Associate Director, Center for Professional Development - Public Interest

Seattle University; Seattle, Northern (WA, KY); On-site; USD 78,000 - 85,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Tuition benefits for employee and 4

Health plan options

Retirement contributions

On-site fitness facility

Job summary

Seattle University seeks an Associate Director in the Center for Professional Development to guide students and alumni toward public interest employment opportunities during and after law school.

You will build relationships with public defense agencies, prosecutors, government offices, and nonprofit networks, organize major career events, and mentor students through the application process. The role emphasizes collaboration with CPD and external partners.

Qualifications

• Juris Doctor degree from ABA-approved law school and two years of practice experience.
• Experience participating in hiring attorneys/law clerks is desirable.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills essential for advising students and alumni.
• Ability to counsel one-on-one and build relationships with students.
• Comfort with public speaking and presenting to diverse audiences.
• Self-motivation to manage duties and projects and work in a team.

Responsibilities

• Organize the Northwest Public Service Career Fair and support registration, materials review, and mock interviews.
• Maintain relationships with Equal Justice Works and connect students to its events.
• Develop and promote CPD workshops, externships, and career programming with internal partners.
• Counsel law students and alumni on career options and job-search materials.
• Represent CPD at events with law firms, legal aid providers, government agencies, judiciary, and bar associations.
• Collaborate with ATJI, SBA student groups, and law school departments to deliver workshops and panels.

Skills

Interpersonal communication

Counseling students/alumni

Public speaking

Team collaboration

Self-motivation

Diversity commitment

Editing/resume materials

Microsoft Office proficiency

Education

Juris Doctor degree (ABA-approved)

2 years legal work experience

Tools

Career management systems

CRM / job application tools

Job description

Months Per Year: 12 Work Model: Hybrid Work 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:

The Associate Director focuses on public interest and government opportunities and supports students and alumni to understand what public interest employment opportunities exist-during and after law school. The Associate Director is expected to understand the public interest legal employment landscape and build relationships with employers at the local, state, and federal level, with particular focus on: public defense agencies, prosecutor’s offices, the State Attorney General’s Office, and other city, county, and state agencies; the various Judge Advocate General (JAG) Corps programs; the statewide civil legal aid/nonprofit network; postgraduate public interest fellowship opportunities; and, private bar opportunities that focus on public interest work. Externally, the Associate Director assists with organizing the Northwest Public Service Career Fair, the largest public interest legal job fair in the Pacific Northwest, and supports students and alumni with registration, reviews application materials, and conducts mock interviews leading up to the Career Fair. The Associate Director is also expected to maintain the law school’s relationship with Equal Justice Works and connect students and alumni to the Equal Justice Works Career Fair and its postgraduate fellowship programming. The Associate Director will develop relationships within the public interest community and will represent the Department through their attendance at external events. Internally, the Associate Director is expected to closely partner with the Access to Justice Institute (ATJI), including presenting on public interest legal employment opportunities at Social Justice Mondays (as requested), supporting first-year students in the First Year Fellows Program, and attending the Evening with Equal Justice. The Associate Director also partners with the Externship Program to ensure that students understand the externship application cycle, the available opportunities, and the application process. The Associate Director counsels law students and alumni on career options, preparation of application materials, job search skills, and professional development/networking opportunities. CPD team members utilize their skill in legal writing to review, edit, and identify areas for improvement on job application materials, which requires the ability to manage a high volume of professional correspondence and edit hundreds of resumes, cover letters, thank-you letters, and other materials. The Associate Director meets one-on-one with students and alumni to develop personalized career strategies. During the academic year, the Associate Director might meet with up to 6 to 8 students/graduates per day. 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 assists with the development of CPD’s electronic communications with students and graduates; in particular, the Associate Director will be responsible for creating a bi-weekly newsletter tailored for a specific class level, targeted emails and content updates on the CPD website. The Associate Director will also create student resources, including one-page handouts and PowerPoint presentations. The Associate Director will collaborate with the Access to Justice Institute (ATJI), SBA student organizations, School of Law departments, alumni, and community lawyers to develop and promote relevant and engaging workshops and panel presentations, including programming that connects students with public defenders, prosecutors, civil legal aid employers, JAG contacts, and more. The Associate Director regularly represents the Center for Professional Development at community events with law firms, legal aid providers, government agencies, the judiciary, and bar associations. Developing effective working relationships with these groups is integral to keeping opportunity pipelines open. Other duties as requested.

Qualifications

• A Juris Doctor degree from an American Bar Association approved law school plus two years of work experience practicing law, preferrably within a public interest or government setting.
• Experience participating 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 is desired.
• This position requires exceptional written and oral interpersonal communication skills.
• Applicants must have the ability and excitement to engage in routine one-on-one counseling relationships.
• Applicants should also be comfortable with public speaking and leading internal and external presentations to a range of audiences.
• Self-motivation and individual initiative to manage duties/projects, as well as the desire and ability to be a part of and work effectively within a team are essential to this position.
• Participation and attendance at local and regional events is required and will include some evening and weekend commitments.
• This role requires the ability and knowledge to be current on available job opportunities and hiring practices of federal, state, and local government employers and be able to communicate this knowledge to students and alumni as they apply for these highly competitive positions.
• Applicants must have experience with Microsoft Office products and be comfortable learning and working within content and career management systems.
• Experience as a practicing lawyer in a federal, state, county, or city agency or public interest non-profit is preferred.
• Experience with local, regional, and federal government hiring practices is preferred.
• Mentorship experience is a plus.
• Familiarity with ABA and National Association for Law Placement (NALP) guidelines is also preferred.
• All candidates must show a demonstrated commitment to diversity and the university’s mission, vision, and values.
• All positions at Seattle University require a criminal history background check.

Compensation at a Glance

• $78,000 - $85,000

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/

Work Arrangements

Positions designated as hybrid eligible may offer the opportunity for a hybrid work schedule after successful completion of an introductory period of 3-6 months. In these cases, the role typically begins fully on campus to support onboarding and training, with the potential to transition to a hybrid arrangement thereafter. Positions designated as on-site are not eligible for hybrid work and are expected to remain fully on campus. All flexible work arrangements are subject to periodic review and may be modified or discontinued at any time at the university’s discretion.

With a career at Seattle University, you're joining a community of passionate people dedicated to empowering the next generation of leaders and thinkers. Founded in 1891, Seattle University is a Jesuit Catholic university located on a beautiful campus of more than 50 acres in the dynamic heart of Seattle. Our diverse and driven population is made up of more than 7,200 students enrolled in undergraduate and graduate programs within six schools and colleges.

Seattle University is an equal opportunity employer.

In support of its pursuit of academic and scholarly excellence, Seattle University is committed to creating a diverse community of students, faculty and staff that is dedicated to the fundamental principles of equal opportunity and treatment in education and employment regardless of age, color, disability, gender identity, national origin, political ideology, race, religion, sex, sexual orientation, or veteran status.

The university encourages applications from, and nominations of, individuals who will further enrich the diversity of our educational community.

Our Mission - Seattle University is dedicated to educating the whole person, to professional formation, and to empowering leaders for a just and humane world.

Our Vision - We 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.

Our Values Care - We put the good of students first. Academic Excellence - We value excellence in learning with great teachers who are active scholars. Diversity - We celebrate educational excellence achieved through diversity. Faith - We treasure our Jesuit Catholic ethos and the enrichment from many faiths of our university community. Justice - We foster a concern for justice and the competence to promote it. Leadership - We seek to develop responsible leaders committed to the common good.