Location: Springfield, OH
Category: Administrative Positions
Job Type: Full-time
Posted On: Sat Aug 15 2026
Job Description:
The Associate Director of External Partnerships & Lead Personal and Professional Development Coach combines leadership in external partnerships with hands-on coaching responsibilities to support the personal and professional growth of students. The Associate Director will use insights from student coaching to inform partnership development (e.g., aligning the right partners with student needs), bring partnership opportunities into coaching practice (e.g., connecting clients with external resources or networks), and will serve as a bridge between internal coaching teams and external stakeholders, ensuring alignment between programs and external collaborations.
The Wittenberg Center for Personal and Professional Development (CPPD) is designed to help students grow both personally and professionally. "Rooted and Open" calls ELCA universities, rooted in Lutheran theology, to help students explore larger questions about their purpose and calling in life. The center offers structured and informal opportunities for self-reflection, discernment, conversations about vocation and calling, goal setting, and skill-building. This will include individual and group coaching sessions, workshops, guest speakers, identity-building activities, and professional experiential learning opportunities.
Responsible for building and maintaining relationships with external organizations, employers, graduate school admissions teams, and stakeholders including, but not limited to:
- Identifying and securing partnerships that align with the Center's mission and goals.
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Negotiating and managing agreements, contracts, and collaboration frameworks.
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Representing the Center in meetings, events, and outreach programs.
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Leveraging partnerships to expand resources, programs, and opportunities for students.
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Tracking and reporting on the impact of these partnerships
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Conducting 1:1 coaching sessions to help students identify strengths, set goals, and develop action plans.
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Facilitating group workshops, seminars, and leadership programs to build skills in communication, collaboration, self-reflection, and career navigation.
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Monitoring individual student progress, providing feedback, and adjusting strategies to meet evolving needs.
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Acting as a mentor and accountability partner, encouraging students to step outside their comfort zones and take actionable steps toward interests, goals, and plans.
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Maintaining confidentiality and professionalism in all coaching interactions.
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Demonstrate support for community and belonging, as well as participate in maintaining a respectful, positive work environment
Job Requirements:
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Education: Bachelor's degree in counseling, business or related area of study.
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Experience: 3-5 years of relevant work experience in career advising, career counseling, life coaching, leadership coaching, mentoring or related field
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Technical Skills: Microsoft Office
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Must be able to demonstrate the ability to take initiative.
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Demonstrated experience building relationships with key constituents.
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Demonstrated success on a team.
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Strong written, public speaking, and interpersonal communication skills.
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Demonstrated ability to give polished and professional presentations.
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Demonstrated success delivering personal and professional development advice.
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Experience advising on resumes, interviewing and job search strategies.
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Ability to have a positive outlook and see the best in others.
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Must demonstrate knowledge of unique challenges to achieving post-graduate success after a liberal arts education.
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Ability to work nights and weekends as necessary.
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Ability to travel locally and regionally on a regular basis to meet constituents.
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Must be able to successfully pass all background checks as applicable to the position
Preferred Qualifications :
- Education: Master's degree in counseling, business or related area of study.
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Experience with or trained in self-assessment tools such as MBTI, StrengthsFinder, and DiSC.
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Experience leading peers on programs and/or initiatives.
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Demonstrated understanding and experience with the Lutheran concept of vocation.
Additional Information:
Wittenberg is committed to attracting and retaining highly qualified individuals who collectively reflect the diversity of our student body and society at-large. Please see our notice of nondiscrimination housed on our website.
The successful candidate will demonstrate support for diversity, equity and inclusiveness as well as participate in maintaining a respectful, positive work environment.
Wittenberg University is committed to preventing and addressing sexual misconduct in our campus community. Click here to view our Title IX policies.
Employment at Wittenberg University is contingent upon satisfactory completion of applicable background checks including but not limited to: criminal records, educational verifications, driving records (when job-related), and/or credit history (when job related).
For this position, we are unable to sponsor candidates for work visas. Wittenberg University participates in E-Verify to confirm authorization to work in the U.S.
