Job Description:

Brown University seeks a visionary, strategic, and deeply collaborative leader to serve as the next Executive Director of the Lizzie and Jonathan Tisch Center for Career Exploration and Associate Dean of the College. This is a defining opportunity to contribute to Brown’s Open Curriculum, a distinctive model of undergraduate education. At Brown, the Open Curriculum empowers students to become the architects of their own academic journeys. Career exploration is not a transactional postscript, but an essential extension of the power of a liberal arts education. As technological change, evolving workforce expectations, and artificial intelligence fundamentally reshape the global economy, Brown seeks an inspiring leader who can help students connect the core values of a Brown education with lifelong curiosity and a drive for ongoing purpose and usefulness.

The Executive Director and Associate Dean will lead the nationally recognized Tisch Center for Career Exploration, serve as a key member of the College's senior leadership team, and directly advise undergraduate students. This rare alignment of responsibilities reflects Brown's holistic approach to undergraduate education, intentionally integrating career exploration, academic advising, and student development. The successful candidate will embrace the promise and complexity of supporting self-directed learners, positioning Brown as the national model for how liberal arts institutions prepare graduates for lives of purpose, leadership, and meaning in a rapidly evolving world.

The Executive Director and Associate Dean provides leadership, strategic direction, and high-level oversight to a best-in-class career services and education center. The Executive Director leads University efforts to integrate career exploration and learning into all aspects of Brown’s undergraduate experience, serves as a member of the College’s senior leadership team, and is an important advocate and University ambassador for innovation in higher education career exploration. The Executive Director reports to the Dean of the College. 

The Executive Director is expected to champion a culture of evidence-based practice and continuous improvement. The ideal candidate will leverage modern data analytics to evaluate programs, demonstrate institutional value, anticipate employment trends, and ensure that all career development initiatives align with broader strategic enrollment, retention, and student success goals. 

The Executive Director is responsible for a team of over 20 full-time staff members and over 50 student peer career advisors and career ambassadors; programming that engages nearly 5,000 undergraduate students each year; and a complex multimillion-dollar annual budget including general operating funds, endowments, and current-use gifts. As Associate Dean of the College, the Executive Director serves as an academic advisor and colleague to other College divisions and programs, and as a member of various College and University committees as assigned.

CANDIDATE PROFILE

The ideal candidate will have the following professional and personal qualities, skills, and characteristics:

• Bachelor’s degree required. An advanced degree preferred or equivalent combination of education and experience.
• 10+ years of related experience in career services or related field, at least 5 years of which must have been in a management position of significant responsibility.
• Collaboration and Partnership: Ability to sustain long-term relationships and steward diverse interests; demonstrated ability to work and communicate with a wide range of constituencies, including alumni, employer partners, faculty, staff, and students. Experience designing and executing an inclusive vision.
• Career Exploration and Education: Leader in the career advising and education field. Demonstrated knowledge of building positive and inclusive change. Experience developing sustained, asset-focused collaborations with alumni and employer partners.
• Executive Leadership and Management: Track record of inclusive, mission-driven organizational leadership; experience advancing initiatives in a shared decision-making environment. Strong commitment to continuous improvement and accountability. Experience leading and managing a large and diverse team. Willingness and ability to support and promote a diverse and inclusive campus community.
• Demonstrated Experience in Assessment: Proven track record of developing and executing robust assessment plans and evaluating program efficacy within higher education or workforce development settings.
• Analytical & Data Proficiency: Strong command of data collection methodologies, statistical analysis, survey design, and data visualization tools to inform strategic priorities and tell an impactful institutional story.
• Outcome-Oriented Mindset: Skilled at converting raw metrics into actionable operational strategies that improve student engagement, employer recruitment, and post-graduation success rates.
• Fundraising: Demonstrated success in fundraising, including significant experience with individual donor cultivation and stewardship.
• Student Advising: Genuine and demonstrated interest in engaging, collaborating with, supporting, and educating undergraduate students to achieve their academic, co-curricular, and career goals. Interest in helping students integrate their community engagement and academic pathways is essential. Willingness to value student leadership in a shared governance model.
• Communication and Personal Style: Excellent written and oral (including public speaking) communication skills. Outgoing, open, and self-aware personality with strong interpersonal skills and inclusive, transparent approaches to decision making. High integrity, excellent judgment, and good humor. 

COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS 

This is a full-time position that will be performed on site in Rhode Island. Salary is competitive and commensurate with experience. Brown offers a generous benefits package. 

CONTACT

DSG Storbeck has been exclusively retained for this engagement, which is being led by Ruth Shoemaker Wood and Anne Koellhoffer. Submit a compelling cover letter and resume by filling out our Talent Profile or emailing the search team directly at [email protected]. All inquiries are strictly confidential.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

All offers of employment are contingent upon successful completion of a background check.

Benefits of Working at Brown:

Please review additional information on the Benefits of Working at Brown.

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Submission Guidelines:

The designated Position Work Location for each position determines the approved modality of work. Positions are classified based on the operational and business needs of the department and may be designated as on-site, hybrid, or remote.

Employees with a designated position work location as remote must reside and perform their work in a state where Brown University is registered to do business. Brown University is a registered employer in the following states: Rhode Island, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Florida, Maryland, Massachusetts, New York, New Hampshire, New Jersey, North Carolina, Washington, D.C.

Please note that to be considered for a staff position at Brown University, you must submit a separate application for each position you wish to be considered for. Applications are reviewed only for the specific position to which they are submitted and are not automatically considered for future openings.  

This position is not eligible for visa sponsorship.

Still Have Questions?

If you have any questions you may contact [email protected].

Brown is an E-Verify Employer.

EEO Statement:

Brown University provides equal opportunity and prohibits discrimination, harassment and retaliation based upon a person’s race, color, religion, sex, age, national or ethnic origin, disability, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, or any other characteristic protected under applicable law, in the administration of its policies, programs, and activities. The University recognizes and rewards individuals on the basis of qualifications and performance. The University maintains certain affirmative action programs in compliance with applicable law.