Assistant Director, Careers in Policy, Government, and Nonprofits

ESA Deputy Director - Direct Reports 2 Career Advancement serves a student population of approximately 7,000 arts and sciences undergraduate students, in addition to alumni who have graduated within the last five years. Career Advancement plays a vital role in ensuring our students’ success after graduation. Career Advancement offers innovative and comprehensive career development services with a focus on pre-professional preparation, experiential education, and opportunities. Through career advising, programs, and comprehensive resources, Career Advancement supports undergraduate students and alumni as they develop the skills necessary to manage their career development, while working with alumni and employers to provide students with meaningful opportunities. For more information, please visit the Career Advancement website at careeradvancement.uchicago.edu. UChicago Career Advancement’s Careers in Policy, Government and Nonprofits program helps undergraduate students secure rewarding careers in government, nonprofits, sustainability, human rights, global health, foundations, and social service. The Assistant Director will support the team by advising students, managing employer relationships, and helping lead career cohort programs.

The Assistant Director will focus on the social sciences including behavioral sciences, psychology, sociology and comparative human development student advising. They will administer engaging events, create experiential education opportunities, lead employer treks, and may manage a small portfolio of employer relationships in the social sciences. The team member will also help support broader team goals, including team marketing and communication.

The Assistant Director will also have responsibility for supporting students more broadly through generalist career advising and relationship management for key graduate and professional school partners in the social sciences. This will include developing presentations and marketing materials to help students explore social science careers. This multifaceted role requires an interest and passion in supporting students through employer, stakeholder, and program management. The ideal candidate will be an energetic and engaged individual contributor with an interest in helping students develop their career paths in a complex, fast-paced environment.

• Provides one-on-one advising for undergraduate students, with a specific focus on students interested in the social sciences.
• Leads career lectures, hands-on workshops, special events, and training programs.
• Develops career-oriented guides for industry-specific knowledge including recruiting guides, web content, presentations, and other content.
• Manages offsite career treks to visit employers. This includes partnering with employers and alumni to plan and organize trek itineraries.
• Oversees team communication channels, including newsletters, presentations, and web content.
• Analyzes markets and trends as they relate to job searches in the social sciences, social service, and foundations and philanthropy.
• Supports Career Advancement in developing and maintaining relationships with campus partners and Registered Student Organizations, in particular institutional partners in the social sciences.
• Maintains efficient methods of tracking student data, quantifying student engagement, and reporting on student outcomes.
• Analyzes markets and trends as they relate to job searches. Assesses student feedback and evaluations and collaborates with other career services staff members, student organizations, or other staff to determine program offerings and innovations.
• Researches organizations that are hiring and partners with a wide variety of employers to ensure recruitment strategies meet their needs. Maintains contact with a portfolio of employers to serve as their dedicated Career Advancement liaison.
• Performs other tasks as needed.

Minimum requirements include a college or university degree in related field. Minimum requirements include knowledge and skills developed through 5-7 years of work experience in a related job discipline.

• Bachelor’s degree.

• Professional experience working in a business setting.
• Background working across teams to drive outcomes quickly and efficiently.

• Intermediate skills in Microsoft Excel and PowerPoint.
• Utilize Zoom, Microsoft Teams, or other digital platform for meetings and events.

• Outcomes-driven and action-oriented attitude.
• Multitask, meet deadlines, and work successfully and positively in a fast-paced environment.
• Self-starter who works proactively to solve complex problems.
• Deep commitment to customer service, strong interpersonal skills and a high level of professionalism when interacting with internal and external clients.
• Demonstrated success in maintaining collaborative relationships with diverse constituencies.
• Strong coaching or counseling skills.
• Excellent verbal and written communications skills; strong interpersonal, quantitative, and networking skills.
• Develop and deliver presentations; communicate to large groups as well as one-on-one with students, senior management, faculty, and alumni.
• Develop strong relationships with a wide variety of constituents, including employers and external partners like alumni and parents, students, faculty, staff, and senior leadership.
• Problem-solving and reasoning, critical thinking and decision-making skills.
• Exemplary organizational skills and attention to detail.
• Handle sensitive matters with tact and discretion and maintain confidentiality.

• Work evening hours and weekends on an occasional basis, generally 1-2 days per month.
• Travel, generally two or three times per year.

• Resume/CV (required)
• Cover Letter/Statement of Interest (required)
• Three Professional References (required)

Student Affairs & Services Individual Contributor 37.5 No No No Salary Exempt $87,550.00 - $113,300.00 Yes