What are the responsibilities and job description for the Assistant Director of Employer Relations position at Syracuse University?
Job Description
The Assistant Director of Employer Relations serves as a partner for the employer community, ensuring seamless engagement across recruiting touchpoints that directly impact student outcomes and supporting efforts to elevate Whitman’s brand in the marketplace. This role blends analytics-informed strategy with industry partner development, positioning Whitman as a premier destination for recruiting top undergraduate and graduate talent. This role reports to the Director of Employer Relations.
Education and Experience
The ideal candidate is a collaborative and credible communicator who builds trust with industry partners, university leadership, and internal teams alike. They bring a demonstrated ability to think strategically about employer relations, using labor market insight and student outcomes data to shape programming and outreach priorities. Experience managing the full lifecycle of projects and events, from initial planning through execution, assessment, and iteration, is essential. The candidate will have fluency or be able to develop with CRM and recruiting platforms as well as reporting tools that translate complex data into clear leadership narratives. Financial literacy is expected, including experience managing budgets, processing contracts, and tracking expenditures. Above all, this person brings a high level of initiative, sound judgment, and the organizational discipline to manage competing priorities without sacrificing quality or attention to detail.
Responsibilities
Strategic Planning & Program Oversight
Not applicable
Tools/Equipment
Not applicable
Application Instructions
In addition to completing an online application, please attach a resume and cover letter.
About Syracuse University
Syracuse University is a private, international research university with distinctive academics, diversely unique offerings, and an undeniable spirit. Located in the geographic heart of New York State, with a global footprint, and over 150 years of history, Syracuse University offers a quintessential college experience.
The scope of Syracuse University is a testament to its strengths: a pioneering history dating back to 1870; a choice of more than 200 majors, 100 minors, and 200 advanced degree programs offered across the University’s 13 schools and colleges; over 15,000 undergraduates and over 6,000 graduate students; more than a quarter of a million alumni in 160 countries; and a student population from all 50 U.S. states and 123 countries. For more information, please visit http://www.syracuse.edu.
About The Syracuse Area
Syracuse is a medium-sized city situated in the geographic center of New York State approximately 250 miles northwest of New York City. The metro-area population totals approximately 500,000. The area offers a low cost of living and provides many social, cultural, and recreational options, including parks, museums, festivals, professional regional theater, and premier shopping venues. Syracuse and Central New York present a wide range of seasonal recreation and attractions ranging from water skiing and snow skiing, hiking in the Adirondacks, touring the historic sites, visiting wineries along the Finger Lakes, and biking on trails along the Erie Canal.
EEO Statement
Syracuse University is an equal-opportunity institution. The University prohibits discrimination and harassment based on race, color, creed, religion, sex, gender, national origin, citizenship, ethnicity, marital status, age, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity and gender expression, veteran status, or any other status protected by applicable law to the extent prohibited by law. This nondiscrimination policy covers admissions, employment, and access to and treatment in University programs, services, and activities.
Commitment to Supporting and Hiring Veterans
Syracuse University has a long history of engaging veterans and the military-connected community through its educational programs, community outreach, and employment programs. After World War II, Syracuse University welcomed more than 10,000 returning veterans to our campus, and those veterans literally transformed Syracuse University into the national research institution it is today. The University’s contemporary commitment to veterans builds on this historical legacy, and extends to both class-leading initiatives focused on making an SU degree accessible and affordable to the post-9/11 generation of veterans, and also programs designed to position Syracuse University as the employer of choice for military veterans, members of the Guard and Reserve, and military family members.
Commitment to a Respectful and Welcoming Community
Syracuse University fosters a welcoming learning environment where students, faculty, administrators, staff, curriculum, social activities, governance, and all aspects of campus life reflect a broad range of perspectives and experiences. The University community values the many similarities and differences among individuals and groups. At Syracuse, we are committed to preparing students to engage with and appreciate the richness of backgrounds, beliefs, and experiences that shape our society. To achieve this, we strive to cultivate a community that respects and encourages open dialogue, understanding, and mutual respect.
The Assistant Director of Employer Relations serves as a partner for the employer community, ensuring seamless engagement across recruiting touchpoints that directly impact student outcomes and supporting efforts to elevate Whitman’s brand in the marketplace. This role blends analytics-informed strategy with industry partner development, positioning Whitman as a premier destination for recruiting top undergraduate and graduate talent. This role reports to the Director of Employer Relations.
Education and Experience
- Bachelor’s degree required.
- A minimum of five years of progressive experience in employer relations, career services, recruiting, strategic partnerships, or a related field is preferred.
- Demonstrated background in program oversight, employer relations strategy, and data-informed decision-making is strongly valued.
- Familiarity with business school ecosystems and industry talent acquisition practices is a meaningful advantage.
The ideal candidate is a collaborative and credible communicator who builds trust with industry partners, university leadership, and internal teams alike. They bring a demonstrated ability to think strategically about employer relations, using labor market insight and student outcomes data to shape programming and outreach priorities. Experience managing the full lifecycle of projects and events, from initial planning through execution, assessment, and iteration, is essential. The candidate will have fluency or be able to develop with CRM and recruiting platforms as well as reporting tools that translate complex data into clear leadership narratives. Financial literacy is expected, including experience managing budgets, processing contracts, and tracking expenditures. Above all, this person brings a high level of initiative, sound judgment, and the organizational discipline to manage competing priorities without sacrificing quality or attention to detail.
