Career Development Manager

You will be responsible for empowering students to discover their strengths, explore career pathways, and access world-class higher education opportunities through strategic guidance and global partnerships. Your key responsibilities will include: - Developing and implementing a Group-wide Career Development framework, integrating global best practices in career counseling, university readiness, and student development. - Designing and managing structured programs for students (Grades 7-12) that promote self-discovery, informed decision-making, and future readiness. - Collaborating with academic leaders to embed career readiness and higher education preparation within the curriculum. - Building and sustaining partnerships with leading domestic and international universities, industry bodies, and scholarship organizations to create diverse pathways for students. - Curating and managing an annual University Engagement Calendar, including fairs, webinars, and on-campus events to strengthen the school-university connect. - Representing Lighthouse Learning Group at higher education forums, fairs, and global education conferences. - Leading, mentoring, and upskilling the Career Counselling team across schools to ensure consistency in delivery and alignment with the Group's strategic vision. - Establishing standards, tools, and processes for personalized student guidance, including psychometric assessments, profiling, and college readiness tracking. - Providing advisory support to School Principals and Counsellors on complex or high-stakes university admissions cases. - Monitoring and analyzing trends in university admissions, student career interests, and program outcomes to guide strategy and continuous improvement. - Overseeing the management of student data and documentation required for university applications, transcripts, and recommendations. - Driving implementation of a Career Development Management System (digital platform) for tracking student progress and university placements. - Partnering with internal stakeholders - Academic R&D, School Leadership, and Communications - to promote the Career Development agenda. - Engaging with parents and the broader school community through sessions, workshops, and communication initiatives to build awareness and trust. - Supporting the Head - Career Development & Higher Education Readiness in strategic initiatives and policy formulation for the function. Qualifications & Experience: - Masters degree in Education, Psychology, Counselling, or a related field. - 10-12 years of experience in career counseling, higher education advising, or university partnership management, preferably in a K12 or international education environment. - Strong understanding of global university admission processes (U.S., U.K., Canada, Europe, India, and emerging markets). - Proven experience in building institutional partnerships and leading multi-stakeholder programs. - Excellent communication, leadership, and project management skills. Key Competencies: - Strategic Thinking and Execution - Relationship Management and Collaboration - Influencing and Stakeholder Engagement - Data-driven Decision Making - Passion for Student Development and Educational Excellence,