Assoc. Dir. of Career & Professional Development

University of South Carolina; Columbia (SC); On-site; USD 65,000 - 97,000; Full time

Job summary

University of South Carolina seeks an Associate Director of Career & Professional Development to advise students and alumni, develop a comprehensive program of career events, and foster employer relations within the School of Law in Columbia. The role emphasizes collaboration with faculty, staff, and alumni to maximize employment prospects and professional identity.

The position requires a bachelor’s degree in a related field with 4+ years’ experience; a J.D.

Qualifications

• Requires a bachelor’s degree in a job-related field and 4+ years of job-related experience.
• Preferred: J.D. with at least 3 years practice experience or another degree with 7+ years in law school career services.

Responsibilities

• Advise students and alumni in developing individualized career plans.
• Plan and direct career programs, workshops, and networking events.
• Develop partnerships with employers, faculty, and alumni to enhance opportunities.
• Collaborate with communications to create career resources and online content.
• Support employer relations strategy and program implementation.

Skills

Interpersonal skills

Communication

Relationship building

Organizational skills

Strategic planning

Education

Bachelor's degree in a related field

J.D. or 7+ years in law school career services

Job description

Posting Details

Job Title: Assoc. Dir. of Career & Professional Development

Posting Number: STA00728PO26

Job Family: Academic and Career Counseling

Job Function: Career Services

USC Market Title: Career Development Administrator

Job Level: P4 - Professional

Business Title (Internal Title): Assoc. Dir. of Career & Professional Development

Campus: Columbia

Work County: Richland

College/Division: School of Law

Department: LAW School of Law

State Pay Range: G10

USC Market Range: MRH - $64,827 $81,034 $97,241

Anticipated Hiring Range: commensurate with experience within the market range

Location of Vacancy: Columbia, SC

Part/Full Time: Full Time

Hours per Week: 37.5

• M-F 8:30am – 5pm with one hour for lunch.
• Must be willing to work a flexible schedule to meet the needs of the department.

Basis: 12 months

Job Search Category: Student Services

About USC

From the Upstate to the Lowcountry, the University of South Carolina system is transforming the lives of South Carolinians through the impact of our eight institutions and 20 locations throughout the state. More than 50,000 students are enrolled at one of eight institutions, including the research campus in Columbia and comprehensive four-year universities in Aiken, Upstate and Beaufort. In addition, our Palmetto College campuses in Salkehatchie, Union, Lancaster and Sumter enable students to earn associate or bachelor’s degrees through a combination of in-person, online or blended learning. All of our system institutions place strong emphasis on service — helping to build healthier, more educated communities in South Carolina and beyond.

Veterans' Preference Statement: The University of South Carolina is committed to equal opportunity and proudly values the skills and experience military veterans bring to our workforce. Across South Carolina, we are making veterans a priority for employment and recognize their vital contributions to our state and our communities.

Benefits for FTE Positions

The University of South Carolina (USC), through the State of SC and Public Employee Benefit Authority (PEBA), offers employees a valuable benefits package, including health and life insurance, generous paid leave and retirement programs. To learn more about USC benefits, access the "Working at USC" section on the Applicant Portal at https://uscjobs.sc.edu. Research Grant or Time-limited positions may be eligible for all, some, or no benefits, based on the grant or project funding.

Position Description

The Associate Director of Career & Professional Development (C&PD) advises students and alumni in developing an individualized career development plan, forming a sense of their professional identity, and maximizing employment prospects based on individual interests, abilities, and opportunities. The Associate Director utilizes strong communication skills to interact extensively with students, student organizations, alumni, and employers. The Associate Director collaborates with law school faculty, staff, employers, and alumni to plan, direct, and implement a comprehensive series of career programs, workshops, and networking events.

Job Related Minimum Required Education and Experience

• Requires a bachelor’s degree in a job related field and 4 or more years of job related experience, which may be substituted by an equivalent combination of job related certification, training, education, and/or experience.

