Associate Director of Engineering & Innovation Career Advising

About the role

The Associate Director of Engineering & Innovation Career Advising serves as Northeastern University’s dedicated career specialist for students pursuing engineering, robotics, advanced manufacturing, sustainable energy and related innovation fields. The role blends deep market knowledge with student‑centered coaching from first‑year exploration through full‑time offer negotiation.

Key responsibilities

• Provide individualized career advising and coaching for engineering and innovation students, covering resume, portfolio, technical interview preparation and offer evaluation.
• Design, deliver and continuously improve sector‑specific programming such as industry explorations, networking events, mock interviews, career fairs and salary‑negotiation workshops.
• Cultivate and steward employer relationships with engineering firms, manufacturers, defense contractors, energy companies and innovation‑driven enterprises to generate co‑op, internship and full‑time opportunities.
• Monitor labor‑market trends, AI‑driven hiring changes and compensation benchmarks, translating insights into advising content and student resources.
• Manage up to two Assistant Directors, providing coaching, performance feedback and professional development.

Required profile

• Bachelor’s degree required; master’s degree preferred, preferably in engineering, applied sciences, higher education or related fields.
• 4–6 years of experience in career services, technical recruiting, workforce development or engineering‑related industries with demonstrated knowledge of sector hiring practices.
• Experience advising students or early‑career professionals in engineering or innovation fields, including technical interview prep, licensure timelines and security‑clearance considerations.
• Proven ability to build and sustain employer partnerships that translate into tangible student employment outcomes.
• Strong presentation, coaching and interpersonal skills to engage diverse engineering student populations.

Required skills

• Proficiency with career management platforms such as Handshake.
• Experience using labor‑market intelligence tools (e.g., Lightcast, LinkedIn Talent Insights) and AI‑enabled career development tools.
• Familiarity with engineering‑specific job platforms (e.g., EngineeringJobs, Dice, defense/government hiring portals) is a plus.