Responsibilities
Strategic Planning & Program Oversight
- Analyze employer engagement trends to identify gaps, forecast hiring patterns, and inform programming.
- Conceptualize program and policy improvements based on labor market data, alumni outcomes, and industry reports.
- Oversee execution and assessment of employer-facing programs and initiatives.
- Contribute to departmental planning and continuous improvement efforts aligned with top-25 business school standards.
- Evaluate ROI of employer initiatives and report on strategic metrics to inform future engagement.
- Develop reports for leadership to visualize impact and guide decision-making.
- Manage and analyze career-related data, including employer surveys and session evaluations, to ensure reporting integrity and strategic alignment.
- Oversee system management of platforms such as Handshake, Salesforce, and internal scheduling tools ensuring data integrity.
- Execute external communications with employer partners, ensuring clarity, thoughtful responsiveness, and alignment with Whitman¿s brand and values.
- Manage external outreach plans informed by employer data research and student outcomes to re-engage partners and expand high-growth sectors in consultation with the Director of Employer Relations.
- Planning and execution of employer-facing events that reflect student interests, academic programs, and industry demand.
- Develop templates and toolkits that simplify employer engagement and strengthen partnerships.
- Support the Director of Employer Relations in advancing Whitman’s employer brand through strategic messaging and external-facing initiatives.
- Coordinate all logistical aspects of on-campus, virtual, and hybrid recruiting processes, including scheduling, hosting, and follow-up.
- Coordinate all logistics of off-campus student engagement opportunities with industry and alumni partners.
- Provide exceptional customer service to recruiters, alumni, and internal SU partners, with flexibility for early morning, evening, or weekend support.
- Position includes occasional travel to support external industry engagement and student support.
- Manage logistics for career services initiatives, including catering, room reservations, and event data tracking.
- Support financial management of employer relations activity, including drafting budgets, processing contracts, and tracking expenses for career exploration trips and employer-facing events.
- Ideal candidate should be proactive, thoughtful, thorough, and responsive, and possess team and goal-oriented drive.
Not applicable
Tools/Equipment
Not applicable
Application Instructions
In addition to completing an online application, please attach a resume and cover letter.
About Syracuse University
Syracuse University is a private, international research university with distinctive academics, diversely unique offerings, and an undeniable spirit. Located in the geographic heart of New York State, with a global footprint, and over 150 years of history, Syracuse University offers a quintessential college experience.
The scope of Syracuse University is a testament to its strengths: a pioneering history dating back to 1870; a choice of more than 200 majors, 100 minors, and 200 advanced degree programs offered across the University’s 13 schools and colleges; over 15,000 undergraduates and over 6,000 graduate students; more than a quarter of a million alumni in 160 countries; and a student population from all 50 U.S. states and 123 countries. For more information, please visit http://www.syracuse.edu.
About The Syracuse Area
Syracuse is a medium-sized city situated in the geographic center of New York State approximately 250 miles northwest of New York City. The metro-area population totals approximately 500,000. The area offers a low cost of living and provides many social, cultural, and recreational options, including parks, museums, festivals, professional regional theater, and premier shopping venues. Syracuse and Central New York present a wide range of seasonal recreation and attractions ranging from water skiing and snow skiing, hiking in the Adirondacks, touring the historic sites, visiting wineries along the Finger Lakes, and biking on trails along the Erie Canal.
EEO Statement
Syracuse University is an equal-opportunity institution. The University prohibits discrimination and harassment based on race, color, creed, religion, sex, gender, national origin, citizenship, ethnicity, marital status, age, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity and gender expression, veteran status, or any other status protected by applicable law to the extent prohibited by law. This nondiscrimination policy covers admissions, employment, and access to and treatment in University programs, services, and activities.
Commitment to Supporting and Hiring Veterans
Syracuse University has a long history of engaging veterans and the military-connected community through its educational programs, community outreach, and employment programs. After World War II, Syracuse University welcomed more than 10,000 returning veterans to our campus, and those veterans literally transformed Syracuse University into the national research institution it is today. The University’s contemporary commitment to veterans builds on this historical legacy, and extends to both class-leading initiatives focused on making an SU degree accessible and affordable to the post-9/11 generation of veterans, and also programs designed to position Syracuse University as the employer of choice for military veterans, members of the Guard and Reserve, and military family members.
Commitment to a Respectful and Welcoming Community
Syracuse University fosters a welcoming learning environment where students, faculty, administrators, staff, curriculum, social activities, governance, and all aspects of campus life reflect a broad range of perspectives and experiences. The University community values the many similarities and differences among individuals and groups. At Syracuse, we are committed to preparing students to engage with and appreciate the richness of backgrounds, beliefs, and experiences that shape our society. To achieve this, we strive to cultivate a community that respects and encourages open dialogue, understanding, and mutual respect.