University of Pennsylvania Hiring for Associate Dean of Students, Penn Carey Law at Law School Full Time

The University of Pennsylvania, the largest private employer in Philadelphia, is a world-renowned leader in education, research, and innovation. This historic, Ivy League school consistently ranks among the top 10 universities in the annual U.S. News & World Report survey. Penn has 12 highly-regarded schools that provide opportunities for undergraduate, graduate and continuing education, all influenced by Penn’s distinctive interdisciplinary approach to scholarship and learning. As an employer Penn has been ranked nationally on many occasions with the most recent award from Forbes who named Penn one of America’s Best Large Employers in 2023.

Penn offers a unique working environment within the city of Philadelphia. The University is situated on a beautiful urban campus, with easy access to a range of educational, cultural, and recreational activities. With its historical significance and landmarks, lively cultural offerings, and wide variety of atmospheres, Philadelphia is the perfect place to call home for work and play.

The University offers a competitive benefits package that includes excellent healthcare and tuition benefits for employees and their families, generous retirement benefits, a wide variety of professional development opportunities, supportive work and family benefits, a wealth of health and wellness programs and resources, and much more.

Posted Job TitleAssociate Dean of Students, Penn Carey LawJob Profile TitleDirector D, Student ServicesJob Description SummaryThe University of Pennsylvania Carey Law School is one of the nation’s oldest and most distinguished law schools. The School offers a unique approach, incorporating cross-disciplinary legal education and a distinctly collaborative environment that enrich student learning and scholarly depth and breadth. The resulting intellectual opportunities and renowned internal culture of collegiality bridge traditional boundaries and disciplines, making the University of Pennsylvania Carey Law School an extraordinarily supportive academic community for its scholars and students alike.
The Associate Dean of Students (“ADoS”) is a critical architect of this internal culture and of the Law School’s nationally renowned student-focused community. The ADoS counsels on, addresses, and triages a wide array of student academic, professional, and personal issues and concerns; ensures excellence in student activities and events; and interfaces on behalf of The University of Pennsylvania Carey Law School with the Vice Provost for University Life, Student Disabilities Services, Student Health, and other relevant University departments.
Reporting to the Vice Dean for Student Services and Dean of Students, the ADoS manages the Student Affairs team of two Directors, an Assistant Director, and a Student Affairs Coordinator alongside other part-time staff.
The ADoS is an essential advisor to students, exemplifying and modeling good judgment, tact, discretion, and professionalism.Job Description

Responsibilities Include:

Strategic

• Ensure a coherent and collaborative approach to Student Affairs services around counseling, support, and programming.

Counseling and Advising

• Provide tactful, sensitive, and wise counsel and advice to students on a wide array of personal issues affecting law school performance.
  • Maintain a large volume of complex contact points with a range of students, both individually and in groups, necessitating occasional availability outside of school hours.
• Oversee the Law School’s collaboration with the University Student Health and Counseling (formerly CAPS), the Vice Provost for University Life, and the Division of Public Safety to ensure appropriate short- and long-term care.
  • Work closely with the Law School’s embedded Counseling professionals to ensure students have timely access to counseling care.
• In partnership with the Vice Dean for Student Services and the Student Affairs team, serve as an emergency resource for students on rotation as needed.
• Serve as point of contact for faculty and students seeking to address in-class and out-of-class faculty/student relationship issues.
• Advise the Director of Student Support on non-emergency student issues or conflicts.
  • Provide counsel to Director of Student Support on student conduct or academic integrity concerns.
• Manage the distribution of all student emergency grants.

Student Activities and Student Life

• Participate in the Office’s development and implementation of vibrant and strategic programming and activities in support of students’ development of leadership and professional skills.
• With Director of Student Support, develop wellness programming designed to address issues presented in counseling sessions and in conversation with individual students.
• Oversee the Assistant Director of Student Life’s development and implementation of Orientation and Commencement programming.
• Oversee Director of Student Engagement’s management of the Dean’s Speakers Fund and other financial supports for more than 60 student groups, approval of new student groups, and oversight of all student elections.
• Work closely with the Council of Student Representatives.

Academic Activities and Support

• Participate in the development of resources on Academic Advising with relevant colleagues.
• Coordinate Law School services to students whose performance indicates opportunities for improvement, working with the Director of Academic Support and other staff members.

Disabilities Services

• Oversee Director of Student Support’s coordinated provision of services, with Academic Affairs, to students who have been approved for supportive services.
• Participate in the exam postponement process and exam emergencies.

Managerial

• Inspire, encourage, and lead a talented team, ensuring professional development support to staff, currently including a Director of Student Support, a Director of Student and Community Engagement, an Assistant Director for Student Life, and a Student Affairs Coordinator.
• Work with colleagues to propose and manage the department budget.
• Develop and evaluate all staffing approaches for the Student Affairs Office and ensure excellent communication among and between staff members.

