Description
The Career and Professional Development Office in the Faculty of Law is currently seeking a Full-time Regular Senior Specialist.
The Senior Specialist, Career and Professional Development Office (CPDO) is a senior staff leadership role within the Faculty of Law, reporting directly to the Dean. The Senior Specialist oversees the operations of the CPDO and provides strategic leadership for the CPDO by monitoring developments and emerging trends within the legal profession and assessing their implications for legal education, student recruitment, and career development programming.
Working independently in a fast-paced environment with multiple competing priorities and strict timelines, the Senior Specialist is accountable for the successful delivery of comprehensive career development programming and individualized career advising services for approximately 500 law students annually, including not only our JD students, but students in our graduate studies and foreign trained lawyer programs.
The CPDO is responsible for equipping students with the skills, knowledge, professional competencies, networking opportunities, and practical resources necessary to secure articling placements and employment opportunities across diverse sectors of the legal profession. The Senior Specialist develops and delivers innovative programming that prepares students for recruitment processes, supports informed career decision-making, and enhances student employability for the evolving legal marketplace.
In partnership with the Dean of Law, the Senior Specialist contributes to promoting the law school and advancing the Faculty¿s Strategic Plan through stakeholder engagement, employer outreach, and participation in professional and community initiatives. Regular attendance at networking and alumni events, employer meetings, professional association activities, and recruitment initiatives is required, including occasional early morning and evening commitments. Periodic travel across Canada, independently or alongside the Dean, may also be required.
Summary of Key Responsibilities (job functions include but are not limited to):
Strategic Leadership and Program Development
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Provide strategic leadership and vision for the Career and Professional Development Office (CPDO), ensuring alignment with the goals and strategic priorities of the Faculty of Law and the University of Calgary.
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Monitor and analyze trends in legal education, legal recruitment, and the broader legal profession to develop responsive programs, services, and strategic initiatives.
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Identify opportunities for innovation and continuous improvement through research, consultation, collaboration, and stakeholder engagement.
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Make recommendations to the Dean of Law regarding student recruitment, employment trends, and developments affecting the legal profession and legal education.
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Evaluate the effectiveness and impact of CPDO programs, services, and events, and implement enhancements as needed to improve student and employer outcomes.
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Ensure effective stewardship of CPDO resources and oversee program delivery in a manner that maximizes service quality and operational efficiency.
Leadership and Team Management
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Provide leadership, direction, mentorship, and oversight to CPDO staff in the planning, implementation, and delivery of programs, services, and events.
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Foster a collaborative, high-performing team environment and effectively coordinate workflows and priorities within a fast-paced office setting.
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Analyze issues and determine appropriate courses of action, including directing, consulting, or delegating responsibilities as appropriate.
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Support career advisors and other CPDO staff during peak periods by assisting with student advising, coaching, and program delivery as required.
Employer Relations and External Engagement
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Develop, maintain, and strengthen relationships with law firms, government agencies, public interest organizations, alumni, professional associations, and other external stakeholders locally, nationally, and internationally.
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Promote and market University of Calgary Faculty of Law students to legal and business communities to enhance employment opportunities, with a particular focus on securing articling placements.
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Maintain an active network of contacts within the legal profession and career development community to support student success, employer engagement, and the strategic objectives of the Faculty of Law.
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Represent the Faculty of Law in meetings, professional associations, conferences, and recruitment-related initiatives.
Student Career Development and Advising
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Oversee the development and delivery of career education programs, workshops, seminars, and events that prepare students for recruitment processes and career decision-making.
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Collaborate with CPDO staff, faculty members, student groups, and professional associations to develop and implement effective career development initiatives and resources.
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Oversee the development and maintenance of career-related resources, including workshop materials, handbooks, online content, schedules, and the Faculty of Law Career Services website.
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Maintain awareness of legal recruitment practices and employment market trends to support student career planning and advising.
Student Advising Support
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During peak periods and as operationally required, the Senior Specialist may directly support students from time to time.
Research and Professional Engagement
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Research and monitor trends, initiatives, and emerging practices related to:
o legal recruitment and hiring practices;
o resume and cover letter development;
o interview formats and assessment methods;
o networking and job search strategies;
o workplace and employment trends;
o provincial and national accreditation requirements;
o national and international career opportunities; and
o student skill development and self-assessment practices. -
Benchmark career services practices at other law schools and incorporate best practices and innovative approaches where appropriate.
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Meet regularly with recruitment contacts and employers within the legal community to understand evolving employer expectations and workforce needs.
