Director Career Development

Position Number: 998958
Unit/Department: Career Development Services (Drake Law School)
FTE: Full-time
About Drake University School of Law Drake Law School combines a rich history with the latest technology and an innovative curriculum, including the nation's only First-Year Trial Practicum. As the only law school in the capital city of Des Moines, Drake Law School provides a unique educational and practical learning experience through modern facilities, a top-ranked legal clinic, and an exceptional relationship with the bench and bar.


Drake Law School was founded in Des Moines in 1865, which makes it one of the 25 oldest law schools in the country. The Law School was established by Iowa Supreme Court justices George Wright and Chester Cole, who aimed to teach law in proximity to the courts so students could witness the law in action.


From the very beginning, Drake Law School focused on real and practical experience. Today we continue to build on that tradition and provide opportunities for service, leadership, and the pursuit of rewarding careers.
About the Career Development Office Drake Law School's Career Development Office is committed to providing first-rate, proactive assistance to all students and alumni throughout school and beyond. Providing support for both the traditional and alternative legal employment markets—whether local or national—the Career Development Office (CDO) offers individual attention and direction while empowering students and alumni to have control over their job search and professional development.


CDO services include:

Individual counseling and career planning Resources on resumes and cover letters, interviewing strategies, conducting a job search, introduction to law firm life, and more On-campus interviews Mock interview program Formal and informal mentor programs Structured networking events Expansive alumni network Job database with hundreds of job postings Many live and online education programs, focused on careers and professional development Job Summary: The Director supports law students and alumni throughout the job search process to include, skill acquisition, experiential opportunities, search strategies, and facilitating employer engagement. Support may include one-on-one counseling, small group workshops and large group presentations.
The Director will demonstrate understanding of and commitment to the principles of diversity, equity, and inclusion; and a strong knowledge of National Association for Law Placement (NALP) standards for professional ethical practice in career services and recruiting.


The Director will have the proven ability to lead large-scale events, manage multiple responsibilities and engage with a variety of internal and external stakeholders including students, alumni, staff, faculty, and employers. The Director will be a team-player with the demonstrated ability to assist with the development, creation, and execution of intentional, high impact career experiences within the Law School.


