Job Description for the Director of Corporate & Employer Relations position. Review job description, requirements, and qualifications. Apply or register interest for the position.

Title: Director of Corporate & Employer Relations

Position Type: Staff Full-Time

Days Per Week: Monday - Friday

Hours Per Week: 40

VP Area: Strategic Initiatives

Department: Student Professional Development Center/Career Services

Position Summary

The Director of Corporate and Employer Relations provides strategic leadership for Elon University's employer engagement and student employment initiatives. Reporting to the Associate Vice President of Student Professional Development and serving as a senior strategic partner, the Director leads a team of professionals who cultivate relationships with employer and industry partners, source and expand career opportunities for Elon students, and enhance student employment efforts across campus and in the local community. As a senior member of the SPDC leadership team, the Director shapes university-wide employer engagement strategy through data-informed decision-making, inclusive practices, and cross-campus collaboration. This role elevates Elon’s visibility among employer and industry partners while preparing students for meaningful professional lives.

Benefits of Working at Elon

As an Elon University employee, you’ll join an internationally acclaimed university with a commitment to fostering a thriving community. Ranked among the most innovative, creative and best-run universities in the nation, Elon’s personal approach to education extends to employees, whose growth, professional development and success is a hallmark of our training and advancement opportunities.

Elon University’s home is the charming town of Elon, North Carolina, a small, friendly community located a short distance from the beach and the mountains, and among the vibrant cities of Greensboro, Raleigh and Durham. In addition to the beautiful canopy of historic oak trees iconic to our campus, you’ll find boundless opportunities for family-friendly recreation, cultural events and outdoor activities. Hiking, water sports, fine dining and entertainment are just a few of the many happenings in the Elon area, making the region one of the nation’s premier travel destinations.

Employees at Elon enjoy a generous and comprehensive benefits package that includes:

28 annual days off, including holidays and vacation.

Immediate tuition remission for undergraduate courses

Tuition remission for approved graduate-level courses after 12 months of employment.

Retirement plan with an 8 percent contribution from the university.

Immediate eligibility for health, dental and vision insurance, along with free acute care and lab services at our onsite Health & Wellness Clinic.

Free use of campus fitness facilities.

Free admission to musical and theater performances, guest speakers, religious and ethnic observances, recitals, art exhibitions, entertainment and our Division I Phoenix athletics.

Eligibility for tuition remission at Elon for spouses, qualifying domestic partners and dependents begins at two years of service. After two years of employment, eligibility begins for participation in the Tuition Exchange, a national scholarship exchange program that enables dependents to enroll in nationally recognized partner colleges and universities.

Elon values and celebrates the diverse backgrounds, cultures, experiences and perspectives of our community members. As an equal opportunity employer, Elon’s principles of diversity extend to race and gender identity, age, disability status, veteran status, sexual orientation, religion, and other aspects of one’s identity. At Elon, our employees respect human differences, passion for lifelong learning, emphasis on personal integrity and an ethic of service.

Minimum Required Education and Experience

• Master’s degree and 5+ years of professional work experience, including a minimum of two years at a supervisory level.
• Previous experience in career services, workforce development, university relations & recruiting, or similar fields.
• Previous experience in networking and relationship management, business development, strategic planning, and team management.
  

Preferred Education and Experience

• Master’s degree and 10+ years of professional work experience, including a minimum of four years at a supervisory level.
• Previous experience in career services, workforce development, university relations & recruiting, or similar fields.
• Previous experience in networking and relationship management, business development, strategic planning, and team management.
• Previous career services leadership experience.
  

Job Duties

• Strategic Leadership & Team Management
  • Lead and manage a team of professionals working across corporate & employer relations, employer events, and student employment. Provide strategic direction, mentorship, and performance management for direct reports.
  • Set and implement the strategic vision for employer engagement and student employment across Elon University.
  • Provide mentorship, performance management, and professional development for direct reports.
  • Contribute to SPDC-wide strategic planning, innovation, and continuous improvement.
  • Oversee team budgetary expenses and employer-based income streams.
  • Serve as a subject matter expert on recruiting trends and labor market insights, providing guidance and knowledge sharing to SPDC staff and campus partners. Share industry intelligence to inform career advising & education efforts, employer engagement strategies, and curricular alignment.
• Employer & Industry Engagement
  • Informed by shared leadership vision, develop and execute a comprehensive strategy for employer and industry engagement across multiple industries/geographic regions, including segmentation, outreach, and stewardship.
  • Coordinate efforts with academic departments and university advancement to ensure efficient relationship management and development.
  • Lead team efforts to expand internship pipelines, full-time opportunities, and other career experiences.
  • Oversee travel strategy and schedule for CER team, identifying key markets and organizations for engagement (with the expectation of 10-15% travel).
  • Conduct gap analyses and implement initiatives to address unmet student and employer needs.
  • Ensure recruiting policies and practices align with professional standards, such as NACE and institutional priorities. Ensure employer engagement efforts reflect inclusive recruiting practices and support Elon’s values of equity and access.
• Student Employment Strategy & Oversight
  • Provide oversight of student employment initiatives, including engagement with both campus and community-based partners.
  • Support the Assistant Director in delivering high-impact programming and support for student employees and campus supervisors.
  • Collaborate with campus partners to streamline the student employment process and enhance the student experience.
  • Guide the development of community-based employment partnerships and service-learning opportunities for Federal Work Study Students.
• Employer Events, Technology & Data Systems
  • Provide oversight of recruiting programs and employer events, including but not limited to campus interviews, information sessions, networking nights, and other engagement opportunities that connect students with employer and industry professionals.
  • Ensure effective use of our Elon Job Network (EJN), CRM platform, and other tech tools by key stakeholders.
  • Monitor employer engagement data and trends to inform strategy, platform improvements, and reporting.
  • Oversee and guide the coordination of program evaluation, outcomes tracking, and data reporting for employer engagement and student employment.
• Cross-Campus Collaboration & External Visibility
  • Facilitate collaboration with academic departments, student organizations, and university offices to strengthen employer engagement efforts.
  • Represent the SPDC on university committees and working groups focused on career readiness, employer relations, and student employment.
  • Represent Elon University at industry events, conferences, and employer meetings to promote the institution as a top source of talent.
  • Participate in regional and national organizations to expand opportunities and elevate Elon’s brand in the career services field. 

• Inclusive Community Building Community is foundational to Elon and a shared responsibility within our residential campus. All who work at Elon should demonstrate an understanding of and engagement with Elon’s foundational commitment to relationships, mentoring and collaboration in a close-knit residential community. We embrace the shared responsibility to foster inclusive excellence within a strong residential community. Accordingly, employees are expected to join together and build connections in activities that foster an active and engaged campus environment and engage in professional development to support the shared responsibility of enriching diversity, equity, and inclusion through meaningful relationships and mentoring at Elon. Employees are encouraged to, for example, attend or participate in campus activities such as College Coffee, Numen Lumen, campus cultural events, athletic events, continuing education, professional development opportunities and trainings, employee resource groups and other university-sponsored activities to demonstrate an active commitment to the Elon community.

Special Instructions to Applicants: This is a 12-month in-person role. Travel required. Some evening and weekend work will be required as needed.