Assistant Director of Student Programs

About the role:

The American Indian Law Center (AILC) is seeking a mission-driven, highly organized Assistant Director to lead the Pre-Law Summer Institute for American Indians and Alaska Natives (PLSI) and its year-round programs supporting Native pre-law and law students. This is a visible, influential role for someone who thrives in education and program management, enjoys building relationships, and can keep many moving parts running smoothly. While AILC is housed at and partners with UNM Law School, AILC is a separate non-profit, and is not part of UNM.

What you will do:

· Lead day-to-day operations for PLSI and related programs, including bar prep initiatives, clerkship programs, and academic/professional development offerings.

· Lead pathway outreach to pre-Law students in order to recruit and prepare them for Law School and applications.

· Plan and deliver key program cycles: recruitment, application review, admissions, registration, orientation, daily class schedules, and end-of-program wrap-up.

· Build and maintain strong relationships with alumni, tribal colleges and universities, tribal education

· Hire and supervise summer teaching assistants and coordinate with faculty, guest speakers, and trainers.

· Develop and contribute social media content (Planable, Mailchimp, Survey Monkey, Doodle, Word Press)

· Plan events, trainings, and panels, including coordinating travel and logistics for students, staff, and professionals.

· Manage program budgets and assist with grant compliance, reporting, and data collection.

· Use technology and data (LMS, databases, surveys, etc.) to improve efficiency, track outcomes, and strengthen programming.

· Represent AILC and PLSI at conferences, career fairs, and national events as a public ambassador for the program.

Who will thrive here:

· Experienced program or education professional who understands higher education cycles and can learn the details of law school admissions and professional training.

· Calm under pressure, enjoys “keeping all the balls in the air,” and can move seamlessly between big-picture planning and hands-on “roll up your sleeves” work.

· Strong communicator who can motivate students, staff, and partners and navigate sensitive and confidential situations with tact and professionalism.

· Comfortable supervising staff, managing deadlines, and holding others accountable while remaining flexible, open to feedback, and willing to learn.

· Innovative problem-solver who uses data and technology to refine programs and support students from pre-law through bar passage and into early careers.

· Willing to jump in and figure it out, while receiving on the job training.

Minimum Qualifications:

· Bachelor’s degree required

· Exp in training or education 1 yr required

· Supervisory exp 1 yr required

· Events management, 1 yr required

· Admissions, registration, enrollment, orientation, guidance counselor, 2 yrs preferred

· Experience working with Tribes or Natives, 1 yr preferred

· Recruitment and/or outreach, 1 yr preferred

· Grants management and reporting, 1 yr preferred

· Public speaking, 1 yr preferred

· Microsoft Office 365 (Outlook, Word, Excel, PowerPoint) environment including formatting and production of word processing documents, spreadsheets, and reports.

· Ability to use tools and applications for communication, gathering and organizing data, tracking progress, promoting programs, reporting, and video conferencing.

· Experience developing social media content (Planable, Mailchimp, Survey Monkey, Doodle, Word Press)

· Ability to travel out of state 4-5 trips per year for 3-4 days per trip to do outreach, presentations, and tabling

· Reliable transportation required

· US driver’s license required

· We are funded by the Bureau of Indian Education, and our grants require Indian Preference in hiring.

Benefits:

· 403b with 2% contribution

· Employer paid life insurance

· 64 hours of NM Healthy Workplaces Act paid sick leave per year

· One week of PTO per year

· Seven holidays (MLK, Juneteenth, July 4, Labor Day, Thanksgiving and Day after Thanksgiving)

· Approximately two weeks off, paid, over winter break, which follows or exceeds UNM Law School’s closure (Dec 20, 2025-Jan 4, 2026)

· Free parking at UNM (valued at $700)

· Hybrid work schedule available (3-4 days in office, and 1–2 days work from home per week) August–April

Commitment to Native students and Indian preference:

For decades, AILC and PLSI have supported Native students interested in law and service to Indian Country, and this position is central to that mission. Federal grants through the Bureau of Indian Education require Indian Preference in hiring, and preference will be given to qualified candidates who are members of federally recognized tribes or who qualify for Indian Preference with the federal government.

Job Type: Full-time

Pay: $85,000.00 - $105,000.00 per year

Benefits:

• 403(b)
• Life insurance
• Paid time off
• Professional development assistance
• Referral program

Application Question(s):

• Please acknowledge that you understand that this position does not currently offer health benefits.
• Please attach, or include a cover letter here.
• We are funded by the Bureau of Indian Education, and our grants require Indian Preference in hiring. To comply with our grants, we ask the following: Are you a member of a federally recognized tribe, or do you qualify for Indian Preference in hiring with the federal government? (Please note that answering no to this question does not automatically disqualify you from consideration.)
• Are you able to travel out of state 4-5 trips per year for 3-4 days per trip to do outreach, presentations, and tabling? Are you available for rare-occasional evening events? Do you have reliable transportation for local travel, and a safe driving record?

Education:

• Bachelor's (Required)

Experience:

• training or education : 1 year (Required)
• Supervising: 1 year (Required)
• Events management: 1 year (Required)
• Admissions/registration/enrollment/orientation/guidance coun: 2 years (Preferred)
• working with Tribes or Natives: 1 year (Preferred)
• Recruitment and/or outreach: 1 year (Preferred)
• Grants management and reporting: 1 year (Preferred)
• Public speaking: 1 year (Preferred)
• Social media content development : 1 year (Preferred)

License/Certification:

• US Driver's License (Required)

Work Location: Hybrid remote in Albuquerque, NM 87106