Associate Director, Professional Development

Associate Director, Professional Development

School of Labor and Employment Relations

Job Summary
Work with students throughout their time in the School to help them develop strong professional skills and collaborate closely with the with Senior Associate Dean of External Relations and Operations to deliver key career-related functions and provide ongoing support. Assist with the planning and implementation of various efforts and initiatives that support both student and recruiter activities at LER, and contribute to the growth and development of LER's professional development opportunities.
Duties and Responsibilities

• Career Support (50%):
  * Advise and coach students on all aspects of the job search process and placement activities, including resume writing, interviewing skills, networking, and time management. Develop and oversee specialized programming for candidates requiring work sponsorship.
  * Supervise career workshops for students on topics including job search tactics and strategies.
  * Serve as an administrator of the online system for job postings and on-campus recruiting; attend campus wide meetings about the shared system as necessary.
  * Maintain and update training modules for online recruiting platform.
  * Coordinate on-site visits, including on-campus interviews, information sessions and classroom visits and engagements for LER corporate partners.
  * Support the Senior Associate Dean and serve as a backup in their absence.
  * Partner with career services support staff to ensure that all company needs are met, and logistics are executed smoothly.
  * Meet with corporate recruiters in partnership with the Senior Associate Dean to collect feedback on student interviews. Conduct end-of-day debriefs to ensure LER candidates meet organizational expectations, especially with new employer partners.
  * Identify and cultivate new employer relationships, including potential corporations, non-profit organizations and government entities, to expand on-campus recruiting and job opportunities for students.
  * Share relevant external job and internship and postings with students to broaden access to opportunities.
  * Collect, analyze, and report confidential internship and full-time placement data, identifying year-over-year trends, and developing innovative ways to communicate employer activity and student outcomes annually.
  * Run, analyze and interpret recruitment reports in Handshake to track engagement across campus, and within LER; prepare data for presentations, benchmarking, and strategic decision-making.
  * Serves as main point-of-contact for recruiters, students, and alumni in Handshake. Presents and explains policies and procedures for the Handshake system to 175 student and staff users annually and resolves any problems that may arise with the system.
  * Represent LER Career Services Office at the quarterly campus-wide Handshake user meeting.
  * Represent the Senior Associate Dean at CSC/Steering meetings as needed.
  * Develop professional development content for LER web site and social media in collaboration with the Senior Associate Dean and communications staff.
  * Support the Senior Associate Dean in planning and execution of employer site visits including "TraveLER" long distance trips.
  * Train and serve as the primary contact for the LER Online Career Consultant.

• International Student Support (35%):
  * Recruit, hire, and supervise the International Peer Advisor to develop programming designed to provide enhanced support for international students at LER; provide coaching on student interactions, assist with problem solving, oversee the creation of the IPA newsletter, and supervise related programming and events.
  * Serve as the LER Advisor for Curricular Practical Training (CPT) by reviewing and approving initial CPT requests to ISSS and ensuring that students are enrolled in the LER internship course following ISSS approval and their updated I-20.
  * Serve as the primary point of contact for University of Illinois Shanghai Office, sharing information about student job candidates and master's programs with employers and prospective students.
  * Serve as primary point of contact for LER's international student body, including coordinating and developing workshops and webinars focused on the international academic and job search experience, job search strategies, and employment pathways. Facilitate connections with home-country employers, particularly in China, and engage both new and existing partners for international placements.
  * Engage international alumni and organize networking events when traveling overseas.
  * Develop, build and maintain relationships with new and existing partners to plan and execute meetings and site visits with international employers when overseas.
  * Serve as a campus leader in international career service efforts, collaborating with campus partners to strengthen centralized support for international employers.
  * Coordinate with Assistant Director for Student Recruitment and Strategic Outreach and international student volunteers to plan and carry out overseas student recruitment efforts, including outreach through social media platforms where feasible.

• Student Support (10%):
  * Support student services to the LER master's program, including designing/managing appropriate workshops and developing electronic learning materials to provide key information for student success in the program.
  * Assist Assistant Dean for Student Affairs with onboarding new graduate students by delivering presentations on professional development, including the use of Handshake.
  * Serve as an advisor to student organizations with LER for activities and RSO funding/policies; provide overall leadership and supervision of coordinated LER community service efforts and initiatives.
  * Use knowledge from student coaching and development to create the new student buddy list each semester.
  * Ensure excellence in LER programs by conducting online and in-person research with companies to track new and emerging developments in employment relations; suggest workshops and curriculum updates in response to market changes.

