Description

The Assistant Director of Employer Engagement reports directly to the Executive Director of the Career Success Center within the Career Success Center at Austin Peay State University. This role supports the strategic development, coordination, and growth of employer partnerships, recruitment initiatives, and experiential learning opportunities that advance student career success and career readiness at APSU.

 The Assistant Director serves as a key relationship manager for employers, community partners, alumni, and campus stakeholders by leading employer outreach, recruitment programming, career fairs, internship initiatives, and employer engagement efforts. This position plays an essential role in strengthening employer partnerships and connecting students with internships, part-time jobs, full-time employment, experiential learning opportunities, and networking experiences aligned with career readiness competencies and institutional goals.

 The Assistant Director of Employer Engagement will serve as a collaborative, relationship-oriented, and student-centered professional who thrives in a fast-paced environment and is passionate about strengthening employer partnerships and advancing positive student career outcomes.

Characteristics of a Successful Candidate

• Strong interpersonal and relationship-building skills with the ability to engage effectively with employers, students, faculty, staff, and community stakeholders.
• Highly organized with strong attention to detail and event coordination abilities.
• Demonstrated customer service mindset and professionalism.
• Ability to manage multiple projects, deadlines, and stakeholder relationships simultaneously.
• Strong communication, presentation, and outreach skills.
• Initiative-driven, collaborative, and solutions-oriented.
• Familiarity with career management platforms (e.g., Handshake) and employer engagement strategies. 
   

Responsibilities include:

Employer Engagement & Partnership Development

• Develop, cultivate, and sustain relationships with local, regional, and national employers, alumni, and community partners to increase recruitment, internship, experiential learning, and employment opportunities for APSU students and alumni.
• Conduct employer outreach efforts through meetings, calls, presentations, networking events, campus visits, and employer site visits.
• Attend Chamber of Commerce events, Clarksville Industrial Association meetings, workforce development initiatives, and other networking opportunities to represent APSU and expand employer partnerships.
• Serve as a primary point of contact for employers regarding recruitment activities, event participation, and campus engagement opportunities.
• Support employer onboarding, engagement, and recruitment activities through Handshake.
• Collaborate with employers to identify hiring needs and align opportunities with student populations, academic programs, and workforce trends.
• Assist in expanding partnerships across various industry sectors through relationship-building and strategic engagement efforts.
• Collaborate with the Executive Director of the Career Success Center to support the establishment and sustainability of an Employer Advisory Council.
• Support strategic employer engagement initiatives designed to increase employer retention, recruitment activity, and workforce partnerships.
• Coordinate and oversee the Summer Internship Program logistics and execution with support from the Career Success Center team, while continuously strengthening partnerships with local Clarksville-Montgomery County employers.

Career Fairs, Recruitment Events & Programming

• Collaborate with the Associate Director of Career Success Operations and Career Success Center team to coordinate and support logistics for career fairs and large-scale recruitment events.  
• Coordinate networking events, employer panels, information sessions, tabling events, recruitment initiatives, and employer site visits.
• Collaborate with campus partners, vendors, facilities, and stakeholders to support successful employer engagement programming and recruitment events.
• Manage employer communications, registration processes, marketing coordination, and event follow-up efforts.
• Support the development and implementation of innovative employer engagement programming that enhances student access to career opportunities and industry connections.
• Provide coordination and operational support for experiential learning initiatives, internship programs, and workforce development events.

Student & Campus Engagement

• Collaborate with career success coaches and campus partners to promote employer opportunities and career-related events to students.
• Support classroom presentations, workshops, and outreach initiatives related to career success resources, internships, networking, and employer engagement.
• Assist employers with navigating Handshake and recruitment processes, in collaboration with the Associate Director of Career Operations.
• Partner with career success coaches, academic departments, campus stakeholders to identify employer engagement opportunities aligned with academic programs and workforce trends.
• Promote employer participation in career readiness initiatives and student development programs.
• Support the supervision, training, and development of the Career Ambassador Program, particularly in areas related to employer engagement and outreach initiatives.

Data, Reporting & Technology Platforms

• Utilize Handshake and related platforms to maintain accurate employer records, manage event registrations, track employer engagement, and support reporting efforts. 
• Assist with collecting and analyzing employer engagement, recruitment activity, internship participation, and student employment data.
• Support assessment and reporting efforts related to employer partnerships, recruitment outcomes, and Career Success Center engagement metrics.
• Maintain organized records, communications, and tracking systems related to employer outreach and engagement efforts. 

Department and Division

• Maintain open communication with the Executive Director of the Career Success Center to share updates, opportunities, challenges, and recommendations.
• Represent the Career Success Center at university-wide events, community meetings, employer functions, and professional associations as needed.
• Stay informed on employer engagement trends, recruitment practices, and workforce development initiatives.
• Participate in professional development opportunities and related professional organizations.
• Assist with marketing, outreach, and promotional initiatives for career-related events and services.
• Work occasional evenings and weekends for employer events, career fairs, and university initiatives.
• Other duties as assigned. 

Requirements

Required Skills and Qualifications

• Master’s degree in Higher Education, Student Affairs, Business, Communication, Human Resources, or a related field, and at least two (2) years of experience in employer engagement, career services, recruiting, workforce development, sales, business relations, or related field (Any appropriate combination of relevant education, full-time or graduate assistantship experience, and/or certifications may be considered). 
• Advanced verbal and written communication skills, including presentation and relationship management experience. 
• Strong organizational and project management skills with the ability to manage multiple priorities and deadlines. 
• Ability to work independently and collaboratively in a team-oriented environment. 
• Demonstrated customer service and relationship-building skills. 
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite (Outlook, Word, PowerPoint, Excel) and operating a personal computer. 
• Ability to engage professionally with diverse stakeholders including students, employers, faculty, staff, and community partners.
   

Preferred Skills and Qualifications

• Master’s degree in Higher Education, Student Affairs, Business, Communication, Human Resources, or a related field, and at least five (5) years of experience in employer engagement, career services, recruiting, workforce development, sales, business relations, or related field (Any appropriate combination of relevant education, full-time or graduate assistantship experience, and/or certifications may be considered). 
• Demonstrated ability to supervise, mentor, and develop staff and student leaders. 
• Experience coordinating events, employer relations, or recruitment initiatives in higher education, nonprofit, or corporate settings. 
• Experience using career management platforms such as Handshake. 
• Knowledge of career readiness competencies, recruitment trends, and workforce development practices. 

Physical Requirements:

• Sedentary Work: Exerting up to 10 pounds of force occasionally and/or a negligible amount of force frequently or constantly to lift, carry, push, pull or otherwise move objects.