Details
Posted: 25-Mar-22
Location: Nashville, TN, United States,
Type: Full-time
Salary: Open
Internal Number: 10002079
The Associate Director and Government Advisor is part of the Career Services team in the Law School at Vanderbilt University and is a key individual contributor responsible for advising students on career opportunities with a particular focus on public sector employment. The position will report directly to the Assistant Dean, Career Services.
Vanderbilt Law School's Career Services excels in placing well-trained lawyers in public-and private-sector positions at law firms, government offices and organizations throughout the United States. Career Services focuses on working to achieve 100% employment for our students who are in high demand for their outstanding legal training, interpersonal and professional skills. Employers located throughout the United States and abroad advertise positions for experienced attorneys in a database of opportunities that is continuously cultivated, updated and managed by Career Services' staff. This dynamic and collaborative department provides avenues to support students as well as Vanderbilt Law School alumni (who receive indefinite/lifetime support from Career Services). Careers Services works closely with a variety of other stakeholders within the School, like the Office of Public Interest, to provide a range of educational experiences for law students as preparation for legal practice.
Duties and Responsibilities
General career advising
- Advises and counsels students concerning employment opportunities and careers.
- Encourages employers to recruit campus graduates.
- Conducts individual and group sessions to educate and inform students of services, policies, and procedures and to aid in resume preparation and interviewing techniques.
- Works with School stakeholders to support student career opportunities.
- Serves as liaison between employers and students and coordinates opportunities.
Government-focused advising and mentoring
- Provides advice and strategic support to students and graduates interested in opportunities or careers in the government sector (local, state or federal).
- Collaborates with Vanderbilt Law School's externship program faculty and staff to ensure high-quality externship experiences in the government sector.
Government employer outreach and engagement
- Develops strategic relationships with individuals and entities within the local, state, and federal government sectors, including but not limited to outreach to those that may provide students with internships or job opportunities.
- Identifies and cultivates externship opportunities for students in the government sector.
- Plans and coordinates employer presentations, including on-campus interviewing, career fairs and similar events on-campus and off.
- Develops and maintains expertise with respect to local, state, and Federal government hiring practices and trends, and helps source opportunities for internship, externship, and post-graduate opportunities through outreach and regular, extensive research, which may include attendance and participation in meetings and conferences.
Government-focused resources and programming
- Develops and implements government sector-focused educational and professional development offerings for students focused on the career skills, knowledge and competencies necessary to have thriving careers in government service.
- Creates and disseminates job search resources regarding government legal positions, including but not limited to policies and best practices guides, web-based guides and other written and digital resources and materials.
- Collaborates with administrators of Vanderbilt Law School's summer stipend program to bring government-sector expertise and perspectives to stipend management and awards.
- Works closely with partners in the law school, including the Public Interest Office, Law School faculty, the Office of Development and Alumni Relations and others to develop programming, resources, and networking opportunities for students interested in government work.
Qualifications
- Law degree or equivalent is required.
- Prior experience working as an attorney in the government sector, and/or counseling or mentoring law students regarding government careers is strongly preferred.
- Prior experience working in higher education or related field is preferred, including collaborative initiatives in personal development/coaching and creating educational programming.
- Superior research, oral and written communication skills (including public speaking), outstanding interpersonal and organization skills and computer literacy is required.
- Ability to design and manage own projects with minimal supervision, to be part of a collegial team, to work under pressure and to balance competing responsibilities is necessary.
- Availability for travel, evening and weekend work is required.
- Ability to work with diverse constituencies and support an inclusive work environment is required.
Commitment to Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion
At Vanderbilt University, we are intentional about and assume accountability for fostering advancement and respect for equity, diversity, and inclusion for all students, faculty, and staff. Our commitment to diversity makes us who we are. We have created a community that celebrates differences and lets individuality thrive. As part of this commitment, we actively value diversity in our workplace and learning environments as we seek to take advantage of the rich backgrounds and abilities of everyone. The diverse voices of Vanderbilt represent an invaluable resource for the University in its efforts to fulfill its mission and strive to be an example of excellence in higher education.
Vanderbilt University is an equal opportunity, affirmative action employer. Women, minorities, people with disabilities and protected veterans are encouraged to apply.
Please note, all candidates selected for an offer of employment are subject to pre-employment background checks, which may include but are not limited to, based on the role for which they have been selected: criminal history, education verification, social media review, motor vehicle records, credit history, and professional license verification.