Other duties as assigned

REQUIREMENTS:

• Demonstrated performance record of at least seven to ten years in successful and progressively responsible leadership. This can be demonstrated in institutional management, student services, higher education, or law firm or legal industry development. A deep knowledge of the counseling, student services, and student activities landscapes is preferred.

• Demonstrated experience handling a variety of complex interpersonal situations, including crisis management, referrals to psychological services and collaborations with mental health professionals, and providing individual mentoring and counseling.

• Knowledge of and a solution-based approach to critical student issues in higher education, such as disabilities services, sexual assault and other student conduct procedures, is preferred.

• Excellent portfolio of events and programs that establish an ability to think creatively about student affairs and an ability to collaborate across a variety of systems and organizational situations.

• Demonstrated leadership track record. Established track record as collaborator in the workplace, within the immediate department and within the larger institution, as well as a record demonstrating effective leadership as a strong and motivational manager.

• Experience championing institutional message and commitment and developing an integrated approach to message and design.

• An understanding that the position requires commitment to work beyond 9 to 5 and a track record of building systems for appropriate response to time-sensitive issues.

• Bachelor’s degree required, Masters or JD preferred, with concentration in counseling, higher education, or a related field. Knowledge of legal education and of an excellent higher education student services environment highly desirable.

A cover letter is required with application materials.

Job Location – City, StatePhiladelphia, PennsylvaniaDepartment / SchoolLaw SchoolPay Range$90,860.00 – $150,000.00 Annual RateSalary offers are made based on the candidate’s qualifications, experience, skills, and education as they directly relate to the requirements of the position, as well as internal and market factors and grade profile. Affirmative Action Statement
Penn adheres to a policy that prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion, creed, national or ethnic origin, citizenship status, age, disability, veteran status, or any other legally protected class.Special Requirements
Background check required after a conditional job offer is made. Consideration of the background check will be tailored to the requirements of the job.University Benefits

• Health, Life, and Flexible Spending Accounts: Penn offers comprehensive medical, prescription, behavioral health, dental, vision, and life insurance benefits to protect you and your family’s health and welfare. You can also use flexible spending accounts to pay for eligible health care and dependent care expenses with pre-tax dollars.
• Tuition: Take advantage of Penn’s exceptional tuition benefits. You, your spouse, and your dependent children can get tuition assistance here at Penn. Your dependent children are also eligible for tuition assistance at other institutions.
• Retirement: Penn offers generous retirement plans to help you save for your future. Penn’s Basic, Matching, and Supplemental retirement plans allow you to save for retirement on a pre-tax or Roth basis. Choose from a wide variety of investment options through TIAA and Vanguard.
• Time Away from Work: Penn provides you with a substantial amount of time away from work during the course of the year. This allows you to relax, take vacations, attend to personal affairs, recover from illness or injury, spend time with family—whatever your personal needs may be.
• Long-Term Care Insurance: In partnership with Genworth Financial, Penn offers faculty and staff (and your eligible family members) long-term care insurance to help you cover some of the costs of long-term care services received at home, in the community or in a nursing facility. If you apply when you’re newly hired, you won’t have to provide proof of good health or be subject to underwriting requirements. Eligible family members must always provide proof of good health and are subject to underwriting.
• Wellness and Work-life Resources: Penn is committed to supporting our faculty and staff as they balance the competing demands of work and personal life. That’s why we offer a wide variety of programs and resources to help you care for your health, your family, and your work-life balance.
• Professional and Personal Development: Penn provides an array of resources to help you advance yourself personally and professionally.
• University Resources: As a member of the Penn community, you have access to a wide range of University resources as well as cultural and recreational activities. Take advantage of the University’s libraries and athletic facilities, or visit our arboretum and art galleries. There’s always something going on at Penn, whether it’s a new exhibit at the Penn Museum, the latest music or theater presentation at the Annenberg Center, or the Penn Relays at Franklin Field to name just a few examples. As a member of the Penn community, you’re right in the middle of the excitement—and you and your family can enjoy many of these activities for free.
• Discounts and Special Services: From arts and entertainment to transportation and mortgages, you’ll find great deals for University faculty and staff. Not only do Penn arts and cultural centers and museums offer free and discounted admission and memberships to faculty and staff. You can also enjoy substantial savings on other goods and services such as new cars from Ford and General Motors, cellular phone service plans, movie tickets, and admission to theme parks.
• Flexible Work Hours: Flexible work options offer creative approaches for completing work while promoting balance between work and personal commitments. These approaches involve use of non-traditional work hours, locations, and/or job structures.
• Penn Home Ownership Services: Penn offers a forgivable loan for eligible employees interested in buying a home or currently residing in West Philadelphia, which can be used for closing costs or home improvements.
• Adoption Assistance: Penn will reimburse eligible employees on qualified expenses in connection with the legal adoption of an eligible child, such as travel or court fees, for up to two adoptions in your household.

To learn more, please visit: https://www.hr.upenn.edu/PennHR/benefits-pay