Employer Engagement Strategist

1. Strategic Planning:

• In collaboration with department leadership and other stakeholders such as college/program career center leadership, develop and execute a strategic vision for employer engagement locally, regionally, and nationally.
• Establish, execute, and assess progress against goals, timelines, and metrics.
• Identify priority industry sectors based on labor market trends and U of A programs of study; assess current gaps in engagement and develop plans to close those gaps.
• Develop strategies to connect employers to students; monitor, assess, and report on engagement effectiveness to address gaps and drive continuous improvement.
• Partner closely with department professionals overseeing early talent connections, experiential learning programs, and career events.
• Support workforce development partnerships where appropriate, connecting employers to curricular, research, and co-curricular offerings.
• Develop and nurture a deep understanding of Tucson, Pima County, state of Arizona, and national workforce ecosystems and labor market trends.

2. Employer Relationship Development:

• Establish and nurture employer partnerships to generate sponsorships, internship, experiential learning, mentorship, and full-time recruitment opportunities for U of A students, and to drive career event attendance.
• Scale and support the Wildcat Career Alliance (sponsorship) program to generate revenue for the department and build strategic relationships with employer partners interested in large scale hiring and/or brand enhancement at the university.
• Conduct regular follow up and strategy conversations with Wildcat Career Alliance members, facilitate semi-annual employer focus groups, and track sponsorship benefit usage.
• Work in partnership with Alumni Engagement at the University of Arizona Foundation to develop and grow an alumni network interested in mentoring students and/or participating in career events.
• Participate in local, regional and national professional organizations to build market presence.

3. Campus and Community Relationship Building:

• Build nurture, and/or maintain relationships with colleges, programs, and academic departments to advance employer engagement and workforce development.
• Serve as a coordinating point for employers whose recruiting needs span multiple colleges, ensuring a unified, "One U of A" approach.
• Collaborate with Alumni Engagement and university colleagues (e.g., Office of Research and Partnerships, Office of Undergraduate Research) to present a unified U of A presence to organizations around talent acquisition and workforce development.
• Serve as a knowledgeable resource for faculty and staff on the regional and national employer base and campus recruiting trends.

4. Communication, Reporting, and Representation:

• Communicate effectively via phone, email, presentations, and in-person meetings with employers regarding engagement opportunities and U of A partnership options.
• Track and report employer engagements using university systems (e.g., Handshake, Trellis).
• Contribute content to departmental employer-facing publications and materials.
• Represent the Center for Career Readiness and the University of Arizona to external organizations, professional associations, and community groups as appropriate.
• May represent the university to employers seeking to expand operations into Arizona.

5. Administration & Collaboration:

• Represent the Department on university committees and at conferences as needed and assigned.
• Participate in at least 2-3 webinars or other professional development opportunities annually and share learning with the team, by request or at the direction of department leadership.
• Perform related duties as assigned or required to meet department and university goals and objectives.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

• Knowledge of Handshake or other career services management software.
• Working knowledge of on-campus recruiting processes and a foundational understanding of the current trends influencing recruitment of college students.
• Strong relationship building and business development skills.
• Understanding of the decentralized career ecosystem at the University of Arizona.
• Understanding of the local, regional, and national labor market and the impact of events on economic conditions.
• Ability to exercise independent judgment and take initiative independent of direct daily supervision.
• Proven and effective oral and written communication skills.
• Ability to translate data and trends to stakeholders and into actionable strategies.
• Technological savvy and willing to utilize systems to perform and track work.