Associate Director, Private Sector Programs (4983C), Berkeley Law - 86705 About Berkeley
At the University of California, Berkeley, we are dedicated to fostering a community where everyone feels welcome and can thrive. Our culture of openness, freedom, and belonging make it a special place for students, faculty, and staff. As a world-leading institution, Berkeley is known for its academic and research excellence, public mission, diverse student body, and commitment to equity and social justice. Since our founding in 1868, we have driven innovation, creating global intellectual, economic, and social value. We are looking for applicants who reflect California's diversity and want to be part of an inclusive, equity-focused community that views education as a matter of social justice. Please consider whether your values align with our Guiding Values and Principles , Principles of Community , and Strategic Plan .
At UC Berkeley, we believe that learning is a fundamental part of working, and provide space for supportive colleague communities via numerous employee resource groups . Our goal is for everyone on the Berkeley campus to feel supported and equipped to realize their full potential. We actively support this by providing all of our full-time staff employees with at least 80 hours (10 days) of paid time per year to engage in professional development activities. Find out more about how you can grow your career at UC Berkeley.
Departmental Overview
The Career Development Office (CDO) is staffed by eight attorney-counselors, each of whom has practiced law and can offer real-world insights into various career paths. They currently include former direct services attorneys, a former immigration attorney, , former associates from large law firms, a former federal judicial law clerk, and a former boutique firm practitioner.
Of the eight attorney-counselors, three specialize in public interest and government careers. CDO helps students explore a variety of legal career options-both traditional and nontraditional-and determine how to pursue them.
Position Summary
In this position, the Associate Director, Private Sector Programs assists Berkeley Law's 1,000 J.D. students and the members of its 10,000+ alumni community, in particular those interested in pursuing private sector legal careers, in shaping and attaining their short- and long-term career goals. As a well-connected, knowledgeable expert on the legal job market, the Associate Director accomplishes this by providing individually tailored, client-driven career counseling as well as by creating, planning, developing, and implementing cutting-edge programs, networking events, other activities, services, and resources that address a full array of traditional as well as non-traditional private sector practice areas and settings. The Associate Director also assists in maintaining the CDO's current employer relationships as well as engaging in employer outreach efforts to cultivate new relationships to ensure students have the best available access to private sector networking and job opportunities as soon as they present themselves.
Application Review Date
The First Review Date for this job is: June 24, 2026 For full consideration, please apply on or before the first review date.
Responsibilities
Researches, and analyzes the current state of the private sector legal services and legal job markets and forecasts emerging trends in those markets.
Identifies existing and up-and-coming career and job options, assesses (on a continuing basis) their short-and long-term feasibility for our alumni attorneys, and explores alternatives to traditional legal practice.
Researches and periodically assesses the evolving career development needs of our students interested in private sector work.
Based on this on-going research, analysis, assessment and trend-spotting, the AD designs and develops, and implements an array of workshops and programs, services, and resources (including online guides and webcasts) to meet the career needs of our students interested in pursuing a career in the private sector.
Recommends and manages improvements, revisions, changes, and adjustments to the existing array of career consulting services, programs, and resources AND devises, develops and implements entirely new services, programs and resources.
Provides one-on-one, individually tailored and client-driven career consulting services to students interested in pursuing private sector careers (a particularly complex area that requires specialized expertise).
Assists students in conducting their own self-assessments.
Provides students with general advice based on their expert knowledge of the private sector legal market, as well as specific job leads and networking contacts developed through continuing cultivation and expansion of the Law School's -- and the AD's -- professional network.
Amplifies and promotes best practices in diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging when working with students and when helping to create professional pathways and opportunities for career growth.
Develops and maintains the Law School's professional network of potential employers, other law school legal career professionals, and others in the legal field who may be in a position to provide information and assistance to our students interested in pursuing private sector work.
Maintains and enhances own professional network and leverages it on behalf of students and alumni.
Develops and oversees presentation and delivery of broad and complex career-focused programs and events workshops, and resources.
Coordinates with Career Services administrative staff on specific administrative tasks to support private sector programming (e.g., room reservations, technology, catering arrangements, drafting and posting event announcements, etc.).
Determines, based on knowledge of technical systems, the most innovative and effective media for delivering content - online, print, blogs, social networking website posts, twitter, live webcasting, etc.
Liaises with various other Law School departments and individuals to understand their needs and goals and explore and develop mutually beneficial programs, resources, and services.
Participates in panel discussions and presentations and researches and writes articles relating to the private sector legal job market and the provision of private sector career services through local and national recruitment associations, like the Bay Area Legal Recruiters Association and the National Association for Law Placement, and other legal organizations, like the American Association of Law Schools and the American Bar Association, and even through the local and national press as the opportunities arise.
Required Qualifications
Advanced knowledge of career decision-making and job search techniques.
Knowledge of career services, employer, alumni, and faculty needs and expectations, recruiting and staffing methods, employment trends.
Highly effective problem identification and solving skills, presentation skills, verbal communication, written communication, and organization skills.
Ability to work with people from diverse backgrounds and levels of experience.
Detailed knowledge of the private sector legal employment market (and general knowledge of the public sector and public interest job markets)
Extensive professional network of practicing attorneys and potential employers.
Creative, entrepreneurial, forward-looking, and energetic approach that can identify and pursue new potential programs and innovative ways to present and deliver their content
Highly developed knowledge of principles and processes for providing outstanding client and personal services. This includes client needs assessment, meeting quality standards for services, and evaluation of client satisfaction.
Excellent knowledge of human behavior and performance; individual differences in ability, personality, and interests; and learning and motivation.
Excellent computer skills and the ability to quickly adapt to new software programs and on-line resources.
Strong attention to detail.
Demonstrated ability to collaborate and work effectively with individuals and groups from a wide range of backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives.
Demonstrated commitment to fostering an inclusive and supportive environment that promotes collaboration and mutual respect among all members of the UC Berkeley community and its stakeholders.
Must demonstrate strong interpersonal skills, including the ability to engage with and understand individuals from varied academic, socioeconomic, cultural, disability, gender, and ethnic backgrounds.
Preferred Qualifications
Advanced knowledge of career development theories.
Knowledge of needs assessment theory, processes, and workshop and program design and implementation.
Knowledge of UC programs and/or the ability to learn.
Education / Training
Advanced degree in Law, such as a Juris Doctor (J.D.), and/or equivalent experience/training.
Significant (4 years minimum) private sector legal practice experience.
Salary & Benefits
For information on the comprehensive benefits package offered by the University, please visit the University of California's Compensation & Benefits website .
Under California law, the University of California, Berkeley is required to provide a reasonable estimate of the compensation range for this role and should not offer a salary outside of the range posted in this job announcement. This range takes into account the wide range of factors that are considered in making compensation decisions, including but not limited to experience, skills, knowledge, abilities, education, licensure and certifications, analysis of internal equity, and other business and organizational needs. It is not typical for an individual to be offered a salary at or near the top of the range for a position. Salary offers are determined based on final candidate qualifications and experience.
The budgeted annual salary range that the University reasonably expects to pay for this position is $93,000 - $110,000.
This is an exempt, monthly-paid position.
This is a full-time (40 hours/week) Career position eligible for UC benefits.
