Associate Director of Career and Leadership Readiness

Department
 

Harris School Career Readiness

About the Department
 

Why Policy? For a better world. Why Harris Public Policy? Because when it comes to better policymaking, evidence matters. We work at the frontiers of data collection and analysis, using the latest technology and social science methods to design policies that work for society. We conduct rigorous inquiry in an environment of innovation and risk taking. We collaborate across the private, public, and nonprofit sectors, adopting new methodologies to drive better solutions. We engage with our city, our world, and our leaders every day to evaluate and test our ideas. And we lead with our passion for driving social change, knowing that passion alone does not equal impact.

Job Summary
 

Harris Career Development’s (HCD) mission is to empower students to realize their full potential and secure meaningful careers that make an impact in the world. The team includes career coaches, employer relations professionals, and solutions team members from diverse backgrounds and industries. The greater Professional and Career Development team takes a holistic and comprehensive approach to career and professional development/transition, providing dynamic career education tools/resources and hybrid career and leadership coaching and education serving full-time Harris student populations.
As a key member of the Harris School of Public Policy’s Career Development Office, the Associate Director of Career Readiness will assist to ensure that Harris graduate students have the necessary strategies to explore career options, as well as career decision-making skills to identify opportunities that align with their self-exploration, identity development, and life-long career goals.
Reporting to the Director of Career Readiness & Development, the Associate Director will deliver exceptional career advising/coaching and instruction to support Harris students on long-term and immediate job search objectives for full-time positions and summer internships within specific industries. Sample areas of policy work and social impact include; Consulting, Education Policy, Energy and Environmental Policy, Finance, Government (municipal, state, federal), Healthcare Policy, Housing Policy, International Development, International Non-Government Organizations, Nonprofit (local, regional, national) Public Finance, Social Entrepreneurship, Social Enterprise, and Technology.

Responsibilities

Strategic Planning (20%)

• Partner with a team of mission and program-aligned Career Coaching and Leadership colleagues to provide 1:1 and group career coaching and education for full-time and part-time graduate policy students and alumni. Position primarily aligned with Full-time Masters in Public Policy (MPP) population, though subject to change based on department and school needs.

• Serves as primary resource/content point person for special programs and topics within policy career development (i.e. Internship Funding Processes, Pre-Employment Assessments, Case Interviews, International Student Programming); identified topic areas/trends shared across the HCD team.

• Design and implement in-person and virtual career education and professional development programs/resources with special consideration for leadership readiness.

• Create networking and mentoring opportunities for assigned student populations.

• Work with Employer Partnerships team members to collaborate on industry programming and promotion of industry/employer opportunities.

• Collaborate with Coaching and Leadership and entire Professional & Career Development team members, Harris School colleagues, University of Chicago stakeholders, and the Director of Career Readiness on department and cross-department/university initiatives.

• Apply Harris’s Diversity & Inclusion Roadmap to the programming of the Career Development Office to contribute to the collaborative effort of building a more diverse and inclusive learning environment at Harris. View the Roadmap here: https://harris.uchicago.edu/about/diversity-inclusion/roadmap-progress  

Program Management (20%)

• Lead and/or collaborate on key projects that support the Harris mission.

• Develop strategic relationships and collaborate with key academic stakeholders (program directors, academic advisors, faculty, etc.) to facilitate continuous needs assessment and the effective implementation of professional development for students and alumni.

• In collaboration with Director of Career Readiness, manage key programming to serve all students.

• Work with Harris leadership and frontline student-facing staff (academic advisors) in each program to evaluate students' progress.

• Marketing and Events: Create opportunities for our non-traditional students to attend, participate with, and progress toward more efficient career outcomes.

• Collaborate with IT to ensure systems are working properly for students.

• Assist with communication efforts to promote initiatives and resources of Harris Career Development via list-serv, webpages, social media and website.

• Measure efficacy of professional development programs and use outcomes-based data to influence programming.

• Represent the unit on Harris and University-wide committees as assigned.

Career Coaching (60%)

• Serve as a primary coach and career educator across the students’ entire Harris experience (admissions through graduation) to help students realize their potential, build their professional brand, increase their readiness to network with global employers and alumni, and achieve their unique career goals.

• Coach individuals and groups in working toward achieving their career, professional, and leadership development goals.

• Serve as primary coach and HCD partner for group of Full-time MPP students from admissions through graduation.

