Talent Connection Manager-Ivy+ Career Link

GENERAL PURPOSE AND SCOPE OF POSITION: The Talent Connection Manager (TCM) serves as a strategic connector between students, academic programs, and employers to drive career outcomes, work-and-learn participation, and student success. This role is responsible for developing and implementing career navigation, career coaching, and work-and-learn readiness strategies that help students understand career pathways, prepare for employment, and successfully transition into internships, apprenticeships, and full-time roles.

The TCM partners closely with Career Coach, Employer Consultants, Deans, Academic Advisors, and regional employer partners to ensure students are not only enrolled, but career-ready, placement-ready, and supported through completion and employment.

Reports to the campus Vice Chancellor of Workforce and Economic Development, Ivy+ Career Link.

MAJOR RESPONSIBILITIES:

Student Career Coaching & Career Readiness

• Provide and support career coaching activities to help students understand career options, pathways, and next steps related to their program of study.
• Coach students on resume development, interview preparation, professional communication, and workplace readiness.
• Help students translate classroom learning, labs, clinicals, and hands-on training into employer-relevant skills and experience for resumes and interviews.
• Support students in navigating career decisions related to manufacturing, healthcare, IT, business, logistics, skilled trades, and other high-demand regional industries.
• Coordinate and support career development workshops and events for students, including resume workshops, interview prep sessions, and employer information sessions.

Work-and-Learn & Employment Opportunities

• Increase student participation in internships, apprenticeships, and employer-sponsored pathways through targeted outreach and engagement.
• Build awareness of work-and-learn and job opportunities with students across academic and workforce programs.
• Support students in preparing for and successfully transitioning into internships, clinicals, apprenticeships, and employment placements.
• Work closely with employers in the Lafayette region and surrounding counties to identify and develop work-and-learn and employment opportunities aligned to Ivy Tech programs.

Employer Partnerships & Regional Alignment

• Partner with Employer Consultants to engage employers across advanced manufacturing, healthcare, logistics, construction, IT, business, and skilled trades.
• Support relationships with key regional employers such as manufacturers, healthcare systems, logistics providers, and small-to-medium businesses.

• Work with employers to understand hiring needs, workplace expectations, and skill requirements, and align student preparation accordingly.
• Collaborate with faculty, Deans, Academic Advisors, Career Coaches, and K-14 partners to ensure students are informed, prepared, and supported for employer opportunities.

Data Entry, Tracking & Reporting

• Enter, update, and maintain accurate student and employer records in college systems and career platforms, including participation in internships, apprenticeships, and job placements.
• Track and document student employment outcomes, wages, employer information, and work-and-learn activity.
• Ensure all placements, referrals, and career activities are entered timely and accurately.
• Run basic reports and assist with tracking data related to:

• student participation in work-and-learn
• job placements and retention
• employer engagement activity
• wage outcomes

Strategy, Planning & Collaboration

• Partner with the campus Vice Chancellor of Workforce and Economic Development, Ivy+ Career Link leadership, and Systems Office leadership to support campus strategy and execution related to career outcomes and work-and-learn participation.
• Assist with initiatives connected to the Indiana Office of Work-Based Learning, Department of Workforce Development, Commission for Higher Education, and other workforce partners.
• Participate in professional development related to career coaching, workforce development, and employer engagement.

What Applicants Should Expect in This Role:

• Student-facing work (coaching, workshops, career conversations)
• Employer-facing work (supporting partnerships and opportunities)
• Behind-the-scenes work (data entry, tracking, reporting, coordination)

You will be working with:

• students in programs such as manufacturing, nursing, healthcare, IT, business, logistics, construction, and skilled trades
• employers across a nine-county campus service are