Associate Director for Career Development

POSITION SUMMARY:

The Associate Director for Career Development serves as the primary student-facing career advisor within the Office for Career Development. The position is responsible for providing individualized career counseling, professional development programming, and career planning services to law students while supporting the College's mission of preparing graduates for successful and meaningful legal careers. The Associate Director leads mandatory first-year counseling, advises students on employment strategies, and collaborates with the Assistant Dean and Executive Director to enhance employment outcomes and student career readiness. In addition to student counseling, the Associate Director develops and maintains strategic relationships with government agencies, public interest organizations, legal aid providers, and other public service employers to expand internship, externship, and post-graduate employment opportunities. Through employer outreach, programming, and collaboration with alumni and public sector partners, the Associate Director promotes careers in public service while supporting the College's mission of preparing graduates for meaningful and impactful legal careers.

ABOUT ST. THOMAS UNIVERISTY COLLEGE OF LAW:

Founded in 1984, St. Thomas University College of Law is one of the most diverse access law schools in the United States. It is part of St. Thomas University, founded in 1961 as Biscayne College by the order of the Augustinian Friars. St. Thomas University is an urban, student-centered, Catholic university with rich cultural and international diversity, dedicated to developing leaders who contribute to the economic and cultural vitality of the regions they serve. To this end, the College of Law remains committed in teaching, scholarship, and service, to fostering a public order of human dignity, to training lawyers sensitive to the needs of the region's underrepresented communities, and to expanding access to professional opportunities which includes active partnerships with business, government, and the South Florida Community.

Equal Opportunity: St. Thomas University provides equality of opportunity in education for all persons, including faculty and staff (with respect to recruitment, hiring, retention, promotion, tenure, compensation, terms and conditions of employment, termination, and the like) and students, including applicants for admission and enrolled students (with respect to admission, retention, and the like), except that the University (1) will maintain its Catholic values in the operation of the University, and (2) may exercise a preference for Catholic faculty in recruitment and hiring. (The general norm of the Apostolic Constitution on Catholic Universities states that "the number of non-Catholic teachers should not be allowed to constitute a majority within the institution.") St. Thomas University also provides its students and graduates with equal opportunity to obtain employment, including the requirement that every employer to whom it furnishes assistance and facilities for interviewing and other placement services must observe the principles of equal opportunity.

Nondiscrimination: Except for the maintenance of Catholic values in the operation of the University and a preference for Catholic faculty in recruitment and hiring, discrimination on the basis of race, color, ethnicity, religion, national origin, sex, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, age, disability, or military status, marital or familial status, or any other category that is or becomes protected by law, is strictly prohibited. Accreditation: St. Thomas University College of Law is fully accredited by the American Bar Association and is a member of the Association of American Law Schools (AALS). St. Thomas University is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

• Serve as the primary career counselor for law students, providing individualized advising throughout their law school experience.
• Lead mandatory first-year career counseling and provide general counseling for second- and third-year students.
• Assist students with career exploration, employment strategies, résumé and cover letter development, interviewing skills, networking, and professionalism.
• Develop and deliver career education workshops, panels, classroom presentations, and professional development programs.
• Review application materials and conduct mock interviews.
• Maintain advising records and student engagement through Symplicity and other career management systems.
• Collaborate with the Executive Director regarding employer recruiting initiatives and student preparation.
• Refer students pursuing highly competitive opportunities or requiring strategic intervention to the Assistant Dean or Executive Director, as appropriate.
• Build relationships with faculty, alumni, and employers to enhance student opportunities.
• Participate in career fairs, networking events, and employer outreach activities.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

PROGRAMMING & OUTREACH

• Coordinate educational programs, employer panels, Lunch & Learns, and professional development events.
• Maintain record of students' pro bono hours.
• Organize the Public Service/pro bono awards ceremony.
• Assist the Public Interest Law Society and their activities.
• Coordinate and promote the Loan Repayment Assistance Program.
• Support marketing and social media initiatives that promote employer partnerships and student success and the University brand.
• Attend and participate in local, national, or online trainings in reference to professional development.

PUBLIC INTEREST & GOVERNMENT RELATIONS

• Develop and maintain relationships with government agencies, public interest organizations, legal aid providers, prosecutors' offices, public defenders' offices, judiciary, and other public service employers.
• Develop and strengthen relationships with government and public interest employers to expand recruiting opportunities and support students pursuing public service careers.
• Promote public interest and government employment opportunities through targeted outreach, programming, and employer engagement.
• Collaborate with public sector employers to increase internships, externships, and post-graduate employment opportunities.
• Coordinate programming and networking opportunities that connect students with public service employers and alumni.
• Serve as a resource for students pursuing careers in government and public interest law.

ASSESSMENT & COLLABORATION

• Assist in tracking employment outcomes and employer engagement.
• Assist with ABA and NALP reporting.
• Collaborate with the Executive Director and Assistant Dean.
• Perform additional duties assigned.

POSITION QUALIFICATIONS/SPECIFICATIONS:

• J.D. from an ABA-accredited law school, preferred
• Active bar membership in good standing.
• Minimum five years of legal practice, legal recruiting, employer relations, higher education, or related experience.
• Knowledge of legal recruiting and hiring practices.
• Strong communication, relationship-building, counseling, organizational, and presentation skills.
• Willingness to work occasional evenings and weekends when necessary.
• Skill in event planning and promotion.
• Manual dexterity to efficiently operate a computer keyboard and other business machines.
• Ability to occasionally lift and carry moderately light materials weighing up to approximately 10-15 pounds.
• The position might require irregular work hours and transportation to meetings and events outside of STU Law campus.

Important Note

This is not an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties, and/or skills required for this position. The University reserves the right to amend and change responsibilities to meet organizational needs.