Student Development Specialist

Employer Engagement and Recruiting Partnerships (50%)

• Serve as the primary contact for employers seeking to recruit Arkansas State University students and graduates.
• Develop and maintain strong relationships with local, regional, and national employers.
• Increase employer participation in career fairs, networking events, on-campus interviews, employer panels, and recruiting programs.
• Identify and recruit new employers to engage with Arkansas State University.
• Conduct regular visits and outreach to employers to understand workforce needs and talent demands.
• Partner with academic colleges to connect employers with relevant student populations and academic programs.
• Coordinate employer campus visits, information sessions, facility tours, and recruiting events.
• Develop strategies to increase internship, and full-time employment opportunities for students.
• Identify employer engagement opportunities that may lead to sponsorship, philanthropic, or strategic partnership support for Career Development & Engagement initiatives.
• Cultivate relationships with corporate leaders and decision-makers to increase investment in career readiness, workforce development, student success, and university priorities.
• Collaborate with University Advancement and Corporate and Foundation Relations staff to move qualified employer prospects through the cultivation and solicitation process.
• Maintain ongoing communication with employers to strengthen engagement, improve recruiting outcomes, and expand partnership opportunities.

Corporate Partnerships and Resource Development (20%)

• Develop and strengthen relationships with employers and corporate partners that support the mission of Career Development & Engagement.
• Identify opportunities for employers to sponsor career fairs, networking events, professional development programs, workforce readiness initiatives, and student engagement activities.
• Collaborate with Corporate and Foundation Relations and Development staff to cultivate corporate support for scholarships, internships, experiential learning opportunities, and career development programs.
• Facilitate introductions and partnership opportunities between employers and University Advancement when philanthropic interests align with institutional priorities.
• Assist with the development, solicitation, and stewardship of corporate sponsors and partners supporting Career Development & Engagement initiatives.
• Create employer engagement pathways that encourage long-term involvement through recruiting, mentoring, program sponsorship, volunteer service, and philanthropy.
• Ensure corporate partners receive meaningful recognition, visibility, and return on investment through university engagement opportunities.

Career Programming and Workforce Development (15%)

• Support the planning and execution of career fairs, employer networking events, industry panels, and professional development programs.
• Coordinate employer participation in mentorship, mock interviews, classroom presentations, and career readiness workshops.
• Collaborate with faculty and staff to align programming with industry trends and workforce needs.
• Assist in developing initiatives that enhance student career readiness and workforce preparation.

Alumni and Community Engagement (5%)

• Partner with Alumni Relations to engage alumni employers, mentors, and industry leaders.
• Increase participation of alumni-owned businesses in recruiting and career development initiatives.
• Foster relationships with economic development organizations, chambers of commerce, and workforce development agencies.

Data, Assessment, and Reporting (10%)

• Track employer engagement activity, recruiting outcomes, internship participation, and partnership growth.
• Maintain accurate employer and corporate relationship records within CRM systems.
• Prepare reports and performance metrics related to employer engagement and recruiting success.
• Utilize data to inform outreach strategies and identify areas for program growth.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience in higher education career services, talent acquisition, workforce development, or corporate relations.
• Experience securing sponsorships, fundraising support, or corporate partnerships.
• Knowledge of recruiting practices, employer engagement strategies, and workforce development trends.
• Experience using CRM and relationship management systems.
• Master's degree in a related field 

Core Performance Indicators:

Employer Engagement

• Number of active employer partnerships.
• Growth in new employer relationships.
• Employer retention rate.
• Employer participation in career fairs, recruiting events, and networking programs.
• Number of employer visits and engagement activities conducted annually.
   

Student Career Outcomes

• Internship and experiential learning opportunities secured.
• On-campus interviews and recruiting activities hosted.
• Employment opportunities generated for students and graduates.
• Employer satisfaction with recruiting and engagement efforts.
   

Corporate Engagement and Revenue Generation

• Sponsorship revenue secured for Career Development & Engagement programs and events.
• Number of corporate sponsors actively supporting Career Development & Engagement.
• Corporate-funded scholarships, internships, or workforce development initiatives established.
• Number of employers participating in mentorship, classroom engagement, mock interviews, and professional development programs.
• Number of corporate partnership opportunities referred to University Advancement for philanthropic cultivation.
• Renewal and retention rate of corporate sponsors and partners.
   

Strategic Partnership Growth

• New industry partnerships established.
• Alumni employer participation in Career Development & Engagement initiatives.
• Engagement of workforce development agencies, chambers of commerce, and economic development organizations.
• Overall growth and impact of Career Development & Engagement employer partnerships.