Seattle University

Associate Director - Center for Professional Development

FLSA Status: Exempt

Market Reference Range (MRR): 12

Months Per Year: 12

Employment Status: Full-Time

Work Model: Hybrid Eligible*

Seattle University will be one of the most innovative and progressive Jesuit and Catholic universities in the world, educating with excellence at the undergraduate, graduate, and professional levels. We embrace an intersectional framework for defining diversity in its broadest sense, including differences in gender, gender identity, race, ethnicity, generational history, culture, socioeconomic class, religion, sexual orientation, national origin, citizenship status, political perspectives, geographic origin and physical ability. Seattle University strives to be a welcome, open and safe campus climate for all who learn, live and work at Seattle University.

Seattle University's Core Competencies

Effective Team Collaboration: Works harmoniously with others towards a common goal, leveraging individual strengths to achieve shared objectives.

Emotionally Intelligent Communication: Engages in a skillful exchange of information, thoughts, and feelings, verbally and non-verbally.

Ethics and Integrity: Demonstrates an unwavering commitment to honesty, professionalism, and alignment with our Jesuit mission in all actions and decisions.

Flexibility and Innovation: Embraces change, approaching problems with curiosity adaptability, and is committed to making a positive impact.

Mindful Inclusion: Fosters mindful inclusion by consciously creating a workplace that celebrates differences, embraces cultural humility, and empowers uniqueness.

Outcomes-Driven Orientation: Sets clear objectives, pursues excellence, and delivers measurable outcomes while upholding Jesuit Catholic values.

Position Description

Seattle University School of Law educates ethical lawyers who distinguish themselves through their outstanding professional skills and their dedication to law in the service of justice. Faculty, students, and staff form a vibrant, diverse, and collaborative community that promotes leadership for a just and humane world. The School of Law’s commitment to academic distinction is grounded in its Jesuit Catholic tradition, one that encourages open inquiry, thoughtful reflection, and concern for personal growth. Innovation, creativity, and technological sophistication characterize its rigorous educational program, which prepares lawyers for a wide range of successful and rewarding careers in law, business, and public service.

Position Description

Seattle University School of Law is seeking an Associate Director for our Center for Professional Development (CPD) to join our mission-driven, student-centered community.

The Associate Director will help law students and law school alumni identify their career interests and goals, as well as connect them with professional opportunities and assist them in developing skills and strategies for their job searches and professional development. The Associate Director reports to the Assistant Dean of the Center for Professional Development.

Supporting students and alumni in their professional development endeavors (65%)

• The Associate Director will focus on supporting students and alumni interested in intellectual property positions, in-house opportunities, and corporate/business-related work. The Associate Director will also assist in supporting students and alumni pursuing positions in private practice.
• The Associate Director counsels law students and alumni on career options, preparation of application materials, job search skills, and professional development/networking opportunities.
• As a CPD team member, the Associate Director will utilize their writing skills to review, edit, and identify areas of improvement on job application materials, including resumes, cover letters, and personal statements. Document review in CPD requires the ability to manage a high volume of professional correspondence and edit hundreds of resumes, cover letters, personal statements, and other materials.
• The Associate Director will meet one-on-one with students to develop personalized career support strategies. During busy times of the academic year, each CPD team member may meet with up to 6 to 8 students/graduates per day. The Associate Director will document their student/alumni meetings with substantive counseling notes.
• The Associate Director assists with the development of CPD’s electronic communications with students and graduates; in particular, the Associate Director will create content for a bi-weekly CPD newsletter for a specific class level, targeted emails, and content updates for the CPD website.
• Other duties as requested.

