Graduate Recruitment & University Relations Manager

The Graduate Recruitment & University Relations Manager will design, build, and lead the Company's graduate talent acquisition strategy and university partnership ecosystem across all operating countries.

The role is responsible for establishing a sustainable pipeline of high-potential graduates, interns, apprentices, and emerging professionals by building strong relationships with leading universities, professional institutions, student associations, and academic stakeholders.

This position will serve as the architect of the Group Graduate Academy, ensuring the organization consistently attracts, develops, and retains top early-career talent capable of becoming future leaders, technical specialists, and business-critical professionals.

The successful candidate will help position the Company as an employer of choice among top students and graduates across Africa while creating structured pathways from campus to career.

The Graduate Recruitment Function will:

• Identify and attract top-performing graduates from leading universities.
• Build employer branding initiatives on campuses.
• Deliver structured graduate trainee programs.
• Support internship and industrial attachment programs.
• Create future leadership talent pools.
• Reduce dependency on external hiring for entry and specialist-level roles.
• Improve workforce succession readiness.
• Ensure high-potential graduates are placed into critical business functions.

We would like to build long-term strategic partnerships with academic institutions. The University Relations Function will:

• Establish partnerships with universities and colleges.
• Build relationships with faculty leadership and career offices.
• Create scholarship, internship.
• Participate in career fairs and employer engagement activities.
• Position the Company as a preferred graduate employer.
• Support curriculum collaboration aligned with business needs.

The Graduate Academy will:

• Deliver onboarding and induction programs.
• Accelerate technical and professional development.
• Build business and commercial acumen.
• Support cross-functional exposure and rotations.

Education

• Bachelor's degree in Human Resources, Business Administration, Psychology, Education, Communications, Organizational Development, or a related field.
• Master's degree in Human Resources, Organizational Psychology, Business Administration, or Talent Management preferred (CIPD, SHRM, HRCI, Talent Acquisition Specialty Certifications, Employer Branding Certifications, Career Development Certifications)

Experience

• 7+ years of progressive experience in Talent Acquisition, Graduate Recruitment, University Relations, Employer Branding, or Talent Management.
• Minimum 3 years leading graduate recruitment programs or campus hiring initiatives.
• Experience establishing university partnerships and talent pipelines.
• Experience designing graduate trainee, internship, or leadership development programs.
• Experience operating across multiple countries or regions preferred.
• Experience using recruitment technologies, ATS platforms, and talent analytics tools.
• Demonstrated success in attracting and developing high-potential early-career talent.