Associate Director, Employer and Alumni Engagement

Associate Director, Employer and Alumni Engagement

George Mason University is looking for an enthusiastic and energetic person for Associate Director for Employer and Alumni Engagement. George Mason University has a strong institutional commitment to the achievement of excellence and diversity among its faculty and staff, and strongly encourages candidates to apply who will enrich Mason’s academic and culturally inclusive environment.

About the Department:
We prepare and connect career-ready students for post-graduate success.

University Career Services (UCS), a unit within the Division of University Life (UL), is the centralized career center for George Mason University (Mason), serving 40,000 undergraduate and graduate students. UCS is dedicated to helping students identify and pursue opportunities where they can make a positive impact in a complex and quickly evolving world. In partnership with our strong network of employers, alumni, and faculty, we are able to break down barriers and successfully connect students with meaningful opportunities in their industries of interest to help them reach their full potential and advance not only themselves socio-economically, but their families too. Existing services and programs include one-on-one appointments, career exploration, industry specific programs, career fairs, experiential learning opportunities and graduate school preparation.

About the Position:
This position is responsible for elevating Mason as a top source of talent, reduce barriers in the recruiting process and strategically engage employers and alumni to increase employment connections for undergraduate and graduate students in all industries.

The Associate Director will provide innovative ideas, critical thinking and coordinated management of employer relationships that may span across the university. They will be responsible for staying abreast of the latest trends in recruiting and hiring, with a focus on DEI practices, as well as ensuring goals, plans, budgets and schedules are met.

Responsibilities:

Leadership

• Serve on the center’s leadership team and participate in developing and executing strategic plan goals/objectives, evaluating programs and services, and supporting the Executive Director. Assist in the management of office operations and as requested, in representing career services to the campus and external community;
• Amplify UCS as the on-campus subject matter expert on employer needs and recruiting/hiring trends by industry; sharing data from Handshake and employer interactions with campus stakeholders;
• Consult and collaborate effectively and regularly with Associate Directors to create/implement programs and services in the career center that anticipate or respond to trends in recruiting/hiring;
• Develop and enforce relevant employer policies and procedures (e.g. on-campus interviewing, job/internship posting approvals, recruiting policies.);
• Analyze and utilize tracked data and assessments to make informed, critical decisions particularly around the employer engagement strategy, staff resource allocation, and revenue generating activities (e.g., career fairs); and
• Oversee all aspects of employer development, employer relations, employer programs, and industry-specific initiatives.

Staff Supervision and Development

• Set vision for 6+ professionals; delegate responsibilities and directly supervise 2 staff: Senior Employer and Alumni Engagement Manager and Assistant Director of Recruiting to facilitate continuous improvement of the employer recruiting experience at Mason;
• Ensure Employer Engagement Consultants communicate regularly with Career Advisors for essential knowledge transfer around top academic programs, students’ interests, in-demand jobs/skills, recruiting timelines, hiring practices and workplace trends in support of the career center’s industry model and to connect employers with qualified candidates;
• Provide support and assistance in setting performance goals, reaching goals, and engaging in self-appraisal. Conduct annual appraisals of direct reports;
• Encourage and provide opportunities for staff development and growth. Showcase and encourage successful staff effort at the campus, local, regional, and national levels; and
• Continually improve by seeking professional development opportunities/feedback on supervision style and approaches to better enhance staff development, morale, and cohesion.

Employer and Alumni Development and Engagement

• Create and implement an employer development strategy to ensure students from all schools/colleges, undergraduate and graduate students, as well as international students have adequate opportunities. Assess and refine annually based on shifting student enrollments and career interests;
• Build and strengthen relationships with external and internal stakeholders (e.g., Alumni Relations, Advancement, Chamber of Commerce);
• Set employer development and employer relationship management goals/metrics and monitor achievement/outcomes;
• Advise employers on strategies for successful branding and recruiting at Mason, with focus on evaluating and changing practices in the screening/interview process that disproportionately negatively impact students from marginalized identity groups;
• Provide vision and leadership for signature recruiting events, with special attention to mix of in-person and virtual options;
• Develop innovative ideas to connect students with employers in industries underrepresented in the DC metro area, employers not engaged in on-campus recruiting and for raising the profile of small-medium sized organizations at Mason;
• Ensure concierge level service is provided to partnership program employers and those engaged with Mason at an enterprise level;
• Utilize the most current technology, online tools and social media to engage employers and alumni and connect them with Mason students;
• Oversee the creation and maintenance of all employer-targeted marketing and communications (e.g. website, email, print brochure), in keeping with university branding guidelines and key messages;
• Address policy violations and employer complaints in a timely manner, involving Legal Counsel as necessary;
• Stay current on changing economic and labor conditions and industry trends through meetings with employers, site visits and conference attendance; share trends regularly with staff and stakeholders; and
• Oversee team budget; evaluate partnership/career fair pricing structures annually.

Service

• Support staffing needs for large-scale events (e.g. career fairs, orientation), both in person and virtually;
• Contribute to UCS strategic plan development and implementation;
• Serve on division/university committees to represent UCS;
• Serve as liaison to university departments as appropriate; and
• Participate in all-staff meetings, trainings and symposia for UCS and the division.

Required Qualifications:

• Master’s degree in Higher Education, Human Resources or related field; or equivalent combination of education and experience;
• Experience (typically obtained in 5 years) in college/university career services or in campus recruiting/talent acquisition;
• Experience (typically obtained in 1-2 years) leading a team and/or supervising staff;
• Demonstrated ability to develop and maintain positive relationships, partnerships, and alliances. Stakeholder engagement (e.g., employers, students, alumni, faculty, and university administrators). Project and/or change management experience;
• Exceptional communication (written, oral, presentation); and
• Familiarity with Handshake or other campus career management or applicant tracking systems. Demonstrated commitment to DEI. Experience with data analysis and reporting.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Event planning experience; and
• Customer service orientation.

Special Instructions to Applicants: 

For full consideration, applicants must apply at https://jobs.gmu.edu/ complete and submit the online application; and upload a cover letter, resume, and a list of three professional references with contact information.

Equity Statement: 

George Mason University is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer, committed to promoting inclusion and equity in its community. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability or veteran status, or any characteristic protected by law.