Director of Employer Relations

Job Description - Director of Employer Relations (260193)

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 role develops, expands, and maintains strategic relationships with employers, industry partners, and campus stakeholders to increase internship and full-time employment opportunities for University of Oklahoma students. The director drives data-informed relationship development, provides direction for employer engagement strategy, and oversees a team delivering high-impact recruiting programs, career events, and experiential learning opportunities.

• 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 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 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.

• 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.

• 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

• 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

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

If you are selected as a final candidate for…