Public Policy Associate Jobs in Virginia (NOW HIRING)

The Frank Batten School of Leadership and Public Policy at the University of Virginia seeks an experienced, innovative, and student-centered professional to serve as Associate Director of Career Advancement.
The Associate Director plays a central role in preparing the next generation of public leaders by serving as a trusted career coach, strategist, and connector for Batten's undergraduate and graduate students and alumni. Through individualized coaching, innovative career education, employer and alumni engagement, and experiential learning, this position helps students translate their policy education into meaningful careers across government, consulting, nonprofits, philanthropy, advocacy, and the private sector.
At UVA Batten, we believe career success starts with connection. Career advancement begins on a student's first day-not with a job search, but with building relationships, exploring possibilities, gaining meaningful experiences, and developing the confidence to navigate a lifetime of leadership and public impact. The Associate Director will embrace this coaching philosophy while helping students clarify goals, build professional networks, and confidently pursue opportunities aligned with their interests and strengths.
As an integral member of the Career Advancement & Alumni Engagement team, the Associate Director will collaborate closely with faculty, staff, alumni, employers, and campus partners to advance Batten's commitment to student success and the school's 2030 Strategic Plan.
The Associate Director reports to the Director of Career Advancement & Alumni Engagement. While the position typically requires a standard work schedule, occasional evening and weekend work and regional travel will be required to support employer engagement, alumni programming, and student events. Hybrid work arrangements are available consistent with university policy.
Ideal Candidate
The ideal candidate is an exceptional coach, relationship builder, and strategic thinker who is passionate about helping students launch meaningful careers.
Successful candidates will possess a strong understanding of public policy career pathways and graduate-level recruiting, particularly within government, consulting, nonprofits, philanthropy, advocacy, and mission-driven organizations. They will demonstrate the ability to coach high-achieving students through complex career decisions, cultivate strategic employer and alumni partnerships, and develop innovative programming that prepares students for success in a rapidly evolving workforce.
The successful candidate will be collaborative, entrepreneurial, data-informed, and committed to continuous improvement. They will possess exceptional communication skills, intellectual curiosity, and a genuine passion for public service and leadership development.
Student Career Advising (80%)

• Serve as a trusted career coach for undergraduate and graduate students, providing individualized guidance on career exploration, career design, internships, graduate school, job search strategy, networking, résumé and cover letter development, interviewing, salary negotiation, and long-term career planning.
• Help students identify and articulate their strengths, interests, values, and experiences while translating their Batten education into compelling professional narratives for diverse employers.
• Coach students pursuing highly competitive opportunities across consulting, government, nonprofits, advocacy organizations, philanthropy, think tanks, and the private sector.
• Develop long-term coaching relationships that encourage reflection, confidence, resilience, and lifelong career management.
• Collaborate with the University Career Center and Career Communities to ensure seamless, high-quality career support for Batten students and strong advocacy for university-wide initiatives.
• Stay informed on labor market trends, emerging industries, graduate recruiting practices, and public policy career pathways to provide timely and relevant guidance.
• Participate in regional and national professional associations, conferences, and trainings to remain current on best practices in career coaching and student success.

Student & Alumni Programming (15%)

• In partnership with the Director and University Career Center, design and deliver innovative career education programs that connect students with alumni, employers, and leaders across the public policy profession.
• Develop evidence-informed workshops and experiential learning opportunities that strengthen students' career readiness, professional identity, leadership capacity, and lifelong career management skills.
• Collaborate on signature initiatives including alumni networking, employer engagement, industry treks, career communities, and experiential learning programs.
• Support the development of career communications, including newsletters, digital resources, and career education materials for students and alumni.
• Track internship and employment outcomes and contribute to internal assessment, strategic planning, and external reporting.
• Partner with colleagues across Batten, the University Career Center, and the UVA Alumni Association to strengthen student, alumni, and employer engagement.

Communication, Technology & Assessment (5%)

• Utilize technology platforms including Handshake, Stellic, LinkedIn, and other career technologies to enhance student engagement and service delivery.
• Promote career programming and opportunities through effective communication strategies and digital engagement.
• Champion a data-informed approach to career coaching by leveraging student engagement data, employment outcomes, and labor market insights to continuously improve programs and services.
• Contribute to the collection, analysis, and reporting of career outcomes, internship data, employer engagement, and student success metrics.
• Collaborate across the UVA Batten to ensure career initiatives are effectively communicated and aligned with institutional priorities.

Minimum Qualifications

• Master's degree in public policy, higher education, counseling, business, communications, education, or a related field.
• Five years of progressively responsible experience in career development, executive coaching, talent development, workforce development, higher education, consulting, public policy, nonprofit leadership, or a related profession.
• Demonstrated commitment to student success and public service.
• Exceptional interpersonal, coaching, presentation, and communication skills.
• Demonstrated ability to build trusted relationships with students, alumni, employers, faculty, and external partners.
• Experience developing and facilitating workshops, professional development programming, or educational initiatives.
• Strong organizational, analytical, and project management skills, with the ability to manage multiple priorities simultaneously.
• Experience interpreting labor market information and using data to improve programs and services.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office and career-related technologies including CRM and career management platforms (e.g., Handshake, Salesforce, LinkedIn).

Preferred Qualifications

• Six or more years of progressively responsible experience in career services, executive coaching, consulting, talent development, workforce development, public policy, government, or related leadership roles.
• Experience advising graduate students or early-career professionals pursuing competitive employment opportunities.
• Familiarity with recruiting practices across consulting, government, nonprofits, policy research organizations, and mission-driven employers.
• Knowledge of NACE Career Readiness Competencies, career coaching frameworks, Life Design principles, Appreciative Advising, or related student development models.

The anticipated hiring range for this role is $75,000 - $95,000, commensurate with qualifications.
The University will perform background checks on all new hires prior to employment.
This is primarily a sedentary job involving extensive use of desktop computers. The job does occasionally require traveling some distance to attend meetings, and programs.
To Apply:
Please apply online , by searching for requisition number R0084994. Complete an application with the following documents:

• Resume
• Cover Letter - must be included to be considered. Cover letter should include your interest in the position and how your relevant experience pertains to this position.

Upload all materials into the resume submission field. You can submit multiple documents into this one field or combine them into one PDF. Applications without all required documents will not receive full consideration. Internal applicants may search and apply for jobs on the UVA Internal Careers website . Review of applications will begin July 27, and the position will remain open until filled.
References will be completed via UVA's standardized process SkillSurvey. A total of five references will be requested via SkillSurvey during the final phase of the interview process.
For questions about the application process, please contact Michele Jarman , Academic Recruiter. For questions about the position, please contact Sarah Hanks, Director of Career Advancement & Alumni Engagement, at shanks@virginia.edu .
For more information about UVA and the Charlottesville community please see http://www.virginia.edu/life/charlottesville and https://embarkcva.com/.
The University of Virginia is an equal opportunity employer. All interested persons are encouraged to apply, including veterans and individuals with disabilities. Learn more about UVA's commitment to non-discrimination and equal opportunity employment .