Director, Early Talent Programs

Join to apply for the Director, Early Talent Programs role at Acuity
.

Acuity Inc. (NYSE: AYI) is a market-leading industrial technology company. We use technology to solve problems in spaces, light and more things to come. Through our two business segments, Acuity Brands Lighting (ABL) and Acuity Intelligent Spaces (AIS), we design, manufacture, and bring to market products and services that make a valuable difference in people’s lives.

We achieve growth through the development of innovative new products and services, including lighting, lighting controls, building management solutions, and an audio, video and control platform. We focus on customer outcomes and drive growth and productivity to increase market share and deliver superior returns.

We focus on aggressively deploying capital to grow the business and to enter attractive new verticals. Acuity Inc. is based in Atlanta, Georgia, with operations across North America, Europe and Asia. The Company is powered by approximately 13,000 dedicated and talented associates. Visit us at

Work location:

This position may be based anywhere in the United States and includes travel (approximately 30%) as part of the responsibilities.

The Director of Early Talent Programs plays a critical role in shaping the future workforce of Acuity’s global organization. This leader drives the strategy to attract, develop, and retain early‑career talent across key regions—initially focused on North America, with expansion to additional global locations over time. In this role, you will oversee early‑career pipelines including university partnerships, internship and co‑op programs, and rotational leadership development programs.

You will work closely with business leaders, HR teams, and academic partners to position the company as an employer of choice for emerging talent around the world.

• Develop and execute a global early talent strategy aligned with long‑term workforce needs, collaborating with senior leaders and HR partners across regions.
• Build and scale early‑career programs, including internships, co‑ops, graduate, and rotational leadership programs that meet business needs.
• Partner with Business leaders and COE partners to design a high‑quality Leadership Program, including forecasting HC needs, defining appropriate curriculum, structured rotations, meaningful assignments, performance management process, and development opportunities that will provide a consistent and enriching experience for all program participants.
• Monitor and improve talent pipeline effectiveness into all programming, ensuring high‑quality candidate and employee experiences from recruitment through conversion.
• Establish and maintain strategic relationships with universities, colleges, professional associations, and student groups in key areas.
• Represent the company at academic events, advisory boards, and recruitment summits.
• Lead global campus recruiting strategies that strengthen our employer brand and increase visibility across targeted institutions.
• Partner with Marketing/Communications teams to develop engaging campus marketing campaigns, social media outreach, and digital content that reflect our global employer brand and associate value proposition.
• Oversee the planning and execution of campus events, on‑site experiences, competitions, and other engagement activities.
• Enable and influence business leaders globally to engage with early talent initiatives and support program success.
• Implement performance management, mentorship, training sessions, and development experiences for interns and early‑career leadership hires.
• Drive conversion strategies that help transition top interns and program participants into full‑time roles across global business units.

• Bachelor’s degree in HR, Business, Education, or related field. Master’s degree in HR, Organizational Development, Business, or related field preferred.
• 8+ years of experience in global talent acquisition, university relations, or early‑career program leadership within a multinational organization.
• Proven ability to design, scale, and manage early‑talent and leadership…