Associate Director of Community Engagement

POSITION: Associate Director of Community Engagement

REPORTS TO: Executive Director of Public Service

STATUS: Full-time, Exempt

RANGE: $90,000 - $95,000

SUMMARY: Founded in 1901, Brooklyn Law School is a distinguished, independent law school located in Downtown Brooklyn, New York. The Law School is searching for a Director of Community Engagement to join our team. The Law School’s size, vibrant employee and student population, and commitment to training the next generation of lawyers and promoting social justice, will offer a candidate the opportunity to develop and diversify practical skills and participate firsthand in operating a successful educational institution.

The Director of Community Engagement of the Public Service Law Center is responsible for developing and implementing strategies to enhance the law school’s engagement with public sector organizations, to foster opportunities for students pursuing public sector careers, and to cultivate a vibrant public service community within the law school and beyond. Reporting to the Executive Director of Public Service, the Director of Community Engagement works closely with students, faculty, and external partners to advance the Center’s mission of catalyzing social change by empowering students to become effective legal advocates for underserved communities and the public good, fostering partnerships with public sector organizations, supporting innovative programs that address pressing legal issues in the community, and cultivating a vibrant public service community within the law school and beyond.

Responsibilities include:

• Community/Employer Engagement
  • With guidance from the Executive Director, develop and execute a comprehensive employer engagement strategy to build and maintain strong relationships with public interest organizations, government agencies, and other relevant partners/employers.
  • Identify and cultivate new nonprofit and government agency partnerships, including attending public service community events, to expand pro bono (legal services), internship, and job opportunities for students and alumni.
  • Vet new public sector employers seeking to host externs for academic credit in accordance with Externship Program Guidelines to ensure academic integrity
  • Coordinate on-campus recruiting events (e.g., Public Service Recruitment Week, Career Fair), employer presentations (e.g., issue or practice-area specific panels), and public sector careers information sessions.
  • Manage employer databases, public sector job postings, and track student placements.
  • Keep up to date on developments in the public sector legal market and practice-area trends
  • Develop and maintain positive relationships with students and alumni, faculty, staff, and administration
• Student Support:
  • Provide guidance to students and alumni interested in public sector careers, including career planning, job search strategy, job application materials support interview preparation, and opportunity suiting students’ interests.
  • Coordinate student participation in external recruiting events, including Public Interest Law Careers Fair, Public Interest Networking Reception, and the Equal Justice Works Conference.
  • Develop and update handouts, intranet, and web materials on public service career
  • Coordinate alumni mentorship programs.
• Program Development:
  • Collaborate with the Executive Director to develop, implement, and support new public interest programs and initiatives, including Pro Bono Projects (see brochure).
  • Plan, execute, and evaluate existing programs and events for students (including public interest 101, public sector exploration and preparation panels, workshops, mock interview programs, Public Service Award ceremony, and Service Day)
• Community Development:
  • Support community building programs (including Public Service Day, Law Student for a Day, Public Service Awards & Reception, Summer Law Institute)
  • Support Sparer Fellowship program
• Center Operations:
  • Assist the Executive Director in managing the day-to-day operations of the Center.
  • Supervise staff [and student workers] as needed.

Required:

• Juris Doctorate degree from an accredited law school and admission to the bar (preferred).
• Three years of legal experience working in public interest law at a nonprofit or government agency.
• Outstanding verbal and written communication skills, organizational skills, and public speaking skills and the ability to develop and maintain relationships
• Knowledge of nonprofit organizations and government
• Ability to build and maintain strong relationships with a diverse range of stakeholders.
• Proven ability to manage multiple projects and meet deadlines.

Preferred:

• Experience in career counseling or higher education administration
• Experience in event planning
• Experience in teaching
• Expertise in producing written materials for different audiences, such as brochures and web copy

Brooklyn law school has an excellent benefits package that includes sick, personal and vacation paid time off, a generous retirement plan, dependent tuition scholarship Pre K- undergraduate college and additional summer Friday PTO.

Brooklyn Law School values a diverse and vibrant community and affirmatively encourages applications from candidates of all backgrounds and life experiences.