ASSISTANT DEAN FOR PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT & CAREER SERVICES

Updated: over 2 years ago
Location: Seattle, WASHINGTON
Deadline: Open Until Filled

As a UW employee, you have a unique opportunity to change lives on our campuses, in our state and around the world. UW employees offer their boundless energy, creative problem solving skills and dedication to build stronger minds and a healthier world.

UW faculty and staff also enjoy outstanding benefits, professional growth opportunities and unique resources in an environment noted for diversity, intellectual excitement, artistic pursuits and natural beauty. 

The UW School of Law has an outstanding opportunity for an Assistant Dean for Professional Development & Career Services. 

The Assistant Dean for Professional Development & Career Services is a key leader at the UW School of Law (UW Law). UW Law’s mission is to serve and educate students to be leaders for the global common good. The Assistant Dean is responsible for the leadership of the Office of Professional Development & Career Services. This position reports to the School of Law Dean.

The Assistant Dean will lead all aspects of the Office of Professional Development & Career Services, including Career Services for all law students, the UW Law Public Service Law Program, and the Gates Public Service Law Scholarship Program. The Office programming includes career counseling, professional development, academic advising, and support for student organizations and public service projects. The staff works holistically with students to provide customized advice, strategy, and support during law school, as graduates enter the work force, and in subsequent career transitions.

This position provides leadership to ensure that students have a positive experience at UW Law and as they seek to enter the legal profession. This requires a comprehensive understanding of legal education and the legal market. The Assistant Dean leads the Office of Professional Development and Career Services, a high-functioning team who are responsible for enriching the student experience and enhancing the law school’s academic mission through career counseling, academic advising, and professional development programming. The Office of Professional Development & Career Services works closely with members of the law school community, including faculty, staff, students, and alumni, to develop, support, and coordinate student-focused activities that contribute to the Office’s mission. The Assistant Dean is responsible for assessing and making recommendations to the Dean regarding the law school's engagement in professional and leadership development as well as public service law.

RESPONSIBILITIES:

Leadership and Administration

• Support and supervise coaching efforts of counselors in the JD and graduate programs.
• Develop and implement a strategic plan for the Office of Professional Development & Career Services, including the development of goals and programs to support career and professional development, student recruitment, public service, academic advising, and student organizations, within the framework of UW Law’s commitments to diversity, inclusion, equity, and multiculturalism.
• Develop policies and procedures to effectively run Professional Development and Career Services, operationally and academically, and enhance the experience of our students.
• Partner with the other departments and Law leaders in developing  student focused activities.
• Develop an annual budget and operating plan that supports the mission, strategic goals and core values of Professional Development & Career Services.
• Develop initiatives and work with the private and public sector legal community, staff and faculty to implement these initiatives.
• Oversee all placement reporting such as the ABA and US News & World Report.

Programming/Professional Student Advising

• Provide coaching and advising to students.
• Partner with faculty, staff, students, alumni, and members of the community to foster collaborations and initiatives for JD and graduate students.
• Nurture campus, community, and other partnerships that help UW Law strengthen its impact and visibility, including on issues of diversity, inclusion, equity, and multiculturalism.
• Foster and support career and professional development opportunities for students in collaboration with faculty, staff and the community.

Other Duties

• Supervise staff including hiring, performance management, training, discipline, merit and promotion recommendations.
• Perform other related duties as necessary.

MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS:

• Juris Doctor
• A combination of 6 years of experience in higher education and/or as a practicing attorney.

Equivalent education/experience will substitute for all minimum qualifications except when there are legal requirements, such as a license/certification/registration.

ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS:

• Knowledge of legal industry hiring and professionalism standards and practices
• Excellent oral and written communications skills, interpersonal skills, and presentation skills
• Proven track record leading organizational operations
• Demonstrated ability to work with diverse communities
• Ability and willingness to adjust to changing priorities on very short notice as well as the ability to manage multiple projects with varying deadlines
• Demonstrated ability to collaborate across organizational boundaries
• Strong computer skills including but not limited to the Microsoft Office Suite of applications
• Must have the ability to maintain confidentiality and use discretion.
• Previous supervisory experience required, including budget and personnel management.

DESIRED EXPERIENCE

• Strong professional network within the legal community
• Familiarity with the administrative structure of a large university, facilitation and/or teaching experience

Application Process:

You will be asked to submit a cover letter AND your response (in a separate “Cover Letter Assessment”) to the following (limited to 7900 characters):

As part of your cover letter, please address the following prompt. Provide a brief description of how you have demonstrated a commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion and identify strategies you've employed to recruit/successfully conduct outreach to reach BIPOC students; highlight any work you have done to increase accessibility or to remove barriers for diverse populations and communities.

The application process for UW positions may include completion of a variety of online assessments to obtain additional information that will be used in the evaluation process.  These assessments may include Workforce Authorization, Cover Letter and/or others.  Any assessments that you need to complete will appear on your screen as soon as you select “Apply to this position”. Once you begin an assessment, it must be completed at that time; if you do not complete the assessment you will be prompted to do so the next time you access your “My Jobs” page. If you select to take it later, it will appear on your "My Jobs" page to take when you are ready. Please note that your application will not be reviewed, and you will not be considered for this position until all required assessments have been completed.



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