The University of Chicago

Department

Crown Career Services

About the Department

As one of the first schools of social work in the United States, the Crown Family School of Social Work, Policy, and Practice has shaped the field for more than 100 years. As part of the University of Chicago, the Crown Family School shares the University's core values and distinctive intellectual culture. Crown Family School faculty, staff, and students focus on identifying solutions to complex social problems through research, training, and direct community engagement. Guided by an interdisciplinary tradition, Crown Family School scholars conduct innovative research to address interconnected social challenges such as educational inequality, health disparities, crime and violence, poverty, and child and family welfare—working at multiple scales, from individual to policy-level interventions. More than 10,000 Crown Family School graduates in the US and globally hold leadership positions in academia, at nonprofits, in business, and at governmental agencies The Crown Family School is the home of several academic centers. These include the Susan and Richard Kiphart Center for Global Health and Social Development, the Kersten Institute for Urban Education, the Center for Climate, Health and Society, the Smart Decarceration Project, and the Employment Instability, Family Well-being, and Social Policy Network (EINet). More information may be found at https://crownschool.uchicago.edu/.

Job Summary

The Career and Leadership Development Office guides students toward meaningful careers and professional opportunities through strategic collaborations, innovative programs, and educational opportunities that foster knowledge, skills, and connections essential for career and leadership success. These include career coaching, career programming, workshops, events, and information sessions; career experiences and initiatives; career resources and support.

Reporting to the Director of Career and Leadership Development, the Associate Director for Career and Leadership Development plays a pivotal role in advancing students’ career growth and readiness. The Associate Director provides a comprehensive range of career development support, including professional and leadership opportunities tailored to the diverse needs of the student community. By designing and implementing programming, events, workshops, and initiatives, the Associate Director empowers students to build essential career skills and leadership capacity. Additionally, this role serves as a campus resource for best practices in career development, leveraging insights into employment trends and proactive solutions to address emerging student needs. The Associate Director also supports the daily operations and logistics of the Career and Leadership Development department to ensure seamless and effective delivery of career development services.

Categories of responsibilities with approximate percentages are as follows:

Career Coaching (30%)

Leadership Initiatives (20%)

Program Development and Management (25%)

Communication and Technology (15%)

Operations and Admin Duties (10%)

Responsibilities

• Collaborate with the Director to develop a comprehensive career curriculum that defines the scope and sequence of career coaching and programming for students.
• Serve as a career coach to graduate students for master’s program; engage in career coaching that assists students with career exploration, networking, job document preparation, and professional relationship building.
• Conduct 1:1 and group career coaching sessions; support students in working towards achieving their career and professional goals, utilizing coaching techniques, models, and resources that meet the needs of the student population.
• Develop leadership curriculum to guide the scope and sequence of professional and leadership programming and content.
• Design and implement a comprehensive professional leadership development initiative; create and manage a system, track attendance and participation; and communicate with students on their current progress towards completion.
• Manage student award ceremony, facilitating nomination process, convening selection committee, coordinate all ceremony materials, and oversee award disbursement.
• Coordinate with internal departments and campus partners overseeing the student award and certification processes.
• In collaboration with the Director, participate in the development, content creation, and implementation of programming, workshops, and special events to prepare graduates for a successful job search.
• Develop and manage comprehensive event strategies, including budget management, logistics coordination, vendor management, marketing and promotion, event execution, and post-event evaluation for mid-size and large-scale events.
• Facilitate programs, workshops, career conversations, and other professional opportunities appropriate for students.
• Manage a budget and develop spending strategy for leadership programming, maintain accurate records, and reconcile expenses in a timely manner.
• Maintains up-to-date knowledge of recruitment strategies, industry trends, faculty research, and alumni outcomes to better understand drivers of success.
• Acts an initial responder for all general inquiries.
• Produce content for office communications to students such as career digest newsletters, flyers, and email messages to promote events, opportunities, and resources, and share student and alumni success stories.
• Assist in managing the career resource management systems (job board, appointment scheduling system, and career library) and webpage. Provide user support to students, alumni, and employers.
• Represent the Career and Leadership team at internal and external meetings and events.
• Assist in prospecting and contacting potential employer and professional partners.
• Liaise with professional membership organizations.
• Supervise student staff and/or part-time support staff dedicated to career and leadership development.
• Follow up with students and graduate alumni to track progress and career outcomes via assessments and surveys.
• Effectively follows-up with students; track progress and encourage engagement with the Career and Leadership Development team.
• Maintain and update written support documents for job searchers on topics such as interviewing, networking, and resume writing.
• Assist in Career data collection, management, and quarterly report writing
• Assist in policy development and goal setting for the office.
• Perform other duties as assigned by the director to ensure the success of career services on behalf of the school, its students, and alumni.
• 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.

Work Experience:

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

Certifications:

Preferred Qualifications

Education:

• Advanced degree (Master’s degree).

Experience:

• Five or more years of administrative experience in student affairs, academic support, or closely-related environment.
• Experience in Inclusion, Equity, and Diversity (I, E, & D) work in higher education and or related setting.
• Experience in developing career and professional development programs to build community within the student population with an identity- conscious and intersectional critical lens.
• Demonstrated ability and sensitivity in working with diverse populations.
• Awareness of student, career and leadership development theories models.
• Experience working in a higher education research institution.
• Familiarity with career and leadership development operations and services of the Crown Family School.

Preferred Competencies

• Excellent organizational skills.
• Demonstrated flexibility and ability to multi-task on frequent and constantly changing demands.
• Ability to effectively communicate with faculty, graduate students, employer partners, staff and various administrative offices. All levels in the University (both internal and external).
• Attention to detail.
• Analytical skills.
• Ability to meet deadlines.
• Ability to maintain confidentiality.
• Ability to resolve problems independently.
• Ability to work independently and as part of a team.
• Knowledge of Microsoft Office Suite.
• Knowledge of database management software.
• Knowledge, awareness, and skills related to diversity, equity, and inclusion.

Working Conditions

• Hybrid work schedule, on-site at the Hyde Park campus in Chicago.

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

Scheduled Weekly Hours

40

Drug Test Required

No

Health Screen Required

No

Motor Vehicle Record Inquiry Required

No

Pay Rate Type

Salary

FLSA Status

Exempt

Pay Range

$71,000.00 - $76,500.00

The included pay rate or range represents the University’s good faith estimate of the possible compensation offer for this role at the time of posting.

Benefits Eligible

Yes

The University of Chicago offers a wide range of benefits programs and resources for eligible employees, including health, retirement, and paid time off. Information about the benefit offerings can be found in the Benefits Guidebook.

Posting Statement

The University of Chicago is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, or expression, national or ethnic origin, shared ancestry, age, status as an individual with a disability, military or veteran status, genetic information, or other protected classes under the law. For additional information please see the University's Notice of Nondiscrimination.

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.

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.

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