Director of Public Sector Career Strategy, Office of Career Strategy

The University of Pennsylvania, the largest private employer in Philadelphia, is a world-renowned leader in education, research, and innovation. This historic, Ivy League school consistently ranks among the top 10 universities in the annual U.S. News & World Report survey. Penn has 12 highly-regarded schools that provide opportunities for undergraduate, graduate and continuing education, all influenced by Penn's distinctive interdisciplinary approach to scholarship and learning. As an employer Penn has been ranked nationally on many occasions with the most recent award from Forbes who named Penn one of America's Best Large Employers in 2023.

Penn offers a unique working environment within the city of Philadelphia. The University is situated on a beautiful urban campus, with easy access to a range of educational, cultural, and recreational activities. With its historical significance and landmarks, lively cultural offerings, and wide variety of atmospheres, Philadelphia is the perfect place to call home for work and play.

The University offers a competitive benefits package that includes excellent healthcare and tuition benefits for employees and their families, generous retirement benefits, a wide variety of professional development opportunities, supportive work and family benefits, a wealth of health and wellness programs and resources, and much more.

Posted Job Title
Director of Public Sector Career Strategy, Office of Career Strategy

Job Profile Title
Director B, Student Services, Advising

Job Description Summary
The University of Pennsylvania Carey Law School is one of the nation's oldest and most distinguished law schools. The school offers a distinctive cross-disciplinary legal education, drawing on the depth and breadth of the University of Pennsylvania. The resulting intellectual opportunities and professional relationships bridge traditional boundaries and disciplines, making the Law School an extraordinarily supportive academic community for its scholars and students alike.

Penn Carey Law staff play a critical role in providing a world-class educational environment, supporting faculty, students, alumni, and fellow staff members in a collaborative and ambitious environment. The Director of Public Sector Career Strategy creates and implements strategic approaches to preparing students and alumni to succeed in reaching their public sector career goals, oversees the development and delivery of public sector career education, manages and directs recruitment programs and events, and oversees the Penn Carey Law fellowship process. This role requires significant collaboration and strong relationships with partners within the Office of Career Strategy and the Toll Public Interest Center, throughout the law school, and with legal employers, donors, faculty, and alumni.

The Director holds a regular full-time position and reports to the Associate Dean for Career Strategy. This is a regular full-time position and eligible for hybrid work schedule.

Job Description

STRATEGIC

Develop and maintain expertise across public sector legal career opportunities to support successful outcomes for Penn Carey Law students and alumni

• Develop and maintain expertise across public sector legal careers, including practice areas, practice setting options, employers, geographic markets, application processes and timelines, selection practices, and hiring trends.
• Conduct public sector legal market research and analysis to inform development of programming, services, and resources and delivery of job search support.
• Share market expertise in a variety of internal and external forums, continuing to represent Penn Carey Law as a market leader in the legal talent industry.
• Monitor student practice setting, geographic, practice area, and employer interests to inform student services and employer outreach initiatives.
• Provide counsel to the Associate Dean for Career Strategy on strategic policy and programmatic decisions related to public sector recruiting and the public sector legal job market.

Serve as Office of Career Strategy liaison to and lead partnership with the Toll Public Interest Center

• Develop and maintain a strong relationship with colleagues in the Toll Public Interest Center and foster a culture of collaboration between OCS and TPIC.
• Regularly attend TPIC meetings and events and ensure that relevant information is shared timely and effectively between the two offices.
• Collaborate with TPIC in developing and delivering programming, services, and resources for students pursuing public sector careers, including Toll Public Interest Scholars and Fellows.

PROGRAMMING & COUNSELING

Lead vision for and delivery of public sector career programs, services, and resources for Penn Carey Law students and alumni

• Oversee the design, development, and delivery of programs, services, and resources related to public sector careers, including at nonprofit, government, and public interest law firm employers, to best support the public sector career goals of Penn Carey Law students and alumni.
• Direct and present programming and workshops to allow students to explore public sector career opportunities and prepare students for public sector job searches. Collaborate with colleagues throughout the Law School, employers, student groups, bar associations, and/or law school consortia, as appropriate, to ensure a wide variety and robust calendar of programming.
• Oversee the on-going maintenance of resources to prepare students and alumni to succeed in public sector job searches in an ever-changing legal market.
• Ensure the development of and lead the implementation of innovative educational events, currently including an annual Public Sector Practice Settings Fair and virtual Mock Interview Program.
• Evaluate the efficacy of programs, resources, and events through participant feedback, tracking outcomes, and other relevant metrics.
• Manage technology resources related to public sector career information and events, including Canvas courses, OCS website, Symplicity, 12Twenty, and Flo Recruit.

Oversee the design and implementation of recruiting programs and job fairs. Identify and support students in participating in external job fairs and interview programs

• Lead the design and implementation of Penn Carey Law-specific recruiting programs, as well as programs and job fairs hosted in collaboration with law school consortia, to ensure exceptional access to public sector job opportunities for Penn Carey Law students.
• Proactively identify and recruit employer participation to align with student career interests and maximize career development and employment success.
• Identify appropriate external interview programs and job fairs for Penn Carey Law participation. Support students in applying and participating in these programs. Represent and serve as liaison for Penn Carey Law as appropriate for such programs.
• Leverage communication tools to maximize recruiting program participation by students and employers. Measure program success and report on outcomes.

