of the University's small classes, meaningful research opportunities, leadership development, community service, international study and innovative programs.

SMU serves approximately 7,000 undergraduates and 5,000 graduate students through eight degree-granting schools: Dedman College of Humanities and Sciences, Cox School of Business, Lyle School of Engineering, Meadows School of the Arts, Simmons School of Education and Human Development, Dedman School of Law, Perkins School of Theology and Moody School of Graduate and Advanced Studies.

SMU is data driven, and its powerful supercomputing ecosystem - paired with entrepreneurial drive - creates an unrivaled environment for the University to deliver research excellence.

Now in its second century of achievement, SMU is recognized for the ways it supports students, faculty and alumni as they become ethical, enterprising leaders in their professions and communities. SMU's relationship with Dallas - the dynamic center of one of the nation's fastest-growing regions - offers unique learning, research, social and career opportunities that provide a launch pad for global impact.

SMU is nonsectarian in its teaching and committed to academic freedom and open inquiry.

About the Position:

This role is an on-campus, in-person position.

Manage the Lyle Career Development Center's offerings that impact Lyle undergraduate students (approx. 950). Collaborate with Career Development Director to develop key career services offerings to aid students in their career development education, career identification and search, and academic pursuits. Provide career coaching and potentially assist in internship and mentorship opportunities through programs such as the Lyle EDGE initiative. Also, providing support for Job Search Strategies sessions, Engineering Resumania, Engineering Connections, and career information sessions and events. Create new programming as needed.

Essential Functions:

• Career Advising: Provide career advising and exploration to undergraduate students regarding the job-search process, interviewing, resume, cover letter writing, and all other areas of career planning. Deliver Job Search Strategies for Undergraduates presentations. Create custom workshops for Thrive Scholars, student organizations and classroom presentations as needed.
  
• Program Management: Work closely with Director on the creation and management of the annual fall/spring Engineering Connections career fair and Engineering Resumania, Lyle LinkUP and other programs such as the Lyle EDGE initiative. Assist in planning and hosting on-campus events, career panels, workshops, seminars, site visits, and other presentations to undergraduate student populations. Manage the Celebrate You for UG (graduation gift & recognition).
  
• Technology: Lead person for career database management and additional career platforms including AI-based technologies. Support promotion of events and services through the creation of social media posts, flyers, and materials to increase student engagement.
  
• Employer Relations: Respond to employer requests to host on campus recruitment events and to list openings in the SMU Career Database. Communicate opportunities to students. Foster relationship with the SMU Employer Relations Team (Hegi, Cox, Moody, Guildhall, Dedman Career Services), as well as work with Lyle office of industrial partnerships to connect students to industry and employers.
  
• Data: Assist Director with annual data employment reporting and tracking.
  
• Additional Projects: Collaborate on Lyle LinkUp and create a Lyle Career Development Undergraduate Student Ambassadors group.
  
• Evening/weekends will be required to host employers for evening information sessions, career development workshops, and networking events.
  
• Will be traveling to DFW area employers and regional and national conferences.
  

Qualifications

Education and Experience:

A Bachelor's degree is required. A Master's degree is preferred.

A minimum of five (5) years of experience is required. University career services and/or corporate recruitment management experience is preferred. SMU/Lyle Engineering experience preferred.

Executive coaching certification is preferred.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

Candidate must demonstrate strong presentation, interpersonal and verbal communication skills, with the ability to communicate broadly across the University and develop and maintain effective relationships with a wide range of constituencies. Must also demonstrate strong written communication skills.

Candidate must possess strong problem-solving skills with the ability to identify and analyze problems, as well as devise solutions. Must also have strong organizational, planning and time management skills.

Candidate must be proficient in Microsoft Office Suite. Familiarity with SSPS and Qualtrics is preferred.

Physical and Environmental Demands:

• Sit for long periods of time
• Push/pull

Deadline to Apply:

Priority consideration may be given to submissions received by January 19, 2026.

This position is open until filled.

EEO Statement

SMU is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, sex, age, disability, genetic information, veteran status, sexual orientation, or gender identity and expression.

Benefits:

SMU offers staff a broad, competitive array of health and related benefits. In addition to traditional benefits such as health, dental, and vision plans, SMU offers a wide range of wellness programs to help attract, support, and retain our employees whose work continues to make SMU an outstanding education and research institution.

SMU is committed to providing an array of retirement programs that benefit and protect you and your family throughout your working years at SMU and, if you meet SMU's retirement eligibility criteria, during your retirement years after you leave SMU.

The value of learning at SMU isn't just about preparing our students for the future. Employees have access to a wide variety of professional and personal development opportunities, including tuition benefits.

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