Assistant Director for Employer Relations and Experiential Learning

The Center for Career Development is seeking an Assistant Director for Employer Relations and Experiential Learning who will lead the cultivation of employer partnerships and expand opportunities for student career exploration and development. This role plays a central part in building and sustaining relationships that support experiential learning, career programming, and student engagement. The Assistant Director will also coordinate the daily operations of credit-bearing and non-credit internships, the Signature Internship Program, the externship program, and the funds that support experiential learning. Working collaboratively with faculty, staff, students, parents, and alumni, the Assistant Director will manage administration, registration, budgeting, reporting, and assessment for these areas while stewarding employer outreach to diversify and strengthen experiential opportunities. Strong relationship-building, coaching, program management, and communication skills are essential.

Line of Report: The position will report to the Executive Director - Center for Career Development.

Essential Functions

• Develop an employer relations program that creates and sustains partnerships and develops pipelines for sourcing talent at the undergraduate level.
• Provide career advising/coaching and support to students and alumni who are exploring and seeking to gain experience and awareness of career options.
• Provide feedback on drafts of resumes, cover letters and personal statements
• Conduct mock interviews and offer constructive, actionable feedback.
• Advise students/alumni in researching fields of interest and building connections through the alumni network and other professional communities.
• Prepare students for recruiting events including career fairs and employer interviews.
• Coach students/alumni on how to articulate the value of their liberal arts education, personal strengths, and experiences.
• Coordinate winter break externship program.

Manage and Enhance Employer Relations & Experiential Learning Programs

Employer Relations

• Employer Engagement & Relationship Management: Cultivate and maintain long-term relationships with employers to develop sustainable pipelines for full-time and internship hiring, applying strong networking, communication, and partnership-building skills. Utilize Handshake to share and source opportunities for employer and student engagement. Implement outreach strategies and maintain employer records in platforms such as Handshake and LinkedIn.
• Career Programming & Event Planning: Plan and execute career events including career fairs, tabling events, networking receptions, employer information sessions, and off-campus career programs, requiring strong organizational and event-coordination skills.
• Data & Reporting: Manage data collection and reporting to inform employer engagement strategies and student outcomes. Analyze usage trends in Handshake and other platforms to identify opportunities for growth and improvement.
• Collaboration for Student Preparation: Partner with career advisors and faculty to provide supplemental support for students engaging in career readiness opportunities. Contribute to the development and delivery of preparation resources, information sessions, and communications that enhance student readiness and engagement.
• Winter Break Career Programming: Design and coordinate the annual externship program, employer site visits, professional development opportunities, and skill-building experiences. Promote opportunities, facilitate participation, and evaluate program outcomes.

Externship and Internship Programs

• Coordinate all aspects of experiential learning programs: source hosts, confirm dates, compile marketing materials, promote opportunities to students and faculty, prepare students and conduct assessments.
• Expand scope of industries/career fields represented including geographic diversity.
• Work with Alumni Relations/Advancement teams to identify potential alumni and parent hosts.
• Build and sustain relationships with the Signature Centers (Starr Center, CES, and the Lit House) to jointly promote experiential learning pathways, integrate center-based opportunities into career development initiatives, and deliver targeted preparation services for students.
• Collaborate with student affairs staff, student organizations, athletics, Greek life, and other campus groups to increase program visibility.
• Work with faculty, students and site supervisors to support approval processes and learning outcomes to ensure academic integrity.
• Serve as a liaison with the Registrar's Office for tracking and recording experiences.
• Expand Signature Internship Program and manage communication, timelines, and expectations between students and employer hosts.
• Coordinate with the Global Education Office to ensure international students complete required documentation for CPT eligibility.
• Support diversity initiatives and conduct outreach to encourage participation among BIPOC students.
• Work with Marketing to promote outcomes and manage web content.
• Participate in meetings related to internship education, policy, and high impact practices.

Manage Funding Programs

• Coordinate centralized information for all internship funding sources.
• Collaborate with Director of Student Success and manage committee to review applications for funding and determine allocation.
• Communicate with Advancement, Alumni Relations regarding value of funding sources.
• Promote funding programs to students and faculty, present informational sessions, and support students through application process.

Education, Training and Experience required

• Master's degree preferred. Graduate work in counseling, student development, higher education, or related fields highly desired.
• 2-4 years of experience providing coaching, advising, training, or developmental support in higher education or related professional settings.
• Experience coordinating programs, guiding individuals through career or skill-building processes, or supporting learning and professional growth is strongly valued.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills with ability to work effectively with individuals and groups from diverse backgrounds.
• Effective presentation skills, proficiency with online platforms, digital communication tools, and social media.
• Proven ability to create and sustain strong partnerships with industry leaders, collaborate across diverse stakeholders, and engage external organizations to expand student opportunities.

Salary: $54,000