Assistant Dean of Career and Professional Development, Leadership

This senior administrative position oversees all aspects of career development, job placement, employer outreach, and professional mentoring for all law students. In addition, this role involves promoting leadership opportunities for students and directing strategic planning, as well as the Career and Professional Development (C&PD) staff’s professional growth. The Assistant Dean is a member of the law school’s leadership team, collaborating across departments to develop and implement strategies that promote student success and employment outcomes.

The Assistant Dean will work closely with students, faculty, and alumni to create and provide programming, resources, and strategies for individual career development and networking, building strong relationships that foster career growth, professional development, and job placement success.

In addition to overseeing the day-to-day office activities, the Assistant Dean is also responsible for leading staff in designing and executing career and professional development and leadership programs, building and maintaining relationships with employers, alumni, and external constituents, and developing and expanding alumni and employer outreach programs. The Assistant Dean will collaborate with internal constituents and will be responsible for the annual graduate employment reporting. This role requires someone with extensive experience with career development, legal practice, and JD Advantage careers, and a deep understanding of the evolving job market for law graduates locally, regionally, and nationally. It requires an individual with proven leadership experience and a high level of energy and commitment.

Job Related Minimum Required Education and Experience:

• Requires a bachelor’s degree in a job related field and at least 8 years of job related experience, including some prior management experience.

Preferred Qualifications:

• JD preferred with extensive law firm experience.

Knowledge/Skills/Abilities:

• This role requires someone with extensive experience with career development, legal practice, and JD Advantage careers, and a deep understanding of the evolving job market for law graduates locally, regionally, and nationally.
• It requires an individual with proven leadership experience and a high level of energy and commitment.

Job Duty: Strategic Leadership and Management The Assistant Dean leads the Career and Professional Development Office (C&PD) and manages strategic planning, staff supervision, budget management, and overall operations. The Assistant Dean is responsible for developing leadership initiatives that align with institutional goals and for establishing innovative ways to engage students and employers. Essential Function: Yes Percentage of Time: 25

Job Duty: Career Counseling and Advising Provide one-on-one career counseling for students and alumni, including proactively identifying and seeking students who might fit particular employer needs and connecting them to employers. Further, providing guidance on resume and cover letter writing, interview preparation, including mock interviews, networking, and professionalism. Essential Function: Yes Percentage of Time: 20

Job Duty: Employer Relations and Job Development Cultivating and maintaining relationships with a wide range of legal employers to generate job, internship, and externship opportunities. In addition, tailoring outreach to employer needs. The Assistant Dean is also responsible for building partnerships with alumni and industry partners, and firms throughout the region and the country. Essential Function: Yes Percentage of Time: 20

Job Duty: Program Development and Implementation The Assistant Dean is responsible for working with the team to develop and implement career-related programs, events, and workshops on topics such as leadership and professional development, as well as job search techniques, specific practice areas, including employer networking events tailored to the recruiting needs of employers, diversity in the legal profession, and on-campus recruitment. Essential Function: Yes Percentage of Time: 15

Job Duty: Data and Reporting Tracks and analyzes employment outcomes and placement rates for reporting to accrediting bodies. Essential Function: Yes Percentage of Time: 10

Job Duty: Collaboration The Assistant Dean collaborates with the dean, faculty, alumni relations, and others to support student success and contribute to the law school’s strategic goals. Essential Function: Yes Percentage of Time: 10