Director of Employer Relations

Director of Employer Relations

Company: University of Oklahoma

Job Location: Norman, Oklahoma

Category: Career Development and Services

Type: Full-Time

Job Number: 260193

Organization: Career Services

Job Location: Oklahoma-Norman-Norman Campus

Schedule:

Work Schedule: 8am - 5pm, M - F

Work Type: Onsite

Salary Range: Targeted salary: $83,000 - $87,000 annually, based on experience

Benefits Provided: Yes

Required Attachments: Resume, Cover Letter

Job Description

The Director of Employer Relations provides visionary leadership in advancing the university's career readiness mission through cross-campus collaboration, employer engagement, and strategic program development. This is done by developing, expanding, and maintaining strategic relationships with employers, industry partners, and campus stakeholders to increase internship and full-time employment opportunities for University of Oklahoma students. Responsible for driving data-informed relationship development efforts, provides direction for employer engagement strategy, and oversees a team of professionals focused on delivering high-impact recruiting programs, career events, and experiential learning opportunities.

Responsibilities:

• Builds and maintains partnerships with employers, academic units, and institutional stakeholders to promote career readiness and employer connectivity
• Leads efforts to expand employer connected learning opportunities, develop scalable strategic partnership programs, and align employer engagement strategies with university-wide goals
• Ensures that partnerships and programs meet the evolving needs of students, industry, and higher education
• Serves as a primary point of contact for employer engagement at the University of Oklahoma, using assessment data to prioritize relationship development efforts
• Cultivates and manages strategic partnerships with employers to create high-quality internships, experiential learning, and full-time job opportunities for students
• Fosters strong working relationships with academic units, including Deans, Associate Deans, and Division and Program Directors to align employer engagement with college-specific student needs
• Continuously identifies new opportunities for employer collaboration based on labor market trends and student career interests
• Develops and implements assessment tools to evaluate the effectiveness of employer programs and services
• Collects, analyzes, and reports quantitative and qualitative data on employer engagement, recruiting events, and partnership outcomes to inform strategy and demonstrate results
• Stays up to date on national and regional employment trends and best practices through active participation in professional associations; share insights with internal stakeholders
• Conducts benchmarking and best practice reviews to enhance employer engagement strategies and programs
• Supervises assigned staff, offering guidance, coaching, and opportunities for professional growth and collaboration
• Provides strategic oversight for on-campus and off-campus recruiting programs, including job fairs, networking events, and industry panels
• Collaborates with career advising, alumni relations, and advancement teams to ensure employer engagement aligns with broader university goals and enhances the recruiting return on investment (ROI)
• Promotes a culture of innovation, accountability, and collaboration across the employer relations team
• Performs various duties as needed to successfully fulfill the function of the position

Job Requirements

Required: Bachelor's degree from an accredited institution, AND:

• 7 years experience in employer development, talent acquisition, career services, college recruiting or related field

Equivalency/Substitution: Experience or a combination of education and related experience can be considered in lieu of degree. A one-to-one ratio is used to determine the number of years of experience required in place of a degree.

Skills:

• Ability to effectively market the university and its students to external employers, and successfully convert prospective partners into active recruiters
• Collaborative mindset with strong team-building and cross-functional coordination abilities
• Demonstrated success in employer relations, talent acquisition, or the development of strategic employer partnerships
• Strong relationship management and customer service skills, with the ability to engage diverse stakeholders
• Proven ability in strategic planning, program development, and execution of initiatives that foster impactful employer engagement
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to tailor messaging to various audiences
• Experience in program assessment, data analysis, and outcomes-based evaluation
• Proficient in Microsoft Office Suite and familiar with career services platforms and related technologies
• Knowledge of college recruiting practices, industry trends, and best practices
• Ability to supervise and lead teams, ensuring effective collaboration and achievement of university goals
• Ability to travel

Certifications: None

Advertised Physical Requirements:

• Standard office environment
• Prolonged periods of sitting at a desk and working on a computer
• Flexibility to work evenings, weekends, and holidays in alignment with events, meeting schedules, and deadlines

Departmental Preferences: None

Supervision: Direct supervision of Associate Director of Employer Relations-1, Sr. Asst. Director-1, Events Team - 2

Special Instructions: If you are selected as a final candidate for this position, you will be subject to The University of Oklahoma Norman Campus Tuberculosis Testing policy. To view the policy, visit https://hr.ou.edu/Policies-Handbooks/TB-Testing.

Hiring contingent upon a Background Check?: Yes