Academic Program Specialist - Industry Engagement and Student Success

APPLICATION INSTRUCTIONS:

CURRENT PENN STATE EMPLOYEE (faculty, staff, technical service, or student), please login to Workday to complete the internal application process . Please do not apply here, apply internally through Workday.

CURRENT PENN STATE STUDENT (not employed previously at the university) and seeking employment with Penn State, please login to Workday to complete the student application process. Please do not apply here, apply internally through Workday.

If you are NOT a current employee or student, please click “Apply” and complete the application process for external applicants .Approval of remote and hybrid work is not guaranteed regardless of work location. For additional information on remote work at Penn State, see Notice to Out of State Applicants .POSITION SPECIFICS Academic Program Specialist – Industry Engagement and Student Success The John and Willie Leone Family Department of Energy and Mineral Engineering (EME) at Penn State is seeking an Academic Program Specialist to play a key role in advancing student success and strengthening connections among students, faculty, and industry partners.

This professional-level position operates at the intersection of academic affairs, student success, and industry engagement. The role is responsible for developing, administering, and continuously improving programs and processes that support recruitment, career placement, faculty activities, and academic program operations. The position exercises discretion and independent judgment in designing initiatives, advising leadership, and implementing strategies that directly impact student outcomes and the department’s academic mission.

Why This Role MattersEME’s national reputation is driven by strong student outcomes, engaged faculty, and deep relationships with industry partners. This position contributes to those outcomes by leading programmatic initiatives, evaluating effectiveness, and implementing improvements across recruitment, career placement, employer engagement, and academic programs.

The role has a direct impact on:

Student recruitment and retention pipelines

Internship, co-op, and employment outcomes

Faculty program processes and compliance

Employer engagement strategy and partnerships MINIMUM EDUCATION, WORK EXPERIENCE & REQUIRED CERTIFICATIONS Bachelor's Degree1+ years of relevant experience; or an equivalent combination of education and experience accepted

Required

Certifications:

None

Key Responsibilities Student Recruitment, Career Placement & Employer Engagement Develop and implement strategic recruitment and career placement initiatives to strengthen undergraduate and graduate pipelines and improve student outcomes.

Analyze recruitment, placement, and engagement data; identify trends and develop actionable recommendations to improve program performance.

Collaborate with academic advisers, program chairs, and academic leadership to align outreach strategies with departmental priorities.

Serve as EME’s representative to EMS Admissions and Career Services, contributing to college-level planning and coordinated recruitment strategies.

Build and sustain relationships with industry partners to expand internship, co-op, and full-time employment opportunities.

Represent EME in internal and external forums, advising on employer engagement models and workforce development needs.

Employer Engagement & Recruiting Program Operations Design, administer, and continuously improve employer engagement and recruiting programs that connect students with industry opportunities.

Serve as the primary point of contact for employers and recruiters, advising on engagement strategies and participation models.

Oversee recruiting infrastructure, including Nittany Lion Careers, information sessions, and interview programs, ensuring effective and scalable operations.

Evaluate the effectiveness of recruiting processes and employer engagement efforts; implement enhancements to improve employer participation and student access.

Gather and interpret employer feedback to inform program improvements and strategic decision-making.

Develop and execute communication strategies to promote internship, co-op, and employment…