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Interim Director, Law Program

New York, New York, United States

 

Title: Interim Director, Law Program

Department: SEO Law

Report to: Executive Vice President, Professional Programs

Compensation: $127,000 - $152,700

FLSA: Exempt

Location/Hours: Hybrid – 3 days/week in office

 

All candidates must be within commutable distance of SEO’s offices at 55 Exchange Place, New York, NY 10005, upon hire.  

 

ABOUT SEO

Founded in 1963 during the Civil Rights Movement, SEO closes educational and career opportunity gaps for 7,000 ambitious young people annually.

SEO Law helps aspiring law students thrive in law school and excel in their legal careers through training, career development, and internships, all before starting law school. 

 

POSITION OVERVIEW

SEO Law is seeking a mission-aligned Interim Director, Law Program to lead our Law team during a maternity leave which is anticipated to be from July 2025 to February 2026. The Interim Director, Law Program will oversee core programs, manage staff, and provide high impact advising to participants both applying to and navigating law school. The ideal candidate brings experience in people management, legal education, and student advising, and is energized by helping future lawyers excel academically and professionally.

Team Leadership & Operational Oversight

  • Manage and support a cross-functional team of three, including an Assistant Director of Marketing, Operations Manager, and Program Coordinator staff.
  • Lead weekly team meetings, support individual staff through coaching and accountability, and ensure project execution across all workstreams.
  • Monitor internal systems, calendars, and workflows to ensure smooth operations across both programs.

Program Oversight

  • Guide the implementation of summer and academic-year programming for both Fellows (law students) and Catalyst Scholars (pre-law students).
  • Serve as a decision-maker and escalation point for participant issues, offering thoughtful, student-centered solutions.
  • Oversee communication and coordination with vendors, including LSAT tutors, consultants, and academic coaches.

Participant Advising & Law School Application Support

  • Provide strategic advising to pre-law students on LSAT planning, personal statements, resumes, school selection, and overall admissions strategy.
  • Review application materials and offer insight on key milestones and best practices for law school admissions.
  • Support law students through the transition into law school, offering academic and career guidance related to 1L performance, summer employment, and clerkship pathways.

Partner Communication & Stakeholder Management

  • Liaise with partner law firms and institutional contacts as needed, maintaining professional rapport and ensuring timely, clear communication.
  • Support Fellow placement and follow-up, troubleshoot issues as they arise, and communicate program updates or requests.
  • Collaborate with internal stakeholders to report key program milestones and address time-sensitive matters.

QUALIFICATIONS

  • JD strongly preferred.
  • 3+ years of professional experience in academic advising, legal practice, legal recruiting, program management, or student services role.
  • 2+ years of people management and team leadership experience within roles of increasing autonomy and responsibility.
  • Deep familiarity and experience with law school admissions processes, Big Law recruiting, or legal academic support.
  • Background working with law students or legal career development programs.

COMPETENCIES & SKILLS

  • Effective coaching, counseling, or mentoring skills with students or early-career professionals.
  • Excellent written and verbal communication and attention to detail.
  • Technical proficiency with SEO Law's systems and platforms (e.g., Salesforce, Airtable, Box, Google Workspace).
  • Passion for SEO: A deep curiosity and awareness of the barriers to entry and obstacles for pre-professionals launching careers in Corporate America, and a passion and dedication to closing those opportunity gaps.
  • Relationship Management: The emotional intelligence, professional presence, and intellectual depth to build relationships effectively and authentically and interact with a wide range of stakeholders, including current and prospective program participants, colleagues, and external partners.  
  • Project Management: An affinity for strategic planning with the ability to break down issues into component pieces, build project work plans, assume accountability for timelines, lead cross-functional working teams, evaluate data for continuous improvement, and navigate ambiguity along the way.  
  • Content Development: An ability to leverage subject matter expertise to create culturally relevant, interesting, and engaging industry-specific professional development content.  
  • Empathy and Awareness: A demonstrated commitment to continuous learning, improvement, and practice in engaging and empathizing with colleagues and communities from different backgrounds.
  • Discretion: Ability to exercise sound judgment in the handling of sensitive and highly confidential information.

 

 

COMPENSATION & BENEFITS 

SEO offers a competitive compensation package and comprehensive benefits plan including low-cost health, vision, and dental options, a generous holiday schedule and PTO policies, disability coverage, fully paid time off for new parents, and employer contributions to health reimbursement and retirement accounts. We are constantly working to improve our benefits each year based on the needs of our employees. We value wellness and strive to put people first and foremost.

The compensation listed in this posting reflects what SEO believes it will pay for this position at the time of this posting. Consistent with applicable law, compensation will be determined based on the skills, qualifications, and experience of the applicant along with the requirements of the position, and SEO reserves the right to modify this pay range at any time.

EEOC Policy

At SEO we are committed to cultivating a team that embodies the backgrounds and experiences of the constituencies we serve and the communities we live in, and a workplace that reflects the impact we make in the world. Candidates from all communities – including people of color, women, members of the LGBTQIA+ Community, veterans, and people with disabilities – are strongly encouraged to apply.

Equal Employment Opportunity is not just the law, it is our commitment.

Sponsors for Educational Opportunity is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer – M/F/D/V. We will consider all qualified applicants for employment regardless of race, color, ethnicity, religion, sex, gender, gender identity and expression, sexual orientation, national origin, disability, age, marital status, veteran status, pregnancy, parental status, genetic information or characteristics, or any other legally protected status.

If you need accommodation while applying for a role with SEO, due to a disability, please email SEO Talent.

 

THE ORGANIZATION

Established in 1963 by Michael Osheowitz, SEO (Sponsors for Educational Opportunity) is an educational non-profit founded on the belief that talent is everywhere; but opportunity is not. Our programs are designed to educate, train, mentor, and amplify the voices of our participants to give them a seat at the table – every table. We propel human potential.

SEO is an innovator in education, mentorship, and creating educational career opportunities that maximize the full potential of our participants. Each year SEO serves 7,000+ participants nationally, and the organization is widely recognized for developing best-in-class programs with exceptional results.

Not every SEO participant is on the same journey, but all are hungry for opportunity and SEO creates an ecosystem of excellence. Learn more about SEO's programs here: https://www.seo-usa.org/our-programs/.

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