Job Description for the Assistant/Associate Director of Corporate and Employer Relations, STEM and Health Sciences position. Review job description, requirements, and qualifications. Apply or register interest for the position.

Title: Assistant/Associate Director of Corporate and Employer Relations, STEM and Health Sciences

Position Type: Staff Full-Time

Days Per Week: M-F

Hours Per Week: 40

VP Area: Strategic Initiatives

Department: Student Professional Development Center

Position Summary

We are excited to welcome a new member to the Student Professional Development Center (SPDC) team in a role dedicated to employer relations for STEM and Health Sciences students at Elon University. The Assistant/Associate Director of Corporate and Employer Relations’ purpose is to enhance, deepen, and cultivate relationships with companies and organizations to best position students and alumni from STEM and Health Sciences fields, as well as throughout Elon University for internship and job opportunities. This is done in tandem with executing the strategic plan that aligns with the goals of the University, the SPDC, and the College of Arts and Sciences (CAS).

The Student Professional Development Center reports through the Senior Vice President of Advancement and External Affairs. The Assistant/Associate Director of Corporate and Employer Relations for STEM and Health Sciences reports to the Senior Associate Director of Corporate and Employer Relations for the Love School of Business.

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

Assistant Director - Master's degree in any relevant field of study with a minimum of 2 years of relevant work experience.

Associate Director - Master’s degree and at least 5 years previous experience ideally working within career services, STEM, Health Sciences, or recruiting/human resources.

Job Duties

• Employer Engagement, Maintenance & Travel
  • Visit destinations (10-15% of time) where STEM and Health Sciences students want to intern and pursue full-time opportunities, building and maintaining relationships with employers that align with student professional goals. Each CER professional travels 1x per month for 2 to 3 days to a top location for internships and employment of Elon students. Prior to arranging travel plans, the Assistant/Associate Director will complete research utilizing first destination data that targets key cities and work with SPDC career advisors to learn which organizations students are interested in. Additionally, this role will act as the lead for employer development initiatives for the Study USA program in New York City.
  • It is imperative that the successful candidate creates and maintains a tracking system employing technology (Microsoft Excel, Symplicity, and others) to maintain notes and information about employer partners. The early talent industry is constantly changing and so are contacts and recruiters. The individual will be expected to utilize LinkedIn and build relationships with alumni and faculty to gain introductory meetings. Utilizing an individualized approach, the Assistant/Associate Director will communicate with industry partners via email, phone, and in-person interactions. Once a meeting is scheduled, an expertise in logistics is necessary to accommodate 7- 9 meetings throughout a city in approximately 2.5 days. A typical meeting with an alum and/or early talent professional is 30-45 minutes, so you must be precise in your questions and representations as well as be friendly and approachable. Follow-up consists of thank you notes, CER reports, job and internship postings, as well as documenting future opportunities.
  • You will work autonomously and make quick decisions in unfamiliar settings, build relationships quickly with industry representatives, and always represent Elon University in a professional manner. 
• Employer Events, Info Sessions, and Classroom Visits
  • Identify employers for large and small-scale recruiting events and determine their specific needs (classroom/student organization presentations, tabling, panels), balancing the time of year, economic situation, employer preferences, and budgets. Recruiting events happen multiple times each semester.
  • Career fairs and niche events require outreach to top employers throughout the country to attend the series of events virtually or in-person. Once a registration list is complete, follow-up emails and conversations are necessary to make sure their needs are met while at Elon.
  • Host employers for ½ day or day-long interactions on-campus and collaborate with appropriate Elon faculty/staff to develop an itinerary. This includes in-class presentations as well as information sessions with clubs and leadership groups. These events are a collaboration between the CER team, the SPDC, the College of Arts and Sciences faculty, students, and other stakeholders.
  • Develop opportunities for students to engage with employers on-site (i.e.treks) and logistics surrounding visits. Once events are complete, this position will follow up with thank you notes and gather feedback from the companies and organizations to help improve future endeavors. Planning for these events continues throughout the year, many times casual verbal invitations are relayed to employers while traveling and while meeting with them in person. - (Essential)
• Industry Expertise
  • Having foundational knowledge in industry trends and hiring needs for STEM and Health Sciences students who aspire to intern and work in those industries is a plus.
  • This role will act as the primary point of contact for inbound internships and jobs from a variety of sources: Symplicity (EJN), career advisors, internship directors, advancement, alumni, admissions, office-wide email, LinkedIn, and personal contacts. This position is responsible for all immediate and long-term follow-up from the sources listed above.
  • As needed, solicit opportunities from career advisors to understand gaps in opportunities on EJN and sources.
  • Provide expertise on hiring trends within the STEM and Health Sciences industries, working closely with the CAS career advising staff to make sure that students are being coached properly for the application process.
  • This role will also help to inform deans and faculty of changing needs in skills and qualifications of STEM and Health Sciences positions so that the school can continue to align the curriculum with the future of work.
• University Representation On & Off Campus
  • Working autonomously, as a member of the CER team and the SPDC team, the Assistant/Associate Director of Corporate and Employers Relations is a central part of representing Elon University to the greater community and country. The partnership and alignment of goals with the university include being a representative at events such as Elon Leads, prospective student events, Parent’s Council Career Committee, and other leadership, alumni, employers, parents, and student gatherings.
  • As DE&I are an integral part of Elon’s strategic plan, it is important that the CER Assistant/Associate Director participate in professional development related to this area. This is important to align the university with companies that value diversity and to assist in ensuring that underrepresented student populations can achieve their career goals and aspirations. 
• CER Strategic Planning
  • Collaborate with colleagues in the execution of a new strategic plan for the corporate and employer relations team. The corporate and employer relations team is comprised of two additional externally facing professionals who support outreach, on-campus events, programs, interviews, and information sessions for our employer partners. 
• Other Duties as Assigned may include: Speaking engagements, Projects from Administration – National Campus, Corporate Outreach, etc. Regional and national professional association involvement. 

Special Instructions to Applicants: Please submit resume, cover letter, and 3 professional references. Incomplete applications will not be considered. The Search Committee will begin to review applications on a rolling basis, starting the week of February 3rd.