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Maintain active involvement in professional development activities, committees, associations, conferences, and training opportunities related to legal career development.
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Build and maintain collaborative relationships with law schools and career development professionals across Canada.
Service Development and Operational Effectiveness
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Gather and assess feedback from students and other stakeholders to identify emerging needs and continuously improve CPDO programs and services.
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Ensure accurate tracking and reporting of articling placement and employment statistics, including analysis of trends and outcomes.
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Contribute to a positive, collaborative, and service-oriented team environment focused on excellence in student and employer support.
Qualifications / Requirements:
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The successful candidate will possess a Canadian law degree; however, in exceptional circumstances, an equivalent combination of extensive experience, along with a deep and comprehensive understanding of the legal profession and legal career advising, may be considered.
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A strong understanding of the complexities, trends, and evolving direction of the legal profession is essential, together with demonstrated expertise of career advising.
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Accreditation through a Career Development Association is considered a strong asset.
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The role requires the ability to analyze complex issues, apply sound judgment, and recommend best practices and strategic solutions using a broad and informed perspective.
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The successful candidate will demonstrate strong knowledge of employer outreach and student marketing strategies, as well as a thorough understanding of legal recruitment practices and employment trends across Canada.
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A minimum of five years of related experience is required.
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Experience within a post-secondary environment is highly desirable.
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The position also requires a high level of competence in developing and facilitating programs, workshops, and events.
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Proven experience in coaching, team leadership, and effectively managing workflow within a high-performing team environment is essential.
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Strong decision-making, communication, and change management skills are critical, including the ability to communicate complex and evolving issues within the legal profession to the Dean, faculty, staff, and students, and to implement program and service enhancements as needed.
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The candidate will be expected to maintain membership in the Canadian Legal Career Development Network (CCDN) and the National Association for Law Placement (NALP).
Application Deadline: July 2, 2026
We would like to thank all applicants in advance for submitting their resumes. Please note, only those candidates chosen to continue on through the selection process will be contacted.
This position is classified in the Professional Career Band, Level 4 of the Management and Professional Staff Career Framework.
For a listing of all management and staff opportunities at the University of Calgary, view our Management and Staff Careers website.
About the University of Calgary
UCalgary is Canada's entrepreneurial university, located in Canada's most enterprising city. It is a top research university and one of the highest-ranked universities of its age. Founded in 1966, its 36,000 students experience an innovative learning environment, made rich by research, hands-on experiences and entrepreneurial thinking. It is Canada's leader in the creation of start-ups. Start something today at the University of Calgary. For more information, visit ucalgary.ca.
The University of Calgary has launched an institution-wide Indigenous Strategy ii' taa'poh'to'p committing to creating a rich, vibrant, and culturally competent campus that welcomes and supports Indigenous Peoples, encourages Indigenous community partnerships, is inclusive of Indigenous perspectives in all that we do.
The university's commitment to the Indigenous Strategy is evident through the oversight of 18 Elders serving on the Circle of Advisors and the many unit-based circles working towards implementation of the strategy including the Faculty Advisory Circle and teams such as the Office of Indigenous Engagement, the Writing Symbols Lodge, and the Indigenous Research Support Team. Many Indigenous-based events and processes are impacting curriculum, programming and polices at the University of Calgary.
As an equitable and inclusive employer, the University of Calgary recognizes that a diverse staff/faculty benefits and enriches the work, learning and research experiences of the entire campus and greater community. We are committed to removing barriers that have been historically encountered by some people in our society. We strive to recruit individuals who will further enhance our diversity and will support their academic and professional success while they are here. In particular, we encourage members of the designated groups (women, Indigenous peoples, persons with disabilities, members of visible/racialized minorities, and diverse sexual orientation and gender identities) to apply. To ensure a fair and equitable assessment, we offer accommodation at any stage during the recruitment process to applicants with disabilities. Questions regarding [diversity] EDI at UCalgary can be sent to the Office of Institutional Commitments ([email protected]) and requests for accommodations can be sent to People & Culture ([email protected]).
Do you have most but not all the qualifications? Research show that women, racialized and visible minorities, and persons with disabilities are less likely to apply for jobs unless they meet every single qualification. At UCalgary we are committed to achieving equitable, diverse, inclusive and accessible employment practices and workplaces and encourage you to apply if you believe you are right for this role.
We encourage all qualified applicants to apply, however preference will be given to Canadian citizens and permanent residents of Canada.
