Assistant Dean, Director of​/Professional Development

Position: Assistant Dean, Director of Career Opportunities/Professional Development (4224)
Northern Illinois University College of Law invites applications for the position of Assistant Dean, Director of Career Opportunities & Professional Development, with a preferred start date of May 1 (flexible, but no later than July
1).

Northern Illinois University (NIU) is a comprehensive research university offering programs from the Baccalaureate through the Doctorate. Colleges include Business, Education, Engineering and Engineering Technology, Law, Liberal Arts and Sciences, Health and Human Sciences, and Visual and Performing Arts. On-campus enrollment is approximately 15,000 students. The university also offers more than 200 off-campus courses each semester to students in communities throughout northern Illinois.

The main campus is located in DeKalb, 65 miles west of Chicago's "Loop" and 40 miles southeast of Rockford with education centers in Rockford and Naperville. DeKalb/Sycamore, with a population of about 60,000, is a modern paradox, a rural/urban community. It is simultaneously recognized for its manufacturing and rich farmlands. The site of the first manufacturing of barbed wire and the development of hybrid seed corn are evidence of its diversified history.

The blend of industry and agriculture, coupled with the cultural and recreational facilities of the university and supplemented by easy access to Chicago and Rockford, provide an enjoyable environment in which to live.

Position Summary

The Assistant Dean, Director of Career Opportunities & Professional Development (COPD) ensures the College of Law's compliance with ABA accreditation standards, including ABA Standard 508, by overseeing the availability, quality, and effectiveness of career counseling and placement services provided to law students and alumni. The Assistant Dean & Director of COPD serves in a senior leadership role within the law school and reports to the Dean of the College of Law.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

Career Opportunities - 50%

The Director envisions, creates, and implements supportive and innovative strategies for career enhancement for College of Law students and alumni.

Strategic Leadership/Planning

* Develops and implements a strategic vision for career services in alignment with the College of Law's mission, priorities, and student outcomes, and regularly assesses programs for effectiveness and continuous improvement.

* Counsel students and alumni in career planning, job searches, resume preparation, interviewing skills, and networking in the diverse legal market;

* Coordinates training skills workshops, career forums, and alumni speaker programs;

* Manages the on-campus interview (OCI) and student recruiting programs;

* Develop direct relationships and contacts, and foster effective outreach programs and working relationships, with employers, alumni, faculty, staff, and other placement professionals;

* Continuously grow alumni and employer outreach programs and current job listings;

* Directly introduce students and alumni to employers, driving excellence in law school's student and graduate employment outcomes relative to peer and aspirational schools;

* Encourage ongoing positive communications and relationships between students, alumni, and the COPD;

* Plan and implement innovative marketing strategies to identify and solicit a diverse group of potential employers;

* Work closely with the College of Law's Office of Alumni Events and Public Relations to cultivate and enhance employer and alumni relationships;

External Representation

* Represents the College of Law at regional and national legal, employer, and professional development conferences and recruiting events.

* Regularly attend and help organize and facilitate alumni and employer networking functions;

* Represents NIU COL in the Chicago Area Law School Consortium and publicizes CALSC events and job fairs to students;

Outcomes Data / Internal Assessment

* Manage employment data collection and reporting to the ABA, NALP, and other oversight entities;

* Manage employment data collection and reporting to USNEWS;

* Analyzes employment and career outcomes data to inform strategic planning, programming decisions, and reporting to internal…