Assistant Director of Employer Engagement & Operations

About UMass Amherst

The flagship of the Commonwealth, the University of Massachusetts Amherst is a nationally ranked public land-grant research university that seeks to expand educational access, fuel innovation and creativity, and share and use its knowledge for the common good. Founded in 1863, UMass Amherst sits on nearly 1,450-acres in scenic Western Massachusetts and boasts state-of-the-art facilities for teaching, research, scholarship, and creative activity. The institution advances a diverse, equitable, and inclusive community where everyone feels connected and valued—and thrives, and offers a full range of undergraduate, graduate and professional degrees across 10 schools and colleges, and 100 undergraduate majors. We believe every member of our university community can contribute to our ongoing success by striving for the highest level of excellence as we seek breakthrough solutions to mounting environmental, social, economic, and technological challenges in our world. 

 

Job Summary

The Assistant Director of Employer Engagement and Operations connects students to valuable career opportunities by coordinating campus-wide employer engagement and recruitment activities. Reporting to the Director of Employer Engagement and in collaboration with the Associate Director of High Impact Practices, the Assistant Director of Employer Engagement and Operations executes a multi-year comprehensive strategic plan for effective employer relationships that provide critical capacity in building and sustaining employer relationships across the full range of student recruitment efforts, such as career fairs, on-campus interviews, networking, communicating job and internship opportunities, and other recruitment events. The Assistant Director is a member of the central UMass Office of Career and Professional Development team and also supports employer engagement efforts across the eight decentralized career centers, providing insights into key recruitment metrics, coordinating campus-wide recruitment events, and conducting trainings.

 

Essential Functions

• Employer Engagement
  • Serves as the point of contact to triage employer-related inquiries. Maintains positive relationships with existing employer partners and provides prospective employers with appropriate resources to establish new program partnerships.
  • Provides strategic insight and guidance to employers to ensure their on-campus recruiting activities yield qualified candidates.
  • Leverages employer relationships to increase engagement and identifies opportunities for expansion through in-depth knowledge of UMass departments, centers, and institutes.
  • Advises employers and other entities on UMass recruitment policies and guidelines.
  • Maintains awareness of regional and national employment trends, economic development, and talent acquisition best practices.
• Events & Fairs
  • In collaboration with the Director of Employer Engagement and Associate Director of High Impact Practices, coordinates employer participation in events such as Career Fairs, Information Sessions, Networking Events, Tabling, Expert Panels, On-Campus Interviews, as well as other exploratory activities, such as Job Shadows, Company Site Visits, and Speaker Events.
  • Assumes responsibility for the planning and logistical facilitation of in-person, virtual, and hybrid recruiting events through event management, communication and database utilization.
  • Participates in event planning meetings with employers, maintaining ongoing communication from initial event planning through event day. Works with Office Operations Manager to secure space, catering, and other facility needs.
• Data Management & Data Reporting
  • Optimizes technical resources such as Handshake and Salesforce to facilitate engagement, extend reach, and assess program effectiveness.
  • Leads campus-wide Handshake efforts by supporting employers and students to optimize usage, troubleshoot technical issues, and curate opportunities.
  • Participates in quarterly Handshake user meetings to benchmark UMass efficacy and learn best practices. Attends Handshake webinars to keep abreast of new features and national trends.
  • Tracks employer relations activity, student participation, and success metrics. Creates and provides reports to leadership and other stakeholders.
  • Actively supports Career Services colleagues by leading trainings on Handshake’s new features and best practices to ensure consistency in campus-wide usage.
  • Facilitates transition from FMPro to Salesforce, working in collaboration with UMass IT and the UMass Foundation to align key fields for future reporting.
  • Maintains and updates employer dat