Assoc. Dir. of Career & Professional Development

State of South Carolina; Columbia (SC); On-site; USD 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health and Life Insurance

Retirement Programs

Paid Tuition

Dependent Scholarships

Annual Leave

Sick Leave

13 Paid Holidays

Paid Parental Leave

Professional Development Opportunities

Job summary

The University of South Carolina seeks an Associate Director of Career & Professional Development (C&PD) in the School of Law to advise students and alumni on career planning and professional development. You will help form career identities and maximize employment prospects by coordinating with law faculty, staff, employers and alumni to design a broad program of career events.

You will lead a team to deliver workshops, networking opportunities, and strategic services that align with changing

Qualifications

• Exceptional interpersonal and communication skills and ability to build relationships with students and employers.
• Professional demeanor when working with students, alumni, employers, faculty, and staff.
• Ability to create a welcoming and supportive environment for students.
• Ability to adapt to various personalities and needs.
• Relevant professional knowledge in career services or legal recruitment.
• Understanding of traditional and nontraditional legal employment options.
• Knowledge of NALP principles and standards.
• Understanding of various employment settings and hiring criteria and methods.
• Commitment to ongoing legal knowledge across practice areas to assist students' career planning.
• Strong planning and organizational skills.

Responsibilities

• Advise students and alumni to develop individualized career development plans.
• Collaborate with law school faculty, staff, employers and alumni to plan and implement career programs, workshops and networking events.
• Direct and execute a comprehensive series of career development activities.

Job description

Assoc. Dir. of Career & Professional Development Department: LAW School of Law Advertised Salary Range: Part/Full Time: Full Time

About UofSC

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.

Advertised Job Summary

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.

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.

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.

Job Close Date 11/09/2026

The University of South Carolina offers a valuable benefits package including but not limited to:

Benefits

• Health and Life Insurance
• Retirement Programs
• Paid Tuition
• Dependent Scholarships
• Annual Leave
• Sick Leave
• 13 Paid Holidays (including an extended December holiday)
• Paid Parental Leave
• Professional Development Opportunities

The University of South Carolina does not discriminate in educational or employment opportunities on the basis of race, sex, gender, gender identity, transgender status, age, color, religion, national origin, disability, sexual orientation, genetics, protected veteran status, pregnancy, childbirth or related medical conditions.