Associate Director, Recruiting & Industry Relations

Associate Director, Recruiting & Industry Relations

Apply now Job no: 553143 Work type: Management (MPP)
Location: San Diego Categories: MPP, At-Will, Full Time, Student Services, On-site (work in-person at business location)

Join Our Team as the Associate Director, Recruiting & Industry Relations!

At San Diego State University (SDSU), we prepare students to shape the future through education, innovation, and community engagement. Within Career Services, we empower students and alumni to explore careers, develop skills, and connect with meaningful professional opportunities.

We are seeking an experienced and strategic Associate Director, Recruiting & Industry Relations to lead efforts that connect SDSU’s talented students and alumni with the region’s vibrant employers and industries. This is an opportunity to combine innovation, relationship management, and leadership to expand career pathways and strengthen SDSU’s role in workforce and economic development.

The Associate Director provides visionary leadership for the university’s employer engagement and recruiting programs. They develop and manage partnerships with companies, organizations, and community stakeholders, creating pipelines for internships, fellowships, and full-time employment. This position also leads a professional team within Career Services, setting goals, aligning strategies, and fostering excellence through collaboration and accountability.

• Lead Recruiting & Industry Relations Strategy: Develop and oversee programs that connect SDSU students and alumni with employers across industries and sectors.
• Strengthen Industry Partnerships: Build and maintain relationships with employers, workforce boards, chambers of commerce, and economic development organizations.
• Innovate Career Programming: Create and enhance services that go beyond recruiting — developing experiences that provide value to both students and employers.
• Drive Data-Informed Results: Track key metrics on employment outcomes, industry engagement, and student participation; analyze trends and develop solutions to improve performance.
• Generate Revenue & Expand Opportunities: Oversee employer service fees, sponsor ships, and event-based revenue to sustain and grow programs.
• Collaborate Across Campus: Partner with academic colleges, development, and campus initiatives to align employer engagement with institutional priorities.
• Lead & Mentor Staff: Supervise the Industry Relations team, providing direction, coaching, and professional development opportunities to ensure success and growth.

• Mission-Driven Impact: Help prepare SDSU students for successful, purpose-driven careers that transform communities and industries.
• Collaborative Leadership: Join a forward-thinking team committed to innovation, inclusion, and partnership.
• Regional Engagement: Work at the intersection of education and workforce development, engaging directly with employers and economic leaders.
• Professional Growth: Lead high-impact initiatives while advancing your own leadership career in higher education and talent development.

• This is a full-time, at-will role, offering comprehensive benefits.
• Position is designated exempt under FLSA and is not eligible for overtime compensation.
• Standard SDSU work hours are Monday – Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., but may vary based on operational needs.
• The individual hired into this role will work on campus at SDSU in San Diego.

SDSU Career Services, a unit within the Division of Student Affairs and Campus Diversity, is an innovative and globally recognized change-agent in education, workforce, and economic development. SDSU Career Services is also a national authority in the field and a federally designated career services provider authorized by the California Employment Development Department (EDD) and the United States Department of Labor (DOL).

The department has been named the most valuable organization across a thirteen-state region and has expanded its employer relations team to support growing regional and national workforce needs.

SDSU Career Services is changing the paradigm for how…