PGA Career Services is looking to fill the Career Consultant II position in the Carolinas PGA Section.
The Career Consultant plays a vital role in the career development of PGA Professionals by serving as a trusted and comprehensive resource for employment and career advancement. Their mission extends beyond just connecting professionals with jobs; they provide holistic career counseling, development guidance, and tailored support to help PGA Professionals navigate their career paths. By assisting employers in identifying and hiring the most qualified PGA Professionals, Career Consultants are essential to fostering successful partnerships. They also provide a reliable resource for PGA Sections, offering invaluable insights and support. Through their commitment to delivering exceptional service, Career Consultants ensure that the needs of professionals, employers, and sections are met with the highest level of dedication and expertise.
Specific areas of responsibility include but are not limited to:
Service to PGA Professionals:
Provide insightful and meaningful career counseling and coaching to PGA Professionals, with a primary proactive focus on individual career development.
Identify new employment opportunities for PGA Professionals.
Promote the benefits and utilization of Job Seeker Profiles, the PGA Job Board, and all employment tools on PGA.org.
Conduct detailed competitive and compensation analysis on behalf of PGA Professionals and Employers.
Develop and attain competitive compensation packages for PGA Professionals through enhanced value expressed to their employers.
Effectively analyze and position data collected from PGA and industry sources to benefit the career progression and development of PGA Members.
Engage with PGA Professionals in various career transition stages: Unemployed, Newly Hired Manager, Newly Elected Member, and Retiring Member.
Develop and execute education programs for PGA Professionals through all available venues (national, sections, and chapters).
Serve as a trusted field advisor to PGA Professionals for PGA Home Office-based Member-facing services and benefits.
Promote and generate participation in PGA Player Development programs and strategies and document the value it brings to facilities and PGA Members.
Service to Employers:
Provide exceptional hiring services and assistance to employers to enhance relationships with industry stakeholders.
Promote and expedite all PGA Career Services hiring options, including complimentary and paid services.
Provide compensation reports within department guidelines.
Make available the necessary hiring resources for: hiring process planning, resume review, interview planning, compensation and benefit packages, correspondence, PGA preferred background check provider.
Candidate support includes relationship development, career coaching, and education.
Market the value of PGA Professionals to non-PGA facilities and the industry.
Create awareness of PGA Player Development strategies and programming and guide PGA Professionals on leveraging such programming to enhance their careers.
Service to PGA Sections:
Serve as the leader and expert in PGA Career Services products, programs, and services within the assigned territory.
Develop successful relationships with Section leadership and staff and assist in developing Section employment strategies.
Develop and deliver employment presentations and education seminars at Section and Chapter meetings and to industry employers and organizations, liaise with Section Education and Employment Committees.
Attend and provide reports at Section and Chapter membership meetings; Board meetings and special events as invited. Provide personal appointment opportunities in conjunction with Section/Chapter meetings.
Communicate with Section Executive Directors and leadership quarterly (at a minimum) and provide golf industry updates on Employment. Engage with and assist Section Employment Committees as applicable.
Attend Section tournaments/events as requested to create relationships, foster goodwill, and support PGA Section staff.
Support the execution of all Career Services-focused initiatives related to the Section Funding & Strategic Funding programs.
Association/Departmental Responsibilities:
Maintain and report monthly statistics as determined by the Senior Director.
Support marketing and promoting the Association and PGA Career Services programs and initiatives within the assigned territory.
Attend and promote the Association at industry functions and trade shows as assigned.
Provide support as needed to non-industry candidates and search support for nontraditional PGA Member roles such as General Managers and golf Course Superintendents.
Develop editorial content and articles for Section newsletters, PGA magazine, and other industry publications.
Develop programs, education, and support products to drive Associate matriculation.
Identify and recruit prospective members of PGA of America.
Adhere to the Association’s rules for travel and expenses and manage the allocated budget in a fiscally responsible manner.
PGA of America PGA ExecuSearch:
Participate in communication and interactions related to PGA ExecuSearch.
Spread awareness and information on the PGA ExecuSearch products and services offered to PGA Sections, Employers, and Members.
Engage in proactive outreach and collaborate with other consultants to identify the best candidates for each search.
Assist the ExecuSearch team in organizing and managing search materials.
Employer support includes guidance in committee selections, interview facilitation, and negotiation.
Contributions to the Game & Business of Golf:
Talent Development
Participate and educate the marketplace about the impact PGA Professional has on the community, golf business, and local economy.
Provide field support and collaborate with PGA of America Diversity and Inclusion efforts.
Active participant in PGA of America recruiting efforts as needed.
Allied Associations & Partners
Establish effective working relationships with the Amateur body, including state and local golf associations.
Engage with local chapters of GCSAA, CMAA, and NGCOA.
Develop and improve working relationships with Golf Management Companies on a regional/territorial basis.
Golfer Development
Attend community/PGA Section programs that provide instruction or programming targeting new and existing golfers as they are available.
Training & Development:
The Career Consultant II is expected to learn the following responsibilities and grow into the Career Consultant role within 1-2 years.
Mentor PGA Associates and Members through the PGA Membership journey, PGA Education, career pathing, and career development.
Identify PGA members who desire career growth, provide information and resources to assist and counsel with career planning, job search strategies, critique resumes and cover letters, interviewing, negotiating, exit and retirement strategies, excelling in their job, providing value to their employer, and other skills that employers seek today.
