Associate Director of Career Services - Law

Case Western Reserve University, United States

Updated: 24 days ago
Location: Campus, ILLINOIS
Job Type: FullTime

A strong internal candidate has been identified.

POSITION OBJECTIVE

The Associate Director of Programs and External Relations reports to the Associate Dean of Career Development and works with a high degree of independence while being an essential member of the Career Development Office team. The Associate Director has both internal responsibilities to coordinate programs for students and external responsibility to engage with employers, and has authority to set and accomplish objectives in both of these areas. The Associate Director directly supervises the department’s support staff, oversees office operations, and coordinates financial expenditures. The Associate Director must juggle competing demands and pay close attention to detail and accuracy in all communications with critical constituents, including staff colleagues, students, employers, alumni, faculty, and vendors.

 

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

  • Employer development: Develop and carry out a communications strategy for building and maintaining employer relationships. Identify and cultivate employer relationships with local, national, and international employers through email outreach, meetings, conference calls, interview programs, career fairs, alumni receptions, and employer visits. Engage with external constituents, including law firms, courts, corporations, government agencies, and non-profit organizations located both domestically and abroad, for the purpose of soliciting short-term and long-term employment opportunities for students and alumni. Respond to employer inquiries and assistance requests. Perform research and compile data on employers and alumni. (20%)
  • Management of recruitment platforms: Lead the department’s efforts to fully utilize the software platforms used for recruitment. Manage daily operation of the onsite/virtual recruitment process using career management software platforms (Symplicity and Flo Recruit), annually serving over 450 current students, 3,800 employers, and thousands of alumni. Train and supervise support staff on use of the platforms, including processing employers’ requests to post positions according to standards set by the National Association for Law Placement (NALP) and the Career Development Office and ensuring that databases are timely updated. Review all employer requests to host events or interviews. Train the department on new functions and features. Resolve any software-related problems on behalf of management. Serve as the point of contact for employers, students, and alumni in setting up new accounts and troubleshooting technical issues. (20%)
  • Program management: Participate in department strategy planning regarding long- and short-term programming goals. Organize and facilitate special events and information sessions for students and employers. Coordinate program logistics both within and outside the Professional Development curriculum. Solicit employer involvement and market programs to students. Set expectations and manage relationships with employers throughout the process. Delegate program-related tasks to support staff and oversee completion. Manage the following specific programs: On-Campus Interview Programs; Post-Grad Legal Career Fair involving multiple law schools and dozens of employers; Mock Interview Program involving dozens of students and attorney volunteers; and multiple employer presentations. Oversee all logistics of employer visits to campus including facility, catering, and AV needs. (20%)
  • Administrative support supervision: Provide administrative leadership and operational expertise to guide the department’s administrative support. Directly supervise the department’s support staff, including at least one department assistant and at least one student employee. Maintain workflow and make adjustments to work schedules as needed, to ensure the smooth functioning of the office and enable deadlines to be met. Interview, hire, and train the support staff. Provide feedback and coaching. Conduct the support staff members’ annual reviews. Work with the Associate Dean to institute and administer progressive counseling and disciplinary action when appropriate. Establish direction and priorities for long-term goal achievement. Work to instill a sense of team direction and team accomplishment, focusing on the service aspects of the department. (20%)
  • Communications with students and alumni: Gather and draft content for the department’s weekly newsletters to students. Handle student and alumni reciprocity requests. Respond to student inquiries regarding department program logistics, on-campus interview scheduling, department software platforms, funding requests, and other topics as assigned by the Associate Dean. (10%)
  • Department invoices and payments: Manage all purchase orders for the department. Coordinate organizational memberships and oversee travel arrangements for department staff. Supervise the processing of all vendor invoices and payments, staff reimbursement requests, and student and alumni funding requests. (10%)

    •  

    NONESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

  • Perform additional special program management as needed. (<1%)
  • Perform other duties as assigned. (<1%)

    •  

    CONTACTS

    Department: Daily contact with law school administration and staff; occasional contact with faculty.

    University: Frequent contact with central support department staff. Some contact with non-law school faculty, staff, and students, as well as university administration, as required to perform essential functions.

    External: Frequent contact with employers and vendors. Frequent contact with alumni, attorneys, outside organizations, law firms, and government officials.

    Students: Daily contact with professional students and student workers.

     

    SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITY

    Directly supervise department assistant and student worker(s).

     

    QUALIFICATIONS

    Experience: Minimum of 5 years of professional and/or administrative experience required. Experience in career placement or legal environment preferred.

    Education: Bachelor’s degree required. MBA or Master’s degree in a relevant discipline preferred.

     

    REQUIRED SKILLS

  • Ability to deal effectively and tactfully with constituents inside and outside the law school, including students, alumni, faculty, staff, administration, employers, and vendors.
  • Excellent verbal communication, interpersonal, and telephone skills. Strong ability to interact in a professional manner face-to-face with internal and external constituents.
  • Excellent writing skills.
  • Attention to detail and accuracy in all communications with internal and external constituents.
  • Ability to handle multiple tasks with minimal supervision.
  • Ability to juggle competing priorities of staff members.
  • Self-starter who takes initiative in prioritizing and pursuing big and small goals.
  • Ability to appropriately supervise other staff and delegate tasks effectively and efficiently.
  • Discretion in handling confidential information.
  • Ability to process funding requests and payments.
  • Computer skills, including proficiency using Microsoft Word, Excel, and Power Point; the Google suite; and Adobe Acrobat. Ability to learn and become proficient in using software platforms and programs including Symplicity, Flo Recruit, and others as required to carry out job duties.
  • Thorough understanding and appreciation of the legal job market and the dynamics of a successful legal job search.
  • Ability to prepare and analyze statistical reports.
  • Ability to meet consistent attendance.

    •  

    WORKING CONDITIONS

    Office setting with frequent interaction with faculty, staff, and students. This position is eligible for the staff hybrid work program.

    This position is eligible for hybrid work arrangement up to two remote days per week at the discretion of the department. New employees may begin a hybrid schedule upon approval from the supervisor, successful completion of an orientation period and signing the remote work checklist certification form.

    In employment, as in education, Case Western Reserve University is committed to Equal Opportunity and Diversity.  Women, veterans, members of underrepresented minority groups, and individuals with disabilities are encouraged to apply.

    .

    Case Western Reserve University provides reasonable accommodations to applicants with disabilities.  Applicants requiring a reasonable accommodation for any part of the application and hiring process should contact the Office of Equity at 216-368-3066 to request a reasonable accommodation.  Determinations as to granting reasonable accommodations for any applicant will be made on a case-by-case basis.

    .

    Similar Positions