POSITION SUMMARY
Reporting to the Assistant Dean and Executive Director of Career Communities, the Director/Associate Director will advise students and recent graduates who express interest in exploring, preparing for, and pursuing careers in the arts, media, and communications professions. The Director/Associate Director will be responsible for providing individual and small group career advising; planning, facilitating, and evaluating topically relevant programming and workshops (e.g., guest speakers, alumni panels, career-focused symposia); planning and leading off-campus treks and site visits; establishing relationships with and engaging alumni and friends of Grinnell who work in the arts, media, and communications professions; helping students prepare for the application process to graduate and professional school; and promoting opportunities to engage with recruiters. The Director/Associate Director of the Arts, Media, and Communications Career Community will establish relationships with and engage faculty and other campus community stakeholders.
Key Responsibilities
- Provide one-on-one and group advising for both current students and early career alumni who have expressed an interest in careers in the arts, media, and communications.
- Provide guidance for the Arts, Media, and Communications Career Community. Create program materials, build, and maintain website. Conduct research on relevant professional trends, labor market patterns, and hiring practices. Prepare, propose, and manage an annual budget. Plan and conduct workshops and related programming. Organize speakers and events.
- Work with faculty, administrators, students, alumni, employers, and leaders in the field to build partnerships and develop relationships that lead to full-time opportunities for students seeking careers in the arts, media, and communications.
- Working with the Career Communities team, assist with the development and implementation of efficient methods to track student data, quantify the success rates of programs, and articulate the return on investment received by students in the program.
Minimum Qualifications
- Bachelor’s degree from a four-year college or university in art, media, communications, education, or related field
- Three or more years of relevant experience (associate director)
- Five or more years of relevant work experience (director)
- Prior experience should be in a creative or administrative role with an arts, media, communications, or related organization and/or providing career advising graduate or graduate students pursuing degrees or professional roles in arts, media, communications, or related fields
- Enthusiasm to help students find good opportunities
- Interest in and commitment to working with a talented, diverse, and high-achieving community of undergraduate students
- Adaptable to presenting information in a one-on-one setting and to groups
- Strength in planning and organizing skills
- Ability to communicate and build relationships with a wide range of individuals and stakeholders
- Champions diversity, equity, and inclusion
Preferred Qualifications
- Master’s degree or equivalent in a relevant field
- Experience planning events, leading groups, building relationships, and collaborating with diverse stakeholders (on- and off-campus) is strongly preferred
- Familiar with the process of seeking and securing internships and full-time positions in the arts, media, or communications, as well as applying to graduate school and other related professional programs
- Experience with making a living in the creative arts
- Familiarity with the industries of writing, visual arts, theater, film, music, dance
$54,000 - $67,000 per year
Skills Required
- Bachelor's degree in art, media, communications, education, or related field
- Three or more years of relevant experience (for Associate Director)
- Five or more years of relevant experience (for Director)
- Prior experience in a creative or administrative role with an arts, media, communications, or related organization and/or providing career advising
- Ability to provide one-on-one and group advising
- Enthusiasm to help students find opportunities
- Interest in and commitment to working with a diverse undergraduate student community
- Adaptability presenting information in one-on-one and group settings
- Strong planning and organizing skills
- Ability to communicate and build relationships with a wide range of stakeholders
- Champions diversity, equity, and inclusion
- Master's degree or equivalent in a relevant field
- Experience planning events, leading groups, and collaborating with diverse stakeholders
- Familiarity with securing internships and full-time positions in arts, media, or communications and applying to graduate programs
- Experience making a living in the creative arts
- Familiarity with writing, visual arts, theater, film, music, or dance industries
What We Do
Grinnell College is a private, coed, residential liberal arts and sciences college founded in 1846 in Grinnell, Iowa, providing individually advised learning for intellectually engaged students.







