Associate Director, Private Sector Programs (4983C), Berkeley Law - #86705

University of California, Berkeley; Berkeley (CA); On-site; USD 93,000 - 110,000; Full time

Job summary

The University of California, Berkeley is hiring an Associate Director for Private Sector Programs at Berkeley Law. This role focuses on providing career counseling to J.D. students and alumni, guiding them in their private sector legal careers. The Associate Director will create and manage innovative career programs and networking opportunities while collaborating with various departments across the law school.

Applicants should possess an advanced law degree and significant experience in private sector legal practice, alongside strong interpersonal and organizational skills. A diverse and inclusive approach to career services is essential.

Qualifications

• Advanced knowledge of career services and employment trends.
• Ability to work with diverse backgrounds.
• Strong computer skills and adaptability to new software.

Responsibilities

• Research and analyze the private sector legal services market.
• Provide one-on-one career consulting services to students.
• Develop, plan, and implement career-focused programs and events.

Skills

Career decision-making and job search techniques

Presentation skills

Organizational skills

Interpersonal skills

Attention to detail

Education

Advanced degree in law (Juris Doctor)

Job description

Associate Director, Private Sector Programs (4983C), Berkeley Law - 86705

About Berkeley: At the University of California, Berkeley, we are dedicated to fostering a community where everyone feels welcome and can thrive. Our culture of openness, freedom, and belonging makes it a special place for students, faculty, and staff. As a world‑leading institution, Berkeley is known for its academic and research excellence, public mission, diverse student body, and commitment to equity and social justice. We are looking for applicants who reflect California’s diversity and want to be part of an inclusive, equity‑focused community that views education as a matter of social justice. Please consider whether your values align with our Guiding Values and Principles, Principles of Community, and Strategic Plan.

Departmental Overview

The Career Development Office (CDO) is staffed by eight attorney‑counselors, each of whom has practiced law and can offer real‑world insights into various career paths. The team includes former direct services attorneys, a former immigration attorney, former associates from large law firms, a former federal judicial law clerk, and a former boutique firm practitioner. Of the eight attorney‑counselors, three specialize in public interest and government careers. The CDO helps students explore a variety of legal career options—both traditional and non‑traditional—and determine how to pursue them.

Position Summary

In this role, the Associate Director, Private Sector Programs assists Berkeley Law’s 1,000 J.D. students and the members of its 10,000+ alumni community, especially those interested in pursuing private sector legal careers, in shaping and attaining their short‑ and long‑term career goals. As a well‑connected, knowledgeable expert on the legal job market, the Associate Director provides individually tailored, client‑driven career counseling and develops, plans, and implements cutting‑edge programs, networking events, services, and resources that address a full array of traditional and non‑traditional private sector practice areas and settings. The Associate Director also maintains the CDO’s current employer relationships and engages in employer outreach to cultivate new relationships, ensuring students have access to private sector networking and job opportunities as soon as they present themselves.

Responsibilities

• Research, analyze, and forecast the current state of the private sector legal services and legal job markets.
• Identify existing and emerging career and job options, assessing their short‑ and long‑term feasibility for alumni attorneys and exploring alternatives to traditional legal practice.
• Periodically assess the evolving career development needs of students interested in private sector work.
• Design, develop, and implement workshops and programs, services, and resources (including online guides and webcasts) based on research and trend‑spotting.
• Recommend and manage improvements to existing services, programs, and resources, and devise, develop, and implement new offerings.
• Provide one‑on‑one, client‑driven career consulting services to students.
• Assist students in conducting self‑assessments.
• Offer general advice, job leads, and networking contacts derived from a continually expanded professional network.
• Promote best practices in diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging in all interactions with students.
• Develop and maintain the law school’s professional network of potential employers and legal career professionals.
• Maintain and leverage own professional network on behalf of students and alumni.
• Develop and oversee the presentation and delivery of broad, complex career‑focused programs and events.
• Coordinate with Career Services administrative staff for event support (room reservations, technology, catering, announcements).
• Determine the most innovative and effective media for content delivery (online, print, blogs, social media, live webcasting).
• Liaise with other law school departments to understand needs and develop mutually beneficial programs.
• Participate in panel discussions, presentations, and research articles on the private sector legal job market and private sector career services, partnering with organizations such as the Bay Area Legal Recruiters Association, National Association for Law Placement, American Association of Law Schools, and the American Bar Association.

Required Qualifications

• Advanced knowledge of career decision‑making and job search techniques.
• Knowledge of career services, employer, alumni, and faculty needs, recruiting methods, and employment trends.
• Strong problem‑identification, presentation, verbal, written, and organizational skills.
• Ability to work with people from diverse backgrounds and varying levels of experience.
• Detailed knowledge of the private sector legal employment market; general knowledge of public sector and public‑interest job markets.
• Extensive professional network of practicing attorneys and potential employers.
• Creative, entrepreneurial, forward‑looking, and energetic approach that identifies and pursues innovative programs and delivery methods.
• Highly developed knowledge of client‑service principles and processes, including needs assessment, quality standards, and client satisfaction evaluation.
• Excellent knowledge of human behavior, performance, individual differences, learning, and motivation.
• Strong computer skills and ability to adapt quickly to new software programs and online resources.
• Strong attention to detail.
• Collaboration skills with individuals and groups from varied backgrounds.
• Commitment to fostering an inclusive, supportive environment that promotes collaboration and mutual respect.
• Strong interpersonal skills, including the ability to engage with and understand individuals from varied academic, socioeconomic, cultural, disability, gender, and ethnic backgrounds.

Preferred Qualifications

• Advanced knowledge of career development theories.
• Knowledge of needs assessment theory, processes, and workshop/program design and implementation.
• Knowledge of UC programs and/or willingness to learn.

Education / Training

• Advanced degree in law, such as a Juris Doctor (J.D.), and/or equivalent experience or training.
• Significant (four years minimum) private sector legal practice experience.

Salary & Benefits

Under California law, the University of California, Berkeley is required to provide a reasonable estimate of the compensation range for this role and should not offer a salary outside of the range posted in this job announcement. This range takes into account the wide range of factors considered in making compensation decisions, including experience, skills, knowledge, abilities, education, licensure and certifications, internal equity, and other business and organizational needs. It is not typical for an individual to be offered a salary at or near the top of the range for a position. Salary offers are determined based on final candidate qualifications and experience.

• The budgeted annual salary range is $93,000 - $110,000.
• This is an exempt, monthly‑paid position.
• This is a full‑time (40 hours per week) career position eligible for UC benefits.

Equal Employment Opportunity

The University of California is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, age, protected veteran status, or other protected status under state or federal law.