Associate Director of Employer Relations

The Associate Director of Employer Relations plays a key role within the Center for Career and Professional Development at Rhodes College, identifying, cultivating, strengthening, managing, and evaluating employer partnerships to increase internship and full-time job opportunities, nationally, for Rhodes students.  This role involves regular collaboration with recruiters, alumni, faculty, staff, and other members of the Rhodes community to foster meaningful connections and career opportunities while translating the value of a liberal arts degree into highly marketable professional skills.

The Associate Director will use a high-touch, consultative approach to deliver customized recruitment solutions that connect employers with Rhodes talent. In addition to employer engagement, the Associate Director leads one or more strategic initiatives that support the  CCPD team’s mission, such as coordinating external outreach for career treks and leading on-campus recruiting events.  This is a 12-month in-person role. Travel locally and out of town up to 20% is required. Some evening and weekend work is required.

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  Cultivate and manage a portfolio of employer partnerships across all employment sectors to expand access to internships, full-time roles, and career experiences for Rhodes students across the country.

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  Conduct regular travel to priority markets, informed by student career interests and labor market data, to meet with recruiters, alumni, and industry professionals.

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  Plan and execute high-impact visits with precise communication and follow-up strategies. Leverage alumni networks, faculty insights, and industry research to identify new opportunities and maintain long-term partnerships. 

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  Serve as the primary relationship manager for a portfolio of employer partners, developing and providing customized recruitment strategies and solutions that advance employer hiring goals, enhance student career readiness and employment outcomes, and support the College’s strategic priorities.

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  Maintain consistent communication through Handshake: track engagement, document career opportunities, manage job and internship postings, events, and student communication.

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  Respond to all recruitment inquiries and coordinate with appropriate CCPD team members to effectively match employer’s needs with opportunity pipelines.

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  Design employer engagement opportunities that align with institutional goals and employer priorities. Recruit and steward employer and industry partners to participate in programs and events, ensuring alignment with student career interests, academic priorities, and recruiting needs.

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  Lead the coordination and execution of on-campus recruiting events, such as Career Fairs, Graduate School Fairs, and industry specific recruiting programs, collaborating with CCPD colleagues and academic units to ensure employer programs and initiatives support and enhance student career opportunities and professional networks.

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  Serve as a liaison between employers and campus stakeholders, including faculty, student organizations, and administrative units to facilitate meaningful engagement and collaboration.

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  Use labor market data, student interest trends, and engagement metrics to inform outreach strategy and employer relationship development. Participate in professional development and contribute to team-wide strategic planning and innovation efforts.

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  Share insight with faculty and staff to inform advising/coaching, programming, and curricular alignment. Stay informed on recruiting practices and skill demands across all employment sectors to support career preparation and success.

• Master’s degree required.

• 5 years of experience in career services, workforce development, university relations & recruiting, or similar fields required.

• Demonstrated success in networking, relationship management, and/or business development.

• Strong understanding of both local and national recruiting and hiring trends in higher education.

• Excellent communication, organizational, and project management skills.

• Collaborative mindset with experience working across academic and administrative units.

• Proficiency with Microsoft Office required.

• Experience working with an online career management platform required; Handshake experience strongly preferred.

• Ability to work independently, travel regularly, and represent Rhodes College with professionalism.

• This position requires a valid driver's license, a good driving record, and must be insurable by the College's insurance carrier.

• Travel locally and out of town travel up to 20% is required.

• Some evening and weekend work is required.