Creating substantive programming and collaborating with external organizations (20%)

• The Associate Director will serve as CPD’s primary point of contact for a number internal/external organizations and collaborative programs. These organizations include, but are not limited to:

o Microsoft Agile Mentoring Program

o Association of Corporate Counsel (ACC)

o Seattle Area Legal Recruiting Administrators (SALRA)

o Seattle IP Inn of Court

o Leadership Council on Legal Diversity (LCLD)

o SU Law’s Technology, Innovation Law, and Ethics (TILE) Institute

• The Associate Director will collaborate with CPD colleagues, SBA student organizations, School of Law departments, alumni, and community lawyers to develop and promote relevant and engaging workshops and presentations for the law students and the law school community (virtual & in person). The Associate Director will engage in public speaking on a routine basis.
• The Associate Director will analyze and develop student resources, including surveys, reports, and databases; the Associate Director will author and co-author a broad range of job search materials, including resources for resumes, cover letters, interviewing, and networking.
• The Associate Director will stay up-to-date and apprised of developments and trends in the legal profession and in the professional development world, particularly in the areas of application materials, interviewing, market trends, and the specific substantive practice areas they advise on.
• The Associate Director will regularly represent CPD at community events with law firms, corporations, organizations, and bar associations. Developing effective working relationships with these groups is crucial to the operations of CPD.
• Other duties as requested.

Assisting with data management and graduate data collection (15%)

• The Associate Director will work closely with the Assistant Dean and CPD team to collect, analyze, and submit employment statistics for students and graduates for institutional, accreditation, and annual reporting requirements.
• The Associate Director will assist with collecting and managing student data contained in Symplicity, CPD’s Career Management System.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree.
• Exceptional written and oral interpersonal communication skills. Applicants must be effective in one-on-one counseling situations and comfortable in larger groups as a leader in making public presentations.
• Program management experience. Self-motivation and individual initiative to manage duties/projects, as well as the desire and ability to work effectively as a member of a team.
• Ability to participate and attend local and regional events. Such events will include some evening and weekend commitments.
• The ability to remain knowledgeable of available job opportunities and hiring practices within private law firms and businesses. Applicants must be able to effectively communicate this knowledge to students and alumni as they apply for these highly competitive positions.
• Experience with Microsoft Office products and Sharepoint.
• Commitment to professional development and growth.

Preferred Qualifications

• Juris Doctor degree from an American Bar Association accredited law school, plus two years of work experience practicing law, including participation in the hiring of attorneys and/or law clerks – or an equivalent combination of education and experience sufficient to successfully perform the essential duties of the Associate Director position.
• Experience with local, regional, and national hiring practices amongst private law firms and corporations.
• Career coaching and mentorship experience.
• Familiarity with ABA and NALP guidelines.
• Experience working with Symplicity or other similar Career Management System.

Application Instructions

Please attach a cover letter with your resume when applying. Job postings are open until filled, unless otherwise specified.

Compensation at a Glance

Salary Range: $78,000 – $82,000

Seattle University has provided a compensation range that represents its good faith estimate of what the University may pay for the position at the time of posting. The salary offered to the selected candidate will be determined based on factors such as the qualifications of the selected candidate, departmental budget availability, internal salary equity considerations, and available market information, and not based on a candidate’s gender or any other protected status.

Your total compensation goes beyond the number on your paycheck. Seattle University provides generous leave, health plans, and retirement contributions that add to your total compensation package.

Benefits at a Glance

Consistent with its fundamental Jesuit values, Seattle University offers a wide range of benefits designed to care for the whole person. Choose from three different medical plans, a dental, and vision insurance programs. Protect your income with life, short & long-term disability coverage. Plan for your future with up to a 10% employer contribution for retirement benefits, comprised of a 5% nonelective employer contribution and an additional dollar-for-dollar match of your voluntary contributions up to a maximum of 5%. You may also take advantage of 100% paid tuition benefits for the employee and dependents, a subsidized transportation benefit, a wellness program with free access to an onsite fitness facility, and a wide variety of campus events. Enjoy a generous holiday schedule, including a paid Holiday break closure in December, vacation and paid sick leave, and paid community service leave. For more information explore the Benefits website at: https://www.seattleu.edu/hr/benefits/

Hybrid Eligible

This position may be eligible for a hybrid schedule after successful completion of an introductory work period of 3-6 months. This may mean that a hybrid eligible role will begin on-campus initially and then will transition to hybrid format following onboarding and training. Flexible work plans are subject to periodic review and may be changed or terminated at any time for any reason at the university’s discretion.

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