Assistant Director of Employer Relations in Hillsdale, Michigan at Hillsdale College

• Develop and manage strategic relationships with employers, alumni, faculty, and community partners to expand internship, employment, and experiential learning opportunities (such as job shadowing, micro-internships, and volunteer work) for Hillsdale College students and alumni.
• Partner with the Career Services staff to develop and implement employer recruitment strategies for career fairs, employer visits, networking events, classroom presentations, and other campus recruiting initiatives.
• Expand employer pipelines by cultivating new recruiting partnerships in targeted industries and geographic markets and collaborating with Regional Career Services Officers in Washington D.C. and greater Detroit to strengthen employer relationships, alumni engagement, and professional networking opportunities aligned with student interests.
• Cultivate and support internship partnerships with local and regional employers that provide meaningful experiential learning opportunities for upper-class students. Monitor internship experiences through regular communication with employers and students to ensure professional expectations, learning objectives, and assigned responsibilities are being met while promoting positive representation of Hillsdale College.
• Implement strategic engagement plans for key employer partners to strengthen long-term recruiting relationships and increase opportunities for Hillsdale College students and alumni.
• Advise students individually and in groups on career exploration, vocational discernment, internship and job search strategies, résumé and cover letter development, interviewing, networking, and professional etiquette while helping them identify their strengths and prepare for meaningful careers.
• Maintain accurate employer relationship records in Handshake by documenting employer interactions, recruiting activity, partnership history, and engagement outcomes to ensure continuity, collaboration, and long-term relationship management.
• Collaborate with the Career Services data and marketing teams to analyze employment trends, recruiting outcomes, and graduate placement data; support the preparation of the annual Graduate Placement Report; and communicate employment outcomes to inform employer outreach, strategic planning, and departmental initiatives.
• Partner with faculty, Alumni Relations, Institutional Advancement, and other campus departments to expand experiential learning, employer engagement, and career opportunities for students.
• Represent Career Services through alumni, employer, and professional organizations while supporting departmental initiatives and advancing the mission of Hillsdale College.

• Demonstrate a commitment to the mission, moral standards, and expectations of Hillsdale College.
• Participate in departmental, campus, and off-campus programs and events, including evening and weekend activities as needed.
• Maintain the confidentiality of student, employer, alumni, and institutional information.
• Pursue ongoing professional development to enhance job knowledge, skills, and effectiveness.
• Perform other duties as assigned in support of the mission and operational objectives of Career Services and Hillsdale College.

• Bachelor’s degree required. Master’s degree preferred.
• Experience in higher education, employer relations, career services, talent acquisition, or a related field, including experience working with college students.
• Demonstrated success developing strategic partnerships and managing external engagement initiatives.

• Exceptional written, verbal, presentation, and interpersonal communication skills, with the ability to effectively communicate with diverse audiences in professional settings.
• Ability to build and maintain collaborative relationships with students, faculty, coaches, employers, alumni, and campus partners while demonstrating discretion, professionalism, and sound judgment.
• Ability to advise and coach students through career exploration, professional development, and the internship and job search process.
• Ability to analyze assessment data to strengthen employer engagement and support strategic planning.
• Strong organizational, project management, analytical, and problem-solving skills, with the ability to manage multiple tasks, meet deadlines, and thrive in a fast-paced environment.
• Ability to exercise initiative, creativity, sound judgment, leadership, and confidentiality while advancing departmental and College goals.
• Preferred proficiency with Handshake and other CRM systems, Microsoft Office applications, reporting tools, and technologies relevant to employer relations and career services.
• Willingness to travel as necessary to accomplish departmental objectives.

Required fields are indicated with an asterisk (*).

1. Resume
2. Cover Letter