Demonstrate expertise in negotiation, work agreements, and practices related to compensation by effectively gathering and analyzing data, and then applying knowledge and experience to present to the maximum benefit of the PGA Professional.
Communicate with Section Executive Directors and leadership quarterly (at a minimum) and provide golf industry updates on Employment. Engage with and assist Section Employment Committees as applicable.
Lead project and task force workgroups to develop and implement departmental projects and strategies.
Develop and improve PGA Career Services programs, projects, systems, publications, and information.
Conduct and lead facility site visits and meetings as appropriate to guide employers, negotiate compensation, and facilitate the search process.
Employees are expected to contribute to a respectful and inclusive team environment by welcoming and respecting others’ beliefs, backgrounds, identities, abilities, and individuality to help ensure a supportive and engaging experience for Association Members, partners, customers, and guests. PGA of America respects the uniqueness of each employee and offers everyone the means to find their place and thrive.
Embody the organization's shared values and help ensure its values-based culture thrives by proactively identifying and addressing any shared values, challenges, and opportunities you are experiencing.
Including, but not limited to, the following:
Bachelor’s degree: (B.A.) or equivalent in Business Administration, Human Resources, Professional Golf Management (preferably the Executive Management career path), or a related field or equivalent combination of education, training, and experience.
Four years of experience in golf operations or a golf industry management role.
Employment/club relations experience, career counseling, and Human Resources management training preferred.
Section governance, Section Office, or Allied Association experience preferred.
A PGA Member with a minimum of 5 years of PGA Membership is preferred.
Skills, Knowledge, and Abilities:
Job Knowledge
Must have personal experience & extensive knowledge of the golf industry and/or golf facility operations. Ability to maintain the confidentiality of sensitive information with the highest level of integrity. Skills in customer service and/or sales. Working knowledge of Gmail, Google Drive, Google Sheets, and Google Docs. Basic fluency in artificial intelligence (AI) tools and concepts. This includes using AI to enhance business operations and drive innovation, enabling us to better serve our Members and stakeholders.
Technology
Knowledge of Google suite of office products. Strong ability to learn and adapt to changing technology, used and created for job responsibilities and efficiencies.
Judgment
Makes sound decisions; bases decisions on fact rather than emotion; analyzes problems skillfully; uses logic to reach solutions.
Initiative
Plans work and tasks without detailed instructions; makes constructive suggestions; prepares problems or opportunities in advance; and undertakes additional responsibilities. Responds to situations as they arise with minimal supervision and create solutions to problems.
Communication
Writes and speaks effectively; states own opinions clearly and concisely; demonstrates openness and honesty; listens well during meetings and feedback sessions; explains reasoning behind opinions; asks others for their opinions and feedback; asks questions to ensure understanding; exercises a professional approach with others using all means of communication; uses consideration and tact when offering opinions.
Problem-Solving/Analytical Thinking
The ability to see the “big picture” in complex situations by linking information or by considering an abstract or longer-term perspective; ability to break down a problem, situation or process into its component parts; ability to understand the nature of those parts and their relationship to one another; ability to make thoughtful decisions in situations of uncertainty or risk.
Organization
The ability to manage multiple projects and determine project urgency in a practical way. Manage transition from task to task effectively.
Resourcefulness:
The ability to identify opportunities to use resources that are already available or are easy/inexpensive to obtain; the ability to consider the surrounding environment before making costly decisions; the ability to use imagination and creativity to navigate difficult situations.
Collaboration and Teamwork:
Works harmoniously with others to get a job done, responds positively to instructions and procedures, and can work well with staff while maintaining relationships, which breed productive disagreement and debate.
Location & Relationships:
The candidate will reside within the borders of the defined territory, preferably within 1 hour of one of the top 3 major population centers within the territory.
Relocation assistance is available if the selected candidate does not live within the defined territory borders and must be completed within 6 months of job acceptance.
The successful candidate will have strong relationships with PGA Members and Associates within the defined territory or the ability to quickly create relationships.
Supervision:
No supervisory responsibilities.
Financial Responsibility:
Assist with the development of the annual budget.
Manage expenses to budget within the assigned territory.
Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable qualified individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of this position.
Ability to travel approximately 25% per year
The PGA of America will provide a compensation and benefits package commensurate with experience and qualifications. This includes but is not limited to:
The pay range provided is a good-faith estimate for the position at the time of posting. Final compensation may vary based on factors including but not limited to background, knowledge, skills, and abilities, as well as geographic location of the position.
Benefits include:
Medical, Dental, and Vision coverage - Per PGA policy
Professional Association Dues Paid
Cell Phone Plan
Standard Travel and Expenses Covered
401k with up to 4% match
Any additional benefits will be per the PGA policy
Resume deadline is September 8, 2025 at 11:59 pm Eastern Time
Combine your cover letter, resume, references, and any supporting documents into one (1) PDF document with the following file naming convention: Last Name, First Name, PGA Career Consultant II
Please address all correspondence to - Mr. Don Sweeting, PGA of America, Senior Director of Career Services
Jonathan Gold, PGA, and Mike Mueller, PGA are leading this search. Please contact them with any questions.
Email: jgold@pgahq.com
To serve as the most trusted professional resource for employers seeking experts to lead an organization in the golf and hospitality industry, and support their future success by serving as lifelong partners.