Employer & Experiential Development Specialist

Position Summary:

As a member of the Employer and Experiential Development Team, the Employer & Experiential Development Specialist will be a team leader for specialized student-focused employer recruiting and networking events and support collaboration between VCU Career Services and relevant departments and programs across campus. They will organize student-employer engagement events, provide connection points related to career and professional development, and assist with the posting of relevant internships and experiential opportunities.

Through purposeful partnerships, innovative programming, consistent advocacy and providing a supportive