• Other Duties (5%):
  * Create engaging and timely programming for academic professionals to advance their knowledge of career development and support their professional growth.
  * Perform additional responsibilities as assigned, in alignment with evolving program needs and priorities.

Travel Requirements
5% Occasional domestic and international travel, including trips to China and professional conferences, to support student and employer engagement. Minimum Qualifications

Specialty Factors

Bachelor's degree. A total of five (5) years (60 months) in education, training and/or work experience in professional development. Demonstrated experience designing and delivering professional development programs and/or presentations. Experience coaching and/or mentoring students.
Preferred Qualifications

Master's degree in a relevant field (e.g., Communication, HR, Psychology).
A minimum of 5 years' experience working with a graduate student population.
Familiarity with the University of Illinois Urbana Champaign campus structure.
Experience using recruiting software, specifically Handshake.
Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

• Ability to design, deliver, and facilitate professional development programs and presentations for a variety of audiences, including students, staff, executives, and external partners, with strong communication and proofreading skills.
• Proficiency with MS Office Professional applications including Access, Word, Outlook, Excel, or similar programs, with ability to quickly learn new proprietary software systems to support program operations and data management.
• Exceptional analytical and organizational abilities to manage multiple priorities, adapt to shifting demands, meet deadlines, and support program objectives efficiently.
• Strong judgment and proactive approach to identify needs, solve problems, and implement solutions that advance overall program goals and operational effectiveness.
• Ability to work collaboratively and independently within a small team environment; capable of fulfilling job responsibilities, anticipate and meet new goals, and help the program meet its objectives.
• Strong English communication skills with the ability to interact professionally with students, staff members and external partners including executives from Fortune 500 companies and leaders of labor organizations.
• Ability to effectively manage multiple priorities and adapt to shifting demands.
• Ability to take initiative to identify tasks/projects to be done that support job duties and help advance overall program objectives.
• Strong problem-solving skills, using sound judgment to determine best course of action.
• Ability to manage stress effectively; maintaining composure, performance, and professionalism during periods of high workload, tight deadlines, or other routine work pressures.

Appointment Information

This is a 100% full-time Civil Service 5002 - Program Coordinator position, appointed on a 12-month basis. The expected start date is as soon as possible after 4/16/2026. Salary range for this position is $65,000.00-$75,000.00.

For more information on Civil Service classifications, please visit the SUCSS web site at .

Application Procedures & Deadline Information

Applications must be received by 6:00 pm (Central Time) on Friday, March 20, 2026. Apply for this position using the Apply Now button at the top or bottom of this posting. In order to be considered as a transfer candidate, you must apply for this position. Applications not submitted through will not be considered. If required by the position, transcripts or other documentation of credentials are to be provided no later than the first day of employment. For further information about this specific position, please contact Sr. Associate Dean, Nell Madigan ( [email protected] ). For questions regarding the application process, please contact 217-333-2137.

At the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign - the state's flagship public university and one of the world's leading research institutions - every staff member helps shape what's next . Founded in 1867, Illinois is home to a vibrant community of 59,000 students from all 50 states and 129 countries, supported by 15 colleges and instructional units, more than 20 research institutes, and one of the most comprehensive student service ecosystems in the nation. Whether you're empowering first-generation students, fueling breakthrough innovation, or strengthening communities across Illinois and beyond, your work here has a far-reaching and deeply meaningful impact. The university offers a highly competitive benefits package designed to support your well-being, growth, and financial security. Join a top 10 public university that has launched over 330 startups and continues to redefine excellence - where the Illinois Value Proposition ensures that your contributions are recognized, your potential is nurtured, and your career can thrive.

Champaign-Urbana

Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools may be used in some portions of the candidate review process for this position; however, all employment decisions will be made by a person.

This position is intended to be eligible for benefits . This includes Health, Dental, Vision, Life Insurance, a Retirement Plan, Paid time Off, and Tuition waivers for employees and dependents.

The University of Illinois System is an equal opportunity employer, including but not limited to disability and/or veteran status, and complies with all applicable state and federal employment mandates. Please visit Required Employment Notices and Posters to view our non-discrimination statement and find additional information about required background checks, sexual harassment/misconduct disclosures, and employment eligibility review through E-Verify .

Applicants with disabilities are encouraged to apply and may request a reasonable accommodation under the Americans with Disabilities Act (2008) to complete the application and/or interview process. Accommodations may also be requested on the basis of pregnancy, childbirth, and related conditions, or religion. Requests may be submitted through the reasonable accommodation portal , or by contacting the Office for Access & Equity at 217-333-0885, option #1, or [email protected] .

Requisition ID : 1034924

Job Category : Professional and Administrative

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