Boston University

Tracking Code

24500617760313

Job Description

With roots dating back to 1918, Boston University School of Social Work has more than 100 years of social work education history, a dynamic faculty leading innovative research on pressing social justice issues, and graduate and professional students engaged in programs across five campuses and online. Our mission is to develop dynamic and diverse social work practitioners, leaders, and scholars through rigorous teaching, innovative research, and transformative community engagement. Reporting to the Dean, the Director of Social Work Career Services and Alumni and External Relations provides students with best-in-class professional career advising, workshops, and other professional development events/activities for students and alums. This role will engage our extensive alumni network, which will not only support the school and students but is one of the ways that schools of social work increase their national reputation. The role will collaborate with the Field Education office to prepare students for field placement our signature pedagogy, keep alums engaged, and serve as a liaison to the dean regarding alum board activities. The role will also engage with our community partners and collaborate with nationally recognized social work organizations, like NASW, CSWE, and SSWR, ensuring BUSSW continues to be a national leader in social work.

Areas of responsibility include:

(50%) Career Services: Directs and oversees career planning services, workshops, and other professional development events/activities for students and alums. Provide professional career advising and coaching to over 900 students in multiple programs. Collaborate with the Field Education office to prepare students for their final field placement. Develop innovative training and workshops related to professional social work careers. Assist with licensing exam preparation. Recruit representatives from the community, social work agencies and other universities for student professional development workshops. Keep abreast of current social work employment trends, related career development materials, and first destination data. Attend various workshops and training related to career development and professional development. Contribute to the literature of social work job trends, conduct trainings at conferences. Assist doctoral students with vita development, fellowship applications, professional development workshops, and academic branding. Coordinate academic job market materials to be posted on the school's web page and sent to the Deans and Directors. Supervise staff related to alum events. 

(30%) Alumni Relations: Serve as a liaison between the Alumni Board and the school. Serve as the first contact for alums to reconnect with the school of social work through opportunities such as alum networking, career mentors, field instructors, field placements, and lecturers and adjunct professors. Enhance and maintain alum engagement locally and nationally. Conduct an annual survey of recent alums. Maintain alum speakers bureau. Supervise alums support staff and volunteers. Staff alum board and provide guidance on leadership structure and recruitment of new board members. Serve as liaison to the dean and the school regarding alum board initiatives. Assist in coordinating the Alumni Board Association Awards process, annual events, and commencement events. Partner with the Assistant Dean for Development on alums and donor engagement.

(20%) External Relations: Work with Dean to promote and enhance BUSSW. Maintain ongoing communications with the community, alums, faculty, staff, and the university at large and on a national level. Collaborate with NASW, CSWE, SSWR, and other nationally recognized social work organizations. Contribute to social media and informative videos and serve as a thought leader on social work professional branding.

Required Skills

Basic Qualifications 

• Master of Social Work (MSW) and a minimum of 5 - 8 years of experience.
• Willingness to work some very limited evenings and weekends with advance notice.
• A cover letter is required for consideration; additional writing samples may be required.

Additional Qualifications

• Highly organized with excellent time management and proven planning skills.
• Able to work well in a fast-paced environment independently and as part of a team to manage deadline-driven projects, tasks, and initiatives.
• Demonstrated ability to build relationships to promote and foster a strong, positive team environment with a willingness to explore, understand, and appreciate diverse perspectives.
• A collaborative work approach with the ability to shift responsibilities as needed to support team members.
• An orientation that strives for continuous improvement, creativity, flexibility, and a growth mindset.

We are an equal opportunity employer, and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, natural or protective hairstyle, religion, sex, age, national origin, physical or mental disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information, military service, pregnancy or pregnancy-related condition, or because of marital, parental, or veteran status. We are a VEVRAA Federal Contractor.

Job Location

BOSTON, Massachusetts, United States

Position Type

Full-Time/Regular