Assistant Director, Career Advancement
The University of Chicago

Department
ESA Deputy Director STEM Programs - Direct Reports

About the Department
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 focusing on pre-professional preparation, experiential education, and access to internship and full-time 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.

Job Summary
UChicago Career Advancement's programs build on the world-class UChicago liberal arts foundation to give students a competitive edge in their professional development and recruiting in a wide range of roles. The person in this role will utilize previous industry expertise to prepare students for professional success through employer outreach, one-on-one advising and coaching, planning and executing programs and workshops, and supporting program administration including reporting and analytics. This team member will develop and drive employer engagement to enhance industry career opportunities in life sciences, pharmaceuticals, biotechnology, and related STEM fields. They will support program management, including but not limited to employer development, event planning, tactical coordination, and student engagement. The position requires a passion for building new recruiting relationships, serving as a strategic thought partner, and representing the University with a commitment to excellence, customer service, and creative, problem-solving mindset. The ideal candidate will be an energetic, adaptable, solutions-oriented, and a talented individual contributor with a background in industry and a record of success in complex, fast-paced environments where collaboration is critical to success.

Responsibilities

• Serves as career adviser for a cohort of 1st - 4th year students in the undergraduate College with a focus on students studying the biological sciences. Engages in proactive communication and engagement to support career development and success in securing internships and full-time jobs.
• Uses industry and company knowledge to provide targeted, outcomes-driven guidance and support for biological sciences students pursuing careers in life sciences, pharmaceuticals, biotechnology, and related STEM industries. Identifies and sources job and internship opportunities that match student career interests.
• Leads identification of and conducts outreach to employers with a focus on public sector organizations to develop internship and full-time opportunities.
• Communicates frequently with students to share opportunities and help them stay on track for success. Proactively identifies opportunities to ensure students are prepared for and receive career development opportunities.
• Reaches out to employers and alumni to develop relationships and source opportunities for students ranging from job shadowing and site visits to internships, primarily for selective cohort programs.
• Creates and implements employer development plan in areas of opportunity; sets employer strategy of retention using data, feedback, research and analysis, and relationship management.
• Plans, designs and executes workshops and events, virtual or on-site, as relevant. Leverages virtual technology to provide innovative programs and fosters student engagement and satisfaction.
• Supports weekly communications by promoting workshops, events, and job opportunities.
• Supports drafting strategic communications for high level donors, University leadership, and employer partners.
• Manages and maintains efficient methods to track student data, quantify student engagement, and report on student outcomes. Tracks student progress in securing a job or internship using Salesforce.
• Provides support as necessary for data management and analytics, correspondence, and reporting to senior leadership and other constituents.
• Manages and administers Treks and Career Exploration Week visits to domestic and international business centers, virtual or on-site, as relevant. This includes, but is not limited to, connecting with firms and alumni, and developing the visit schedule and logistics.
• Conducts job search and career management related large lectures, hands-on workshops, special events, training programs, and one-on-one career coaching sessions. Acts as a resource for and directs students to other career resources as needed.
• 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 related work as needed.

Minimum Qualifications

Education:
Minimum requirements include a college or university degree in related field.

Work Experience:
Minimum requirements include knowledge and skills developed through 5-7 years of work experience in a related job discipline.

Certifications:

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Preferred Qualifications

Education:

• Academic degree(s) in a STEM field.

Experience:

• Professional experience working in pharmaceuticals, life sciences, healthcare, biotech, or related industries.
• Developing and managing an internship program.
• Background working with college-aged students and/or new recent college graduates.
• Background working across teams to drive outcomes quickly and efficiently.
• Expertise in program development, or a related area.

Technical Skills or Knowledge:

• Proficient in Microsoft Outlook, Word, Excel, and PowerPoint.
• Proficient with tools commonly used in innovation, such as data analysis tools and other industry-relevant technical skills.

Preferred Competencies

• Outcomes-driven and action-oriented attitude.
• Multitask, meet deadlines, and work successfully and positively in a fast-paced environment.
• Adaptable and able to shift priorities, as needed, to ensure student outcomes and manage leadership priorities.
• 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.
• 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.

Working Conditions

• Work evenings, occasional additional weeknight and weekend days.
• Travel two to three times per year.

Application Documents

• Resume/CV (required)
• Cover Letter/Statement of Interest (required)
• Professional References Contact Information (3)(required)

When applying, the document(s) MUST be uploaded via the My Experience page, in the section titled Application Documents of the application.

Job Family
Student Affairs & Services

Role Impact
Individual Contributor

Scheduled Weekly Hours
37.5

Drug Test Required
No

Health Screen Required
No

Motor Vehicle Record Inquiry Required
No

Pay Rate Type
Salary

FLSA Status
Exempt

Pay Range
$87,550.00 - $115,000.00
The included pay rate or range represents the University's good faith estimate of the possible compensation offer for this role at the time of posting.

Benefits Eligible
Yes
The University of Chicago offers a wide range of benefits programs and resources for eligible employees, including health, retirement, and paid time off. Information about the benefit offerings can be found in the Benefits Guidebook.

Posting Statement

The University of Chicago is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, or expression, national or ethnic origin, shared ancestry, age, status as an individual with a disability, military or veteran status, genetic information, or other protected classes under the law. For additional information please see the University's Notice of Nondiscrimination.

Job seekers in need of a reasonable accommodation to complete the application process should call 773-702-5800 or submit a request via Applicant Inquiry Form.

All offers of employment are contingent upon a background check that includes a review of conviction history. A conviction does not automatically preclude University employment. Rather, the University considers conviction information on a case-by-case basis and assesses the nature of the offense, the circumstances surrounding it, the proximity in time of the conviction, and its relevance to the position.

The University of Chicago's Annual Security & Fire Safety Report (Report) provides information about University offices and programs that provide safety support, crime and fire statistics, emergency response and communications plans, and other policies and information. The Report can be accessed online at: http://securityreport.uchicago.edu. Paper copies of the Report are available, upon request, from the University of Chicago Police Department, 850 E. 61st Street, Chicago, IL 60637.

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