APPLICATION PROCEDURE:  To be considered for this opportunity, please include a cover letter with your CV/resume.  It can be added to the application at the same time/place you add your CV/resume.

About USC

The University of Southern California (USC) is a leading private research university. The university offers students a world-class education with highly ranked programs in virtually every field — from cinema to the sciences — as well as unparalleled research, internship, and professional opportunities in a wide array of organizations including nonprofits, Fortune 500 companies and global businesses.

About Career Services

The mission of the USC Career Center is to provide exceptional career services to all members of the Trojan Family. Whether you are deciding on a major, exploring career options, seeking a job or internship, or looking for professional networks, the USC Career Center is committed to helping you achieve your professional goals.

About the Opportunity

The University of Southern California Career Center is seeking an Associate Director of Employer Engagement to lead strategic initiatives that strength partnerships between employers and the university community. This position oversees the planning, management, and execution of employer engagement programs, recruitment services, and partnership development opportunities that connect employers with students and alumni, while supporting career readiness and post-graduation outcomes. The Associate Director provides leadership and supervision to staff supporting employer engagement and serves as a key liaison between employers, campus partners, and the Career Center.

This role may require occasional evening or weekend work to support events, employer visits, or special initiatives.

Key Responsibilities

Strategic Leadership and Program Management

• Provide strategic direction and vision for employer engagement programs in collaboration with the Executive Director.

• Lead the development and management of the university’s central recruiting program, including career fairs, information sessions, employer-based workshops and interviews.

• Analyze recruiting trends to inform scheduling, policies, and employer engagement strategies.

• Oversee the design, implementation, and maintenance of the university’s job and internship platform (e.g., Handshake), ensuring an efficient and user-friendly employer and student experience.

• Evaluate and refine employer engagement processes to ensure alignment with institutional priorities and student success goals.

Employer Relationship Development

• Cultivate and maintain relationships with new and existing employer partners to expand recruiting opportunities for students and alumni.

• Lead outreach efforts for Career Center employer-based signature events.

• Establish, manage, and grow the Employer Partner Program, including stewardship and recognition of participating organizations.

• Conduct employer satisfaction surveys and benchmarking studies to improve services and engagement outcomes.

Team Leadership and Supervision

• Supervise professional staff and student workers, providing mentorship, professional development, and performance evaluations.

• Oversee onboarding, training, and coaching for team members to ensure high-quality employer engagement services.

• Foster collaboration and communication within the Employer Engagement team and across the Career Center and school-based career services.

Campus and External Collaboration

• Partner with academic departments, alumni relations, and Student Life units to coordinate employer events and initiatives.

• Represent the Career Center in university-wide committees, external consortia, and professional associations to strengthen employer connections and institutional visibility.

• Serve as a resource to faculty, advisors, and staff on employer trends and recruitment best practices.

Administrative and Financial Oversight

• Assist the Executive Director in forecasting, monitoring, and managing budgets related to employer engagement and recruiting programs.

• Oversee employer billing, event revenue, and related financial processes.

• Compile and analyze employer engagement data and prepare annual reports to demonstrate impact and outcomes.

• Support special projects, staff development initiatives, and events that advance the mission of the Career Center.

• Perform other related duties as assigned or requested. The university reserves the right to add or change duties at any time.

Minimum Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree and a minimum of 5 years of progressive experience in employer relations, recruiting, or career services.

• Demonstrated leadership and supervisory experience.

• Strong relationship management, communication, and organizational skills.

• Experience with job and internship platforms such as Handshake and other career services-based platforms.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience in budget management and strategic planning.

• Knowledge of career development principles and trends in campus recruiting.

• In addition, the successful candidate must demonstrate, through ideas, words and actions, a strong commitment to USC’s Unifying Values.

The hourly rate range for this position is $90,325.21 - $105,612.24. When determining an offer, the University of Southern California considers factors such as the scope and responsibilities of the role, the candidate’s experience, education, training, key skills, internal peer alignment, applicable laws, contractual requirements, grant funding, and market conditions.

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Job Profile Summary
Minimum Education: Bachelor's degree In Counseling Or Higher Education Or Human Resources Or in related field(s)


Minimum Experience: 6 years in counseling and/or human resources in a corporate or higher education environment

Minimum Skills: Leadership and guidance skills, with the proven ability to manage, balance and prioritize different tasks and projects. In-depth knowledge of federal immigration regulations, interpreting and providing guidance as to their pertinence to international students. Advanced knowledge of employer recruiting strategies, job market trends, and occupational, career, and employment information sources. Superior level of professionalism, exceptional attention to detail, and exemplary written and oral communication, presentation, and public-speaking skills. Proven business savvy, interpersonal skills, and ability to deliver quality services, and passion as it relates to impact on outcomes. Demonstrated experience interacting with various communities and groups, exercising diplomacy, good judgment, and discretion.
Preferred Education: Master's degree In Business Administration Or Counseling Or Higher Education Or Human Resources Or in related field(s)

Preferred Experience: 9 years
Preferred Skills: Working knowledge of California and multi-state employment law. Experience working with international students, faculty, and staff in higher education, and familiarity with academic medical center environments. Demonstrated ability to adapt in rapidly changing environments. In-depth knowledge of business and business-related careers. Knowledge and understanding of employment issues affecting various groups (e.g., gender wage gaps, LGBTQIA discrimination, ageism). Fluency in Spanish, American Sign Language (ASL), and multiple other languages in addition to English. Experience working with government agencies concerning immigration. Demonstrated experience with office management communication software and tools (e.g., Google suite, Slack, Skype) and social media management. Mastery of Microsoft Office and Adobe Creative Suite software. Demonstrated experience managing multi-platform communications and marketing plans involving publications, videos, websites, social media, and public speeches and presentations.

                                                  

USC is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, protected veteran status, disability, or any other characteristic protected by law or USC policy. USC observes affirmative action obligations consistent with state and federal law. USC will consider for employment all qualified applicants with criminal records in a manner consistent with applicable laws and regulations, including the Los Angeles County Fair Chance Ordinance for employers and the Fair Chance Initiative for Hiring Ordinance, and with due consideration for patient and student safety. Please refer to the Background Screening Policy Appendix D for specific employment screen implications for the position for which you are applying. 

We provide reasonable accommodations to applicants and employees with disabilities. Applicants with questions about access or requiring a reasonable accommodation for any part of the application or hiring process should contact USC Human Resources by phone at (213) 821-8100, or by email at uschr@usc.edu. Inquiries will be treated as confidential to the extent permitted by law.

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If you are a current USC employee, please apply to this  USC job posting in Workday by copying and pasting this link into your browser:

https://wd5.myworkday.com/usc/d/inst/1$9925/9925$137958.htmld