The Placement Exchange Job Board

Job Summary

The Assistant Dean for Career Services is responsible for the direction and oversight of the Office of Career Services (OCS), one of two career offices at Harvard Law School. OCS focuses on private sector careers and judicial clerkships and provides a wide range of counseling, informational and educational services and programs to nearly 2,000 J.D. and LL.M. law students, as well as providing career advising services to alumni seeking work in the private sector. OCS administers one of the nation's largest private law recruitment programs early each summer, as well as several smaller recruitment programs throughout the year, and assists students and alumni seeking judicial clerkships.

In close partnership with the Bernard Koteen Office of Public Interest Advising (OPIA), OCS offers holistic career guidance to students about the wide range of early and long-term career options available to Harvard Law students. The Assistant Dean for Career Services will collaborate closely with the Assistant Dean in OPIA to create professional and skills development programs, career planning content and web and print messaging to help students think critically about not only their first job after law school, but also about their longer career trajectories and goals.

Position Description

As Assistant Dean for Career Services you will:

• Provide effective staff management, including hiring and orientation, training and development, workflow and performance management, and the promotion of a positive, inclusive, and innovative work environment

• Develop long-term strategic plans in alignment with Harvard Law School's goals and objectives

• Monitor and anticipate employment trends for internal and external reporting, including annual reporting to the American Bar Association on graduate employment information

• Cultivate and maintain effective relationships with law firm recruitment staff and hiring partners from throughout the country

• Collaborate with other departments at the law school, in particular the other five offices in the student services team (Admissions, Financial Aid, Dean of Students, Community Engagement, Equity, and Belonging, and OPIA), and with the Graduate Program Office (LL.M. and S.J.D. students)

• Ensure compliance with University and HLS policies and procedures and applicable legal rules and regulations

Basic Qualifications

J.D. with a combination of 7 years of legal practice or other similarly relevant experience.

Additional Qualifications and Skills

We are looking for people with:

• Experience in legal or other professional services placement, counseling, and/or recruiting experience in higher education

• Record of leadership and managerial accomplishments along with a demonstrated capacity for effective collaboration and communication with both students or junior employees and faculty/administrators/firm partners

• Effective verbal and written communication; strong organizational skills

• Experience in project management, and information technology, including cloud-based recruitment systems

• Knowledge of the national, private sector employment markets

Working Conditions

This position is based primarily on campus with the opportunity for remote work based on business needs and manager approval.  

Additional Information

We regret that Harvard Law School is unable to provide visa sponsorship for staff positions.

All offers to be made by HLS Human Resources.

Be a part of excellence and leadership in legal education and scholarship at Harvard Law School. We are a community of talented people from diverse backgrounds, lived experiences, and perspectives, dedicated to advancing the cause of justice all over the world. We value our differences and our diversity as a source of strength. We are committed to developing and inspiring our students and our workforce. Whoever you are, whatever you do, however you do it, Harvard Law School is a place where you can thrive.

Salary Grade: 061

Union: 00 - Non Union, Exempt or Temporary

Commitment to Equity, Diversity, Inclusion, and Belonging
Harvard University views equity, diversity, inclusion, and belonging as the pathway to achieving inclusive excellence and fostering a campus culture where everyone can thrive. We strive to create a community that draws upon the widest possible pool of talent to unify excellence and diversity while fully embracing individuals from varied backgrounds, cultures, races, identities, life experiences, perspectives, beliefs, and values.

EEO Statement
We are an equal opportunity employer and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status, gender identity, sexual orientation, pregnancy and pregnancy-related conditions, or any other characteristic protected by law.

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