Senior Director, Career Services

Loyola University Chicago; Chicago (IL); On-site; USD 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Comprehensive benefits package

Competitive salary

Job summary

A prestigious university located in Chicago is looking for a Sr. Director of the Career Services Office. The successful candidate will develop strategies to maximize employment outcomes and oversee career advising for law students. Candidates should hold a Juris Doctor and have significant experience in legal career services. Strong computer proficiency and communication skills are essential. The position offers a competitive salary and benefits.

Qualifications

• 9+ years related experience and/or training.
• 5 – 7 years of experience delivering legal career services in an academic environment.
• Strong computer proficiency.

Responsibilities

• Develop and implement annual goals for maximizing employment outcomes.
• Deliver a robust career advising program for law students.
• Oversee outreach to legal employers and maintain relationships.

Skills

Collaboration skills

Communication skills

Education

Master’s degree (M.A.) or equivalent

Juris Doctor from an ABA approved law school

Tools

Microsoft Word

Microsoft Excel

Microsoft PowerPoint

Job description

Career Services Office Overview

Loyola University Chicago School of Law is a student-focused law center inspired by the Jesuit tradition of academic excellence, intellectual openness, and service to others.

Our Mission:

• to educate students to be responsible and compassionate lawyers, judges, and law-related leaders in an increasingly diverse and interdependent world;
• to prepare graduates who will be ethical advocates for justice and equity, who will lead efforts to dismantle the legal, economic, political, and social structures that generate and sustain racism and all forms of oppression, and who will advance a rule of law that promotes social justice; and
• to contribute to a deeper understanding of law, legal institutions, and systems of oppression through a commitment to transformation, intersectionality, and anti-subordination in our teaching, research, scholarship, and public service.

The Office of Career Services at Loyola University Chicago School of Law (“CSO”) works in close partnership with the Law School Dean’s Office to develop and implement comprehensive career services strategies, shared goals, and priorities focused on maximizing career placement outcomes. The office builds relationships to strengthen employment networks and opportunities for students and alumni, and is dedicated to providing law students and alumni with the tools and resources necessary to engage in effective job search strategies.

The CSO mission is to maximize full‑time post‑graduate placement for each student, made in line with LUC Law’s Mission. Post‑graduate employment is the CSO’s number one obligation to students, and placement success is data‑driven and is advanced through foundational student services including career advising, programming and a commitment to community excellence; and consistent constituent partnerships with prospective employers, faculty and alumni.

Position Overview

In close partnership with Law School leadership and in alignment with the School of Law Strategic plan and ABA standards, the Sr. Director develops a strategic vision for the CSO, including the development and implementation of data collection and reporting strategies that maximize student placement. The Sr. Director oversees office operations and day‑to‑day supervision of the CSO staff, and serves as the public face of the office within the law school and in the greater legal community at Loyola University Chicago Water Tower Campus.

The Sr. Director interacts with legal employers in the public and private sectors, and a range of university and law school stakeholders (students, faculty, staff, administrators, and alumni). They serve as an expert on the legal market in the Chicago metro and national legal market, ensure that students receive all necessary career advising services, attend professional association and employer outreach meetings, meet with alumni for potential employment and/or mentoring opportunities, meet with senior administrators, and convene regular office staff meetings.

Specific Job Duties

• Develop and implement annual goals and strategies for maximizing employment outcomes on diversified employment pipelines, track recent graduate employment outcomes, and partner with the Law School Office of Accreditation and Strategic Initiatives to report data to internal and external constituents, including the American Bar Association, U.S. News, and NALP.
• Develop and deliver a robust career advising program aimed at maximizing career outcomes for all law students. This includes:
  • Developing and delivering career programs to maximize career placement outcomes for all law students (JD, LLM, and MJ).
  • Educating students about the numerous ways to use a JD, LLM or MJ degree and assessing student interests, aptitudes and career goals to help them develop a career strategy.
  • Supporting Loyola alumni seeking to enhance or change careers.
  • Reviewing applications materials for JD, LLM, and MJ students and alumni, supporting interview preparation, teaching networking skills, and coaching students with job offer and salary negotiations.
  • Ensuring inquiries to the office, from alumni, faculty, students, and employers, receive timely responses.
  • Partnering with departments throughout Loyola University to deliver programming to students.
• Oversee outreach to employers including law firms, corporations, public interest organizations, government agencies, and the judiciary; maintain external presence, serve as representative of the School of Law in the Chicago legal community, and serve as a liaison to the IL bench and bar.
• Oversee Loyola’s interview programs, including OCI (formerly the On‑Campus Interview Program) and Patent Law.
• Work with the Associate Dean for Administration and Law School Business Manager on budget requests and any associated purchases and service agreements, ensuring compliance with university and school financial and contract policies and procedures.
• Other duties as assigned.

Minimum Education and Work Experience

• Master’s degree (M.A.) or equivalent; or at least 9+ years related experience and/or training.

Qualifications

• Juris Doctor from an ABA approved law school, good standing with the profession.
• 5 – 7 years of experience delivering legal career services in an academic environment, or equivalent.
• Strong collaboration and communication skills.

Computer Skills

Strong computer proficiency, specifically with Microsoft Word, Excel and PowerPoint, and general familiarity with databases.

Benefits

Loyola University Chicago strives to be an employer of choice by offering its staff and faculty a wide array of affordable, comprehensive, and competitive benefits.

EEO Statement

Loyola adheres to all applicable federal, state, and/or local civil rights laws and regulations prohibiting discrimination in private institutions of higher education. Please see the University’s Nondiscrimination Policy.