The Director reports to the Assistant Dean of Career Development and may supervise student and/or administrative staff.
The anticipated start date for this position is July 8, 2024.
Minimum Qualifications: J.D. or a master's degree in a relevant field Broad understanding of career counseling techniques with specific knowledge of market trends and job search strategies Superior organizational, communication, and relationship management skills Excellent problem-solving and analytical skills Demonstrable understanding of and proficiency with current career center technology, assessment, and related software Preferred Qualifications: Active law license Knowledge of job search, career/employment services, recruiting, and interviewing principles and practices Comfortable balancing multiple large-scale events and projects Strong judgment, decision-making capabilities, and problem-solving skills. Creative and innovative mindset for pursuing an effective strategy to serve an ever-evolving student and employer population Excellent oral and written presentation skills and ability to take on teaching professional development courses as determined necessary Experience with Symplicity or similar CSM programs Candidate should be able to work independently with technology and be proficient in the use of Microsoft Office programs including Teams, Outlook, Word, Excel, PowerPoint as well as Zoom and other communication tools Job Duties: 30% - Meets with students and alumni on an individual basis to provide career counseling, planning, and job search assistance, including help in making informed self-assessments, drafting resumes and cover letters, developing and perfecting job-seeking strategies, and practicing and honing interviewing skills and techniques as well as job negotiation skills; communicate with students regularly in regard to their plans, the status of their job searches, and opportunities, conferences, or events of interest to them. May include individual counseling, group activities, or providing information via email or other electronic means. - (Essential)
20% - Assists the CDO staff in developing and actively promoting a series of career development seminars, events, and programs to help students and alumni in understanding, preparing for, and effectively pursuing career options. - (Essential)
10% - Assists with coordinating experiential and internship opportunities and classes. - (Essential)
5% - Cultivates relationships with government/public service employers, coordinates public service career fair and summer stipends, federal work study employer partners, and student educational programs focused within these areas. - (Essential)
5% - Serves as the primary advisor for students seeking positions for which a JD is an advantage, but not required. Creates programming around JD advantage jobs, engages alumni and employer partners in this area and provides counseling and education for law students. May also develop additional specialties such as sector or practice area expertise. - (Essential)
5% - Attends alumni and other law school functions to represent the law school and help form and sustain relationships with present and future alumni; attends professional meetings and functions to develop and maintain relationships with employers, alumni, and potential program and panel participants. - (Essential)
5% - Administers the Alumni Mentoring Program, through which the CDO collaborates with employer partners to connect with our students on job search strategy, interviewing, networking, and other skills critical to securing long-term meaningful employment. - (Essential)
5% - Creates, develops, maintains, and updates substantive career development materials for use by students in learning about and effectively pursuing the variety of career options available; suggests and develops content and design for career web page and social media. - (Essential)
5% - Acts as primary liaison between the CDO and law student organizations, developing partnerships for the delivery of career-related programming. - (Essential)
5% - Assists with the gathering of student information for reports submitted to the American Bar Association, National Association of Law Placement, U. S. News & World Report and other surveys in which the Law School participates. - (Essential)
5% - Serves as liaison to university and law school committees as appointed/requested, and to faculty and administration. Performs other duties, as assigned. - (Essential)
Salary & Benefits The salary will be competitive with peer schools. We anticipate the starting salary of $70,000. The final offered salary will be commensurate with the qualifications and experiences of the selected candidate.
At Drake, we are proud to offer our employees, their spouses, and eligible dependents a comprehensive benefits package, which includes a wide range of core benefits, perks, and discounts.
Tuition Benefits .
S pecial Instructions to Applicants: Applicants will be asked to complete the online application through Drake's job board and provide: a resume/cv, a cover, and contact information for three references.



Have Questions?


Question about the application process, working at Drake, spouse/partner support, reasonable accommodations, benefits, or additional information about Drake or Des Moines, Iowa may be directed to Drake Human Resources. You can best reach us at .


All job offers are contingent upon satisfactory completion of a background check, satisfactory reference checks, and proof of work authorization.
Review of Applications Begins: A review of applications will begin immediately. The position will remain posted until filled.
For faculty positions, selection will depend on the receipt of recommendation confirming the candidate's scholarly achievements and teaching abilities and/or on the candidate's satisfactory passing of a teaching demonstration if selected for an on-campus interview. For staff positions, selection will depend upon careful review of each applicant's references, education, and, if applicable, experience.
About Drake: Drake University is recognized as a top private university in the Midwest. Drake is a midsize university in Des Moines, Iowa, with an increasingly diverse student body. We are deeply committed to equity and inclusion and creating a sense of belonging for all members of the campus community—faculty, staff, and students alike. More than 900 faculty and staff are part of the Bulldog pack, a close-knit group of colleagues enthusiastic about preparing students to be global citizens and leaders, challenging assumptions. Drake University is not only an outstanding institution of higher learning, it is also a wonderful place to work. We are enthusiastically committed to welcoming new ideas and people into the fold, and to retaining and rewarding stellar employees.
All positions at Drake provide opportunities to contribute to Drake University's core mission of creating an exceptional learning environment that prepares students of all backgrounds for meaningful lives and professional accomplishments.

Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion at Drake:


requested in our online application system.


Drake University is committed to providing access and reasonable accommodations in its services, programs, activities, education, and employment for individuals with disabilities. If you would benefit from an accommodation at any point in the recruitment process (including using our online application process), please contact Drake Human Resources (ph: ; e: ) and let us know how we can assist you.


At Drake University, we highly value a diverse, inclusive workforce. We are proud to be an equal opportunity employer. We stand firmly against discrimination including on the basis of race, color, national origin, creed, religion, age, disability, sex, pregnancy, gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation, genetic information, veteran status, or any characteristic protected by law.