• Utilize coaching techniques and resources that meet the needs of diverse populations, including International students.

• Follow-up with students and alumni as needed to track progress and encourage engagement with the Harris Career Development team.

• Participate in case discussions and reviews with HCD staff, and collaborate with members of the Career Readiness, Leadership Programs, and Employer Partnerships to support student career success and reported outcomes.

• Draw on industry knowledge, trends, and professional networks to guide relevant programming and grow the exchange of knowledge between the students and alumni, recruiters, faculty, or other experts to ensure student success.

• Advise and partner with designated student organizations to create and provide high impact career programming.

• Analyze market trends as they relate to the job search (career change) and career advancement (promotion) in assigned sector areas and curate resources and information for students to access online.

• Maintain knowledge of recruitment practices, industry trends, faculty research, alumni base, student organizations, and student needs to remain necessary and credible for coaching purposes and incorporate Harris alumni and other guests into programs.

• Maintain accurate and complete coaching records in Salesforce.

• Advises and counsels students concerning employment opportunities and careers by acting as a liaison between students and prospective employers.

• Conducts mock interviews, reviews resumes and cover letters, and coordinates other interview related programming in both individual and group settings.

• Performs other related work as needed.

Minimum Qualifications
 

Education:

Minimum requirements include a college or university degree in related field.

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Work Experience:

Minimum requirements include knowledge and skills developed through 2-5 years of work experience in a related job discipline.

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Certifications:

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Preferred Qualifications

Education:

• Master's Degree required. Preferred in Counseling, Psychology, Business, Human Resources, Organizational Development, College Student Personnel Administration, Higher Education Administration, or related field.

Experience:

• Minimum of 3 years related professional experience.

Preferred Competencies

• Deep knowledge of the job search process and a clear understanding of the role of internships and full-time recruitment strategies of the nonprofit, government, and private sectors related to public policy.

• Understanding of and experience in inclusion, diversity, equity, and accessibility efforts.

• Strong written and oral communication skills are essential.

• Superior workshop development, presentation, coaching, and networking skills.

• Understanding of student development needs, particularly graduate students.

• Ability to build internal and external relationships with broad constituencies; a demonstrated commitment to customer service; and the ability to work both independently and in a team environment.

• Demonstrated initiative project or event management skills, as well as an entrepreneurial orientation, and proven track record of results-oriented achievement.

Working Conditions

• Hybrid Work Schedule.

Application Documents

• Resume (required)

When applying, the document(s) MUST  be uploaded via the My Experience page, in the section titled Application Documents of the application.

Job Family
 

Student Affairs & Services

Role Impact
 

Individual Contributor

FLSA Status
 

Exempt

Pay Frequency
 

Scheduled Weekly Hours
 

37.5

Benefits Eligible
 

Yes

Requires Compliance with University Covid-19 Vaccination Requirement
 

Yes

Drug Test Required
 

No

Health Screen Required
 

No

Motor Vehicle Record Inquiry Required
 

No

Posting Statement
 

Employees must comply with the University’s COVID-19 vaccination requirements. More information about the requirements can be found on the University of Chicago Vaccination GoForward .
The University of Chicago is an Affirmative Action/ Equal Opportunity/Disabled/Veterans Employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national or ethnic origin, age, status as an individual with a disability, protected veteran status, genetic information, or other protected classes under the law. For additional information please see the University's Notice of Nondiscrimination.

 

Staff Job seekers in need of a reasonable accommodation to complete the application process should call 773-702-5800 or submit a request via Applicant Inquiry Form.

 

We seek a diverse pool of applicants who wish to join an academic community that places the highest value on rigorous inquiry and encourages a diversity of perspectives, experiences, groups of individuals, and ideas to inform and stimulate intellectual challenge, engagement, and exchange.

 

All offers of employment are contingent upon a background check that includes a review of conviction history.  A conviction does not automatically preclude University employment.  Rather, the University considers conviction information on a case-by-case basis and assesses the nature of the offense, the circumstances surrounding it, the proximity in time of the conviction, and its relevance to the position.

 

The University of Chicago's Annual Security & Fire Safety Report (Report) provides information about University offices and programs that provide safety support, crime and fire statistics, emergency response and communications plans, and other policies and information. The Report can be accessed online at: http://securityreport.uchicago.edu . Paper copies of the Report are available, upon request, from the University of Chicago Police Department, 850 E. 61st Street, Chicago, IL 60637.