Preferred Qualifications

• J.D. with at least three years practice experience OR other degree with at least seven years experience in law school career services or legal recruitment.

Knowledge/Skills/Abilities

• Employee must have exceptional interpersonal and communication skills and be able to build relationships of trust and confidence with students and employers.
• Must be able to work in a professional manner with students, alumni, employers, faculty, and staff.
• Must have ability to create a welcoming and supportive environment for students.
• Must adapt to various personalities and needs.
• Employee must have relevant professional knowledge.
• Must have knowledge of traditional and nontraditional legal employment options.
• Maintain knowledge of National Association of Legal Professionals (NALP) principles and standards.
• Must understand various employment settings and their hiring criteria and methods.
• Must continue to acquire legal knowledge in a wide range of practice areas in order to assist students in their career planning.
• Employee must have planning and organizational skills.
• Must be able to effectively navigate in the school’s employer/student software platform.
• Must be able to set priorities, maintain deadlines, and work on multiple projects contemporaneously.
• Employee must have problem solving and decision making skills/judgment.
• Must be able to weigh options.
• Develop strategies to meet employment goals in changing market and economic conditions.
• Prefer employee to have creativity, innovation, and enthusiasm in exploring new ways to provide career development to students and optimize legal employment goals.

Job Duties

• Student Advising: Provide career counseling to current students and alumni, including guidance with job search strategies, writing resumes and cover letters, and preparing for interviews. Identify Job opportunities using employer/employee matching tools. Percentage of Time: 40.
• Educational Content Development & Delivery: Develop and implement educational programming and events such as the 0L Summer program. Plan and execute networking opportunities for students. Percentage of Time: 15.
• Assist in and support the execution of the office’s employer relations strategy by connecting with legal employers, cultivating employer contacts and relationships for state, regional, and national employment opportunities, and representing the School of Law at bar meetings, conferences, and professional development programs and collaborative activities with representatives from other law schools, legal employers, NALP, and appropriate industry associations. . Percentage of Time: 20.
• Private Practice Opportunities: Contribute to the office’s efforts to promote and engage private practice employers. Develop programs and materials to educate and advise students regarding application strategies, recruitment programs, and career paths. Percentage of Time: 10.
• In collaboration with the Communications Team, create online resources to assist students with developing job search skills, learning about opportunities for law school graduates, and understanding the critical competencies necessary for success in these positions. Percentage of Time: 10.
• Additional duties as assigned. Percentage of Time: 5.

Position Attributes

Employees in Safety-Sensitive or Security-Sensitive positions will be subject to pre-employment and post-employment drug testing in accordance with University policy HR 1.95 Drug and Alcohol Testing.

• Safety Sensitive or Security Sensitive: No
• Hazardous weather category: Non-Essential

Posting Detail Information

Number of Vacancies: 1

Desired Start Date: 12/01/2026

Job Open Date: 09/25/2026

Job Close Date: 11/09/2026

Open Until Filled: No

Special Instructions to Applicant: Positions are advertised for a minimum of five (5) business days on our job website. After five (5) business days, positions can be closed at the discretion of the department at any time. This employment site is updated on a regular basis. The length of the recruitment and screening process may vary from position to position, depending upon a variety of factors. Should review of your qualifications result in a decision to pursue your candidacy, you will be contacted by phone or email. We are only accepting applications submitted by November 9, 2026.

EEO Statement

The University of South Carolina does not discriminate in employment opportunities or decisions for qualified persons on the basis of age, ancestry, citizenship status, color, disability, ethnicity, familial status, gender, gender identity or expression, genetic information, military status, national origin, pregnancy, race, religion, sex, sexual orientation, veteran status, or any other protected category under applicable law.

Supplemental Questions

Required fields are indicated with an asterisk (*).

Applicant Documents

Required Documents

1. Cover Letter
2. Resume
3. List of References and Contact Information

Optional Documents