Assistant Director, Employer Development

Assistant Director of Employer Development

Career Services

APPLICATION PROCEDURE:To be considered for this position, please include a cover letter with your CV/resume. It can be added to the application at the same time/place you add your CV/resume.

About USC

The University of Southern California (USC) is a leading private research university. The university offers students a world-class education with highly ranked programs in virtually every field - from cinema to the sciences - as well as unparalleled research, internship, and professional opportunities in a wide array of organizations including nonprofits, Fortune 500 companies and global businesses.

About Career Services

The mission of the USC Career Center is to provide exceptional career services to all members of the Trojan Family. Whether you are deciding on a major, exploring career options, seeking a job or internship, or looking for professional networks, the USC Career Center is committed to helping you achieve your professional goals.

About the Opportunity

The Assistant Director of Employer Development is responsible for leading the Career Center's employer development and revenue-generating initiatives. This role drives the cultivation and stewardship of employer partnerships through outreach, on-site visits, and strategic relationship-building, with the goal of supporting the Center's programs and operations. The position oversees the Career Center's Corporate Partner Program, manages sponsorships for career fairs and events, and collaborates with campus stakeholders to enhance the recruiting experience for employers engaging with USC. The Assistant Director uses data and works closely with career services leaders to set fundraising targets, shape outreach strategies, and ensure alignment between employer recruitment needs and student career outcomes.

Key Responsibilities:

Strategic Leadership & Fundraising

• Partner with the Executive Director of Career Services and Associate Director of Employer Engagement to align revenue goals with institutional priorities.
• Execute an annual employer fundraising strategy that supports the Career Center's operational goals, raising funds annually through sponsorships and targeted employer engagement initiatives.
• Use First Destination Survey (FDS) and Summer Experience Survey (SES) results, employment trends, and engagement data to shape strategic employer outreach and development plans.
• Manage and grow the Career Center's Corporate Partner Program, including creating partnership tiers, overseeing benefit fulfillment, and renewing or renegotiating agreements.
• Oversee the design and delivery of sponsorship decks, pitch materials, presentations, and employer-facing collateral.

Campus Collaboration & Partnership Development

• Act as a Career Center liaison to employer-facing stakeholders across campus, including corporate relations teams, the Alumni Association, school-based career offices and advancement teams.
• Collaborate with faculty, department heads, and student organizations to uncover new employer partnership opportunities and connect recruiters with relevant talent pipelines.

Employer Outreach & Relationship Management

• Conduct proactive outreach to new employers across industries by initiating and maintaining a schedule of site visits, pitch meetings, cold leads follow-ups, and in-person or virtual relationship-building activities.
• Represent the Career Center at employer sites, recruitment events, and industry conferences to cultivate relationships and grow employer engagement.
• Maintain a robust employer development pipeline and track relationship progress and outcomes in the career center's CRM system.
• Serve as the primary point of contact for key employers, ensuring timely communication, benefit delivery, and positive recruitment outcomes.
• Work closely with the Employer Engagement team to ensure partnership deliverables (e.g., event visibility, marketing exposure, logistics) are executed seamlessly.

Program Execution & Stakeholder Communication

• Independently lead all employer development activities on behalf of the Career Center.

• Manage timelines and deadlines for sponsorships and employer partnerships, and coordinate internal communications to ensure the team is aware of partnership expectations.
• Provide regular reports to leadership on revenue generation progress, employer engagement metrics, and new opportunities for growth.
• Maintain knowledge of industry trends, hiring projections, and employer needs to proactively match opportunities to university talent.

Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree in business, marketing, higher education, or related field.
• Minimum of 3-5 years of professional experience in career services, employer relations, development, sales, or a related field.
• Proven track record of revenue generation through partnerships, sponsorships, or business development.
• Excellent communication and relationship-building skills with demonstrated ability to engage corporate partners at all levels, including C-suite executives.
• Experience preparing professional presentations and marketing materials; advanced skills in Microsoft PowerPoint and Excel.
• Ability to work independently, manage multiple priorities, and lead collaborative initiatives across campus.
• Willingness and ability to travel for employer visits, conferences, and outreach activities.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Master's degree in business, marketing, higher education, or related field.
• Experience in higher education and understanding of university employer development structures.
• Familiarity with platforms such as Handshake, Salesforce, Brazen, uConnect, or similar CRM/event systems.
• Strong data fluency and ability to use data to guide strategy and assess outcomes.

The annual base salary range for this position is $76,442-$90,000. When determining an offer, the University of Southern California considers factors such as the scope and responsibilities of the role, the candidate's experience, education, training, key skills, internal peer alignment, applicable laws, contractual requirements, grant funding, and market conditions.

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