Assistant Director, Acad & Career Advisor

Department: Law MSL Program
Salary/Grade: EXS/7

Target hiring range for this position will be between $63,080- $80,000 per year. Offered salary will be determined by the applicant's education, experience, knowledge, skills and abilities, as well as internal equity and alignment with market data.

Job Summary:

The Master of Science in Law (MSL) is an exciting, innovative, new master's degree offering at Northwestern Pritzker School of Law that provides STEM professionals with an understanding of the legal, regulatory, business, and policy implications of their work. The MSL program currently enrolls approximately 200 total students per year across both an online and residential format. Our student body is highly diverse, with students of different ages, work experience, backgrounds, race and ethnicity, and career goals.

We are looking for an Assistant Director who will perform a wide range of complex advising, administrative, and managerial duties to support the ongoing success of this evolving interdisciplinary master's degree program. Reporting to the Director of Academic Advising and Resources, the Assistant Director is responsible for daily management of the operations of student services, advising, student communication and outreach, and programming and events. This position requires the ability to work both independently and collaboratively as part of an engaged team.

We invite you to consider joining the MSL team - a collaborative, fun, and hard-working group, we enjoy the opportunity to help develop the MSL program in its formative years, and we have a great time working with our incredible student body.

Specific Responsibilities:

Advising/counseling

• Provides customer service oriented, student centered guidance and counsel based on individual circumstances, preferences, etc. and in compliance with all associated policies, rules and regulations.
• Researches, develops and implements practices and activities that enhance student centered guidance and counsel.
• Using independent judgment, assesses individual situations and circumstances to develop advice and approaches that correspond with student needs.
• Leverages available resources to create and implement systems that respond to the needs of the MSL student body, including both residential and online students.
• Guides student curricular choice through individual and group advising sessions and related written resources.
• Conducts ongoing degree checks and monitors student progress through the program, ensuring that students are on track to meet all graduation requirements.
• Reviews research and data to develop expertise on outcomes of MSL graduates and uses that information to help guide MSL students through their professional development efforts.
• Through programming and individual advising, guides students through all aspects of the professional development cycle, including work with resumes, cover letters, social media profiles, brand development, job applications, interviewing, and negotiating terms.
• Works with the Law School's Registrar to resolve registration and enrollment issues and ensure that all students are properly managed within the University's systems.
• Collects data and works with the Director of Academic Advising & Resources to manage student requests throughout the year, including petitions for overloads, underloads, and class applications.
• Manages and responds to student inquiries and issues, coordinating other team members or departments as appropriate.
• Consults with Law School and University departments - including student affairs,
• academic departments, student organizations, and administrative offices - to exchange information regarding academic and career opportunities.

Administration/Communications/Outreach

• Manages & implements strategic plans.
• Recommends changes & improvements to functional operations to better meet organizational needs & objectives.
• Responsible for a variety of academic and career communications between the MSL program administration and the MSL students.
• Creates, updates, and monitors the MSL Program Canvas site, which is the primary focus of interaction between students and program administration.
• Crafts and disseminates regular emails to share important information and remind students of upcoming deadlines.
• Prepares and distributes MSL This Week, a weekly newsletter for students.
• Engages with students who have deposited for the program, helping to onboard them and preparing them for program orientation.
• Represents the MSL program with internal and external constituencies and at recruitment events.
• Completes administrative activities such as assessment, operations planning, data management, and reporting.
• Researches best practices and peer institutions and market/economic conditions and recommends changes and enhancements to improve administrative effectiveness, services and/or resources.

Programs/Events

• Manages planning and arrangement of programs - meetings, workshops, trainings, events, etc. designed to provide information, promote resources and to build internal and external relationships.
• Manages event details including communication, venues, presenters, travel arrangements, materials, refreshments and technology ensuring that all are arranged and completed in an appropriate and timely manner.
• Researches peer, competitor, and state-of-the art developments to enhance, improve, and innovate program topics and delivery to better meet goals & objectives.
• Helps plan and execute information sessions and admitted student days.
• Works with the MSL team to develop and execute a comprehensive set of curricular, academic, and career programming, including speakers, panels, workshops, and other events.
• Plays a key role in planning and executing annual student events, including new student onboarding, orientation, graduation, and professional development events, including Industry Associates Nights.

Evaluation/Assessment

• Manages development and maintenance of evaluation processes including associated metrics and key performance indicators.
• Reviews & analyzes outcome measurements and recommends changes & enhancements to improve program.
• Develops metrics that will allow the MSL program to meet its goals and
• continuously assess the program's outcomes and direction.
• Collects and manages feedback from students, staff, and faculty about classes, services, and programming.
• Conducts research into best practices and analyzes similar programs to ensure that the MSL program remains on the cutting edge and competitive in the market.

Technology

• Oversees MSL program involvement and interaction with the University's Caesar and Canvas systems.
• Reviews existing use of technology and recommends changes to incorporate state-of-the-art systems and tools as appropriate into all aspects of the advising and
• counseling program.

Compliance:

• Coordinates development and implementation of processes to ensure compliance with all relevant procedures, policies, laws, rules, and regulations.

Miscellaneous

Performs other duties as assigned.

Minimum Qualifications:

• Successful completion of a full 4-year course of study in an accredited college or university leading to a bachelor's or higher degree; OR appropriate combination of education and experience and 3 years' career counseling/advising in higher education or 3 years' of industry experience; or other relevant experience required; OR

• Successful completion of a full course of study in an accredited college or university leading to a master's or JD or higher degree; OR appropriate combination of education and experience and 2 years' career counseling/advising in higher education or 2 years' of industry experience; or other relevant experience required.

Preferred Competencies: (Skills, knowledge, and abilities)

• PeopleSoft Campus Solutions (SES) or similar

Benefits:

At Northwestern, we are proud to provide meaningful and competitive benefits. The available benefits package for this position will include health, dental, vision, disability, and life insurance; paid vacation and holidays; paid medical/sick and parental leave; tuition benefits for the employee and dependents; pre-tax and flex spending accounts for commuting and dependent care; generous retirement savings options; and wellness programs. For a comprehensive overview of available benefits, including eligibility details, visit us at https://www.northwestern.edu/hr/benefits/index.html to learn more.

Work-Life and Wellness:
Northwestern offers comprehensive programs and services to help you and your family navigate life's challenges and opportunities, and adopt and maintain healthy lifestyles.
We support flexible work arrangements where possible and programs to help you locate and pay for quality, affordable childcare and senior/adult care. Visit us at https://www.northwestern.edu/hr/benefits/work-life/index.html to learn more.

Professional Growth & Development:
Northwestern supports employee career development in all circumstances whether your workspace is on campus or at home. If you're interested in developing your professional potential or continuing your formal education, we offer a variety of tools and resources. Visit us at https://www.northwestern.edu/hr/learning/index.html to learn more.

Northwestern University is an Equal Opportunity Employer and does not discriminate on the basis of protected characteristics, including disability and veteran status. View Northwestern's non-discrimination statement. Job applicants who wish to request an accommodation in the application or hiring process should contact the Office of Civil Rights and Title IX Compliance. View additional information on the accommodations process.