Academic Program Specialist - Industry Engagement and Student Success
Penn State UniversityAbout the role
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 Matters
EME’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 Degree 1+ 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 chair
Apply for this role
Generate a tailored application kit with a matched cover letter, interview prep, and CV highlights — in under 60 seconds.
Apply Now →Generate Application KitFree account required — sign up in 30s