Associate Director of Health Professions & Life Sciences Career Advising

About the role

The Associate Director of Health Professions & Life Sciences Career Advising serves as Northeastern University’s dedicated career specialist for students pursuing careers in medicine, dentistry, pharmacy, public health, biotechnology, pharmaceutical sciences, clinical research and related fields. This senior advisor leads sector‑specific programming, builds employer partnerships, and leverages labor‑market data and AI tools to guide students from early exploration through professional school applications and full‑time job negotiations.

Key responsibilities

• Provide individualized career coaching to students and recent graduates targeting internships, co‑ops and full‑time roles in health care, life sciences and related sectors.
• Design, deliver and continuously improve sector‑specific programming such as industry explorations, networking events, mock interviews, career fairs and salary‑negotiation workshops.
• Supervise and develop 1‑2 Assistant Directors, delivering regular coaching, performance feedback and professional‑development support.
• Cultivate and steward relationships with hospitals, health systems, biotech and pharmaceutical firms, research institutions and public‑health agencies to generate internship and hiring pipelines.
• Monitor labor‑market trends, AI‑driven hiring practices and compensation benchmarks, translating insights into advising content and student resources.

Required profile

• Bachelor’s degree in a life‑sciences, health or related field (master’s or doctorate preferred).
• 4‑6 years of experience in career services, health‑professions advising, clinical or research recruiting, or biotechnology/pharmaceutical industries.
• Demonstrated ability to manage and develop staff, including coaching, performance management and engagement.
• Strong presentation, coaching and interpersonal skills with the ability to engage students at varying stages of career readiness.

Required skills

• Proficiency with career‑management platforms such as Handshake.
• Experience using labor‑market intelligence tools (e.g., Lightcast, LinkedIn Talent Insights).
• Familiarity with pre‑health advising platforms (e.g., Liaison/AMCAS).
• Ability to leverage AI‑enabled career development tools for data‑driven advising.