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

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

Benefits offered by this job

Professional development opportunities

Comprehensive benefits package

Paid time for career-related activities

Job summary

The University of California, Berkeley is seeking an Associate Director for Private Sector Programs to guide J.D. students and alumni towards successful legal careers in the private sector. This role involves market research, career counseling, and developing networking opportunities.

The ideal candidate will have a J.D. degree, significant private sector experience, and a strong professional network. This full-time position includes a salary range of $93,000 - $110,000 and is eligible for UC benefits.

Qualifications

• Advanced knowledge of career decision-making and job search techniques.
• Highly effective problem identification and solving skills.
• Excellent knowledge of human behavior and learning.

Responsibilities

• Research and analyze the private sector legal job market.
• Develop programs and workshops for career development.
• Provide one-on-one career consulting services.

Skills

Career decision-making techniques

Problem identification and solving

Effective communication

Client-driven consulting

Diversity, equity, inclusion

Education

Advanced degree in Law (J.D.)

Minimum 4 years private sector legal practice experience

Job description

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. Since our founding in 1868, we have driven innovation, creating global intellectual, economic and social value. 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.

At UC Berkeley, we believe that learning is a fundamental part of working and provide space for supportive colleague communities via numerous employee resource groups. Our goal is for everyone on the Berkeley campus to feel supported and equipped to realize their full potential. We actively support this by providing all of our full‑time staff employees with at least 80 hours (10 days) of paid time per year to engage in professional development activities. Find out more about how you can grow your career at UC Berkeley.

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. They currently include 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. 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 position, the Associate Director, Private Sector Programs assists Berkeley Law’s 1,000 J.D. students and its 10,000+ alumni community, in particular those interested in pursuing private sector legal careers, in shaping and attaining their short‑ and long‑term career goals. The Associate Director is a well‑connected, knowledgeable expert on the legal job market and provides individually tailored, client‑driven career counseling as well as creates, plans, develops, and implements cutting‑edge programs, networking events, and other activities 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 the best available access to private‑sector networking and job opportunities.

Application Review Date

The first review date for this job is: June 24, 2026. For full consideration, please apply on or before the first review date.

Responsibilities

• Researches and analyzes the current state of the private sector legal services and legal job markets and forecasts emerging trends in those markets.
• Identifies existing and up‑and‑coming career and job options, assesses their short‑ and long‑term feasibility for alumni attorneys, and explores alternatives to traditional legal practice.
• Researches and periodically assesses the evolving career development needs of students interested in private sector work.
• Based on ongoing research, analysis, and trend‑spotting, designs, develops, and implements an array of workshops and programs, services, and resources—including online guides and webcasts—to meet career needs.
• Recommends and manages improvements, revisions, changes, and adjustments to existing services, programs, and resources and devises new ones.
• Provides one‑on‑one, client‑driven career consulting services to students interested in pursuing private sector careers.
• Assists students in self‑assessment.
• Provides general advice and specific job leads and networking contacts through the Law School’s professional network.
• Amplifies and promotes best practices in diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging when working with students.
• Develops and maintains the Law School’s professional network of potential employers, other career professionals and others in the legal field.
• Maintains and enhances own professional network and leverages it for students and alumni.
• Develops and oversees presentation and delivery of broad and complex career‑focused programs, workshops, and resources.
• Coordinates with Career Services administrative staff on specific administrative tasks (e.g., room reservations, technology, catering, drafting and posting event announcements).
• Determines and deploys the most innovative and effective media for delivering content—online, print, blogs, social networking posts, live webcasting.
• Liaises with other Law School departments and individuals to understand needs and design mutually beneficial programs, resources, and services.
• Participates in panel discussions, presentations, research and writing articles related to the private sector legal job market and the provision of private sector career services through local and national recruitment associations, the National Association for Law Placement, and other legal organizations.

Required Qualifications

• Advanced knowledge of career decision‑making and job search techniques.
• Knowledge of career services, employer, alumni and faculty needs and expectations, recruiting and staffing methods, and employment trends.
• Highly effective problem identification and solving skills, presentation skills, verbal and written communication and organization skills.
• Ability to work with people from diverse backgrounds and levels of experience.
• Detailed knowledge of the private sector legal employment market and 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 to identifying and pursuing new programs and innovative delivery methods.
• Highly developed knowledge of principles and processes for providing outstanding client and personal services, including client needs assessment, quality standards for service and client satisfaction evaluation.
• Excellent knowledge of human behavior, learning and motivation, and individual differences.
• Excellent computer skills and ability to adapt quickly to new software programs and online resources.
• Strong attention to detail.
• Demonstrated ability to collaborate and work effectively with individuals and groups from a wide range of backgrounds, experiences and perspectives.
• Demonstrated commitment to fostering an inclusive and supportive environment that promotes collaboration and mutual respect among all members of the UC Berkeley community and its stakeholders.
• Strong interpersonal skills, including engaging with and understanding 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 and program design and implementation.
• Knowledge of UC programs and/or ability to learn.

Education / Training

• Advanced degree in Law, such as a Juris Doctor (J.D.) and/or equivalent experience or training.
• Significant (minimum 4 years) private sector legal practice experience.

Salary & Benefits

For information on the comprehensive benefits package offered by the University, please visit the University of California's Compensation & Benefits website.

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 that are considered in making compensation decisions, including but not limited to experience, skills, knowledge, abilities, education, licensure and certifications, analysis of 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 that the University reasonably expects to pay for this position is $93,000 - $110,000.

• This is an exempt, monthly‑paid position.
• This is a full‑time (40 hours/week) career position eligible for UC benefits.

How To Apply

To apply, please submit your resume and cover letter.

Other Information

• This position is eligible for up to 1 day/week of remote work within the United States. Exact arrangements are determined in partnership with your supervisor to meet role responsibilities and department needs and are subject to change.
• This is not a visa opportunity. This position does not include sponsorship of a new consular H-1B visa petition that would require payment of the $100,000 supplemental fee.
• This position is covered by the collective bargaining agreement between UAW (United Auto Workers) and the University of California Regents for RP or SV.

Conviction History Background

This position requires fingerprinting and a background check due to the nature of the job responsibilities. Berkeley does hire people with conviction histories and reviews information received in the context of the job responsibilities. The University reserves the right to make employment contingent upon successful completion of the background check.

Misconduct

As a condition of employment, the final candidate who accepts a conditional offer of employment will be required to disclose any final administrative or judicial decisions within the last seven years determining that they committed any misconduct; any notice of allegations or ongoing disciplinary proceedings involving misconduct; or any appeal of a finding of misconduct with a previous employer.

“Misconduct” means any violation of the policies or laws governing conduct at the applicant’s previous place of employment, including but not limited to violations of policies or laws prohibiting sexual harassment, sexual assault or other forms of harassment, discrimination, dishonesty or unethical conduct, as defined by the employer. UC policies address some forms of misconduct, such as the UC Sexual Violence and Sexual Harassment Policy, the UC Anti‑Discrimination Policy and Abusive Conduct in the Workplace.

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.