Oversee the Penn Carey Law school-funded public sector fellowship and summer funding processes. Direct programs and services to provide support in pursuing law school-funded and externally-funded fellowships

• Oversee the creation and management of Penn Carey Law School-funded employment fellowships to support public sector careers. Direct the application, interview, and fellow selection process and provide support to students applying to these fellowships in application material and interview preparation. Maintain oversight of fellowship placements throughout the fellowship duration to ensure a successful experience for both fellows and host organizations.
• Partner closely with Development & Alumni Relations on managing awards from donor-funded fellowships, identifying new donors, and building and maintaining current donor relationships. Envision opportunities for new fellowships and, in partnership with DAR, develop them and work to ensure their success.
• Identify external public sector employment fellowships and prepare students and alumni to compete and succeed in securing these highly competitive programs through individualized counseling, specialized programming, and cross departmental partnerships, including faculty, administrative colleagues, alumni and other legal professionals.
• Identify host organization opportunities and build relationships to enable successful fellowship placements. Build and maintain relationships with fellowship donors.
• Manage the Penn Carey Law-funded summer funding process for unpaid summer jobs in the public sector, coordinating with law school colleagues in Business Affairs and Financial Aid.

Counsel Penn Carey Law students and alumni on public sector career strategy

• Provide individualized career counseling to Penn Carey Law students and alumni based on their specific needs, career goals and interests. Provide guidance on all aspects of career strategy, including practice areas, employers, recruiting, networking, application and interview preparation.
• Review and provide feedback on application materials, including resumes, cover letters, personal statements, and fellowship project proposals.

MANAGEMENT

Manage and support colleagues working with students pursuing public sector careers. Manage colleagues performing administrative work for public sector programs and services

• Train OCS career counseling team on public sector career advising and resources and ensure career counselors remain up to date on any changes in the public sector legal market. Lead regular career counseling trainings and consult with career counselors and/or answer counseling questions as they arise. Create and update resource materials for career counselors providing guidance to students and alumni pursuing public sector careers.
• Manage administrative work performed in support of public sector programs and services by administrative OCS staff members and student workers. Support their development by providing performance feedback directly, as well as to their manager.
• Manage expenses related to public sector programming and services. Make annual budget recommendations to Associate Dean for Career Strategy as it relates to the public sector budget.

REPRESENTATIONAL

Manage public sector employer relationships

• Develop and implement an evolving outreach plan for public sector employers based on market research and Penn Carey Law student and alumni interest.
• Build and cultivate relationships with public sector employers through ongoing communication, meetings (both virtual and in-person), and regular outreach.
• Oversee communication with public sector employers regarding their recruitment needs and participation in Penn Carey Law recruiting programs.

Represent the Office of Career Strategy and the University of Pennsylvania Carey Law School to internal and external audiences

• Measure and communicate results of data collection relating to programs, services and outcomes to law school leadership and other partners. In collaboration with the Associate Dean for Career Strategy, respond to requests for information related to public sector career strategy and graduate outcomes.
• Present strategic and administrative reports related to public sector recruiting programs, fellowships, career outcomes, and recommendations to law school leadership.
• Participate actively in committee work at the Law School to further the mission of the Office of Career Strategy, the Law School, and/or the University. Represent OCS in internal partnerships with Student Affairs, DAR, TPIC, and EO&E.
• Represent Penn Carey Law in professional association groups related to the public sector and legal career strategy, including the National Association for Law Placement, as well as local recruiting and bar organizations. Participate regularly in GPALS and NALP activities, including attending conferences.
• Build and maintain strong relationships with law school partners, vendors, and peer schools.

OTHER DUTIES AS ASSIGNED

QUALIFICATIONS:

Education/Experience: The successful candidate will hold an advanced degree, J.D. strongly preferred and have a minimum of five to seven years of progressively increasing responsibility as a public interest lawyer and/or academic administrator. Experience working with law students and/or an interest in higher education preferred. The candidate will have a history of working successfully with a variety of constituencies, including employers, faculty, alumni, current students, prospective students, and colleagues. We seek candidates who have established track records as collaborators in the workplace.

Job Location - City, State
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Department / School
Law School

Pay Range
$79,500.00 - $115,000.00 Annual Rate
Salary offers are made based on the candidate's qualifications, experience, skills, and education as they directly relate to the requirements of the position, and in alignment with salary ranges based on external market data for the job's level. Internal organization and peer data at Penn are also considered.

Equal Opportunity Statement
The University of Pennsylvania is an equal opportunity employer. Candidates are considered for employment without regard to race, color, sex, sexual orientation, religion, creed, national origin (including shared ancestry or ethnic characteristics), citizenship status, age, disability, veteran status or any class protected under applicable federal, state or local law.

Special Requirements
Background checks may be required after a conditional job offer is made. Consideration of the background check will be tailored to the requirements of the job.