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Dual Career Assistance Program

Vanderbilt University recognizes the need for dual career assistance as a means of continuing to build an inclusive campus environment and to support the University’s goals to attract and retain the highest quality candidates.

Vanderbilt University is committed to the recruitment and retention of outstanding, innovative, and diverse faculty and staff. Often, this means providing support and assistance for career opportunities for spouses and partners. The presence of successful dual career assistance resources is likely to enhance institutional effectiveness in recruitment, retention, overall diversity, and sustaining a family-friendly climate.  Thus, included here are suggested guidelines to assist accompanying partners of job candidates in searching for appropriate employment opportunities.  These guidelines are envisioned to work in coordination with and are subject to Affirmative Action policies, programs, and goals.

Our Dual Career Assistance Program brings support to spouses and partners, who are pursuing job opportunities within the University, as well as throughout the greater Nashville region. The Office of People and Business Services, in partnership with the Office of the Provost, commits to making every effort to assist the spouses and partners of newly hired faculty and senior-level administrators. 

PROGRAM OVERVIEW

The Dual Career Assistance Program provides career search assistance for spouses and partners of newly recruited faculty and senior-level administrators. The Dual Career Assistance Program manager will provide employment information to program candidates so that they can network, build relationships, and identify possible employment opportunities. The program also offers the following services:

  • Empower the participant with the tools to manage their career search,
  • Offer advisory support throughout participation in the program, and
  • Increase the possibilities for the participant to secure employment

Although there is no guarantee of job placement, we will help to facilitate your job search process through networking, informational interviewing, and job referral both at Vanderbilt University and in the community. Also, we can provide you with information on neighborhoods, schools, childcare, arts & entertainment, and other topics of interest.

PROGRAM ELIGIBILITY

The value of assisting individuals in dual-career partnerships to obtain employment opportunities is readily acknowledged, and Vanderbilt University has established these guidelines in that spirit.  However, it is critical to note that these efforts do not operate as a University promise or guarantee of employment, and individuals are encouraged to take advantage of additional career search resources in the greater Nashville area.

Formal assistance for dual-career circumstances, as outlined below, are provided to on-campus interviewee finalists, and candidates with job offers.

To be eligible to participate in this program, the following criteria must be met:

  • You must be a spouse or partner of a new permanent faculty member or senior-level administrator who is being employed by the University through a regional or national recruitment effort and is seeking job search assistance.
  • Vice-Chancellors, Deans, Vice Provosts, or Department Leaders must make the referral for services.

WHAT SERVICES ARE PROVIDED? 

While a valuable resource, the Dual Career Assistance Program serves as a resource and support system and is not intended to take the place of one's own job search efforts. The Dual Career Assistance Program understands that every person requires different assistance and will work with each candidate to address their unique needs.  Career searches are most successful when the spouse or partner takes an active role in the job search, both with the assistance offered by Vanderbilt University and independently.

While employment cannot be guaranteed, we can help in the following ways:

  • An initial consultation with the spouse or partner will assist in the understanding of the background, skills and interests, and employment goals
  • Information about Vanderbilt employment opportunities and processes
  • Job search assistance, including career exploration - resume, CV, and cover letter review and critique/interview skills/mock interviews, etc. 
  • Information on employment in the region, relocation and community information, networking strategies, and volunteer opportunities

Academic Positions

This program does not offer support for faculty appointments for the spouse/partner. You can visit The Office of Faculty Affairs to learn more about faculty appointments and recruitment http://vu.edu/facultyaffairs

Positions On-Campus

Spouses or partners seeking a staff position on-campus are encouraged to explore and apply for on-campus staff positions that match their skill set utilizing VU’s career portal. www.vanderbilt.jobs

Positions Off-Campus

In cases where the employment is more appropriate within a regional business external to Vanderbilt University, the Dual Career Assistance Program Manager can assist with employment counseling, advising, and referrals in the greater Nashville region.

Work, Life, and Community    

The Dual Career Assistance Program is available to provide information about local schools, day-care, recreational programs, housing information, and arts & culture, recreation, entertainment, and more through our relocation partner. 

HOW TO GET STARTED

In coordination with the Offices of Faculty Affairs and Leadership Search, the Dual Career Assistance Program Manager will intake referrals. Hiring leaders will need to work with their respective contacts in those offices or reach out directly to Assistant Director, Diversity Engagement and Outreach, Yasmine Mukahal.