Director of Employer Development (HR Title: Legal Recruitment Director III)

Salary Range:

Salary commensurate with experience and qualifications

About SMU

SMU's more than 12,000 diverse, high-achieving students come from all 50 states and over 80 countries to take advantage of the University's small classes, meaningful research opportunities, leadership development, community service, international study and innovative programs.

SMU serves approximately 7,000 undergraduates and 5,000 graduate students through eight degree-granting schools: Dedman College of Humanities and Sciences , Cox School of Business , Lyle School of Engineering , Meadows School of the Arts , Simmons School of Education and Human Development , Dedman School of Law , Perkins School of Theology and Moody School of Graduate and Advanced Studies .

SMU is data driven, and its powerful supercomputing ecosystem - paired with entrepreneurial drive - creates an unrivaled environment for the University to deliver research excellence.

Now in its second century of achievement, SMU is recognized for the ways it supports students, faculty and alumni as they become ethical, enterprising leaders in their professions and communities. SMU's relationship with Dallas - the dynamic center of one of the nation's fastest-growing regions - offers unique learning, research, social and career opportunities that provide a launch pad for global impact.

SMU is nonsectarian in its teaching and committed to academic freedom and open inquiry.

About the Position:

This role is an on-campus, in-person position.

The Director of Employer Development will be responsible for (1) actively engaging in outreach and networking to legal employers to strengthen existing relationships and create new ones to increase job opportunities with a specific focus on small & mid-size law firms, (2) coordinating, securing employers for, and teaching the Small & Mid-Size Firm Externship course, (3) marketing SMU Dedman School of Law students to legal employers, (4) providing extensive individual career advising to students and recent graduates and tracking employment status of those students, (5) educating students about the legal profession, career opportunities, and job search techniques through workshops, programs, and authoring job search resources with a focus on small & mid-size firms, and (6) assisting with daily activities of the Office of Career Services as needed or directed.

Essential Functions:

• Engages in outreach to legal employers with a focus on small & mid-size firms to generate job opportunities for law students and recent graduates and to secures employers for the small /mid-size firm externship course; markets small/mid-size firm recruiting programs to employers and students; markets SMU law students to employers in all sectors.
• Provides individual one-on-one advising to JD students and recent graduates, reviewing and editing resumes, cover letters, business correspondence and other application materials to ensure students' materials best position them for
  success in all legal sectors. Prepares students for interviews and teaches them job search techniques. Tracks job status of each class for reporting purposes.
• Creates and implements innovative educational programming for law students to educate them on the legal profession, inform them of career opportunities, teach them job search techniques through workshops and programs and authors job search resources with a focus on small and mid-size firms.
• Coordinates, prepares, and teaches Small & Mid-Size Firm Externship Course.
• Work with the Associate Director of Recruiting and Events to identify attorneys to participate in programs put on by student organizations.
• Attends and supports relevant OCS and Law School programs and external community events and programs where networking can be accomplished.
• Assists with other daily activities of the Office of Career Services as needed or directed.
• Assists with job postings for mid and small size firms and works with employers to ensure OCI registrations are correct.
• Must have the ability to attend occasional evening and/or weekend events.
• Minimal travel is required.

Education and Experience:

Juris Doctor is required.

A minimum of five years of experience is required. Prior work in the legal industry is required. Previous experience in career counseling in higher education is preferred.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

Candidate must demonstrate strong interpersonal and verbal communication skills, with the ability to communicate broadly across the University and develop and maintain effective relationships with a wide range of constituencies. Must also demonstrate strong written communication skills. Strong presentation skills are required.

Candidate must possess strong problem-solving skills with the ability to identify and analyze problems, as well as devise solutions. Must also have strong organizational, planning and time management skills.

Candidate must be willing to work and advise law students to help them achieve their career goals. Must have the ability to develop strong relationships and generate job opportunities. Strong networking skills is required.

Candidate must have the ability to work independently and take initiative. Candidate must also have the ability to work in a team setting and be collaborative.

Candidates must possess a working knowledge of Microsoft Office products (e.g. Word, Excel, PowerPoint).

Experience with social media is preferred.

Experience with Symplicity and/or 12Twenty is preferred.

Physical and Environmental Demands:

• Sit for long periods of time
• Reach above shoulders
• Carry/lift 25 lbs.
• Stand

Deadline to Apply:

March 30, 2026

Open Until Filled

EEO Statement

SMU is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, sex, age, disability, genetic information, veteran status, sexual orientation, or gender identity and expression.

Benefits:

SMU offers staff a broad, competitive array of health and related benefit s. In addition to traditional benefits such as health, dental, and vision plans, SMU offers a wide range of wellness programs to help attract, support, and retain our employees whose work continues to make SMU an outstanding education and research institution.

SMU is committed to providing an array of retirement programs that benefit and protect you and your family throughout your working years at SMU and, if you meet SMU's retirement eligibility criteria, during your retirement years after you leave SMU.

The value of learning at SMU isn't just about preparing our students for the future. Employees have access to a wide variety of professional and personal development opportunities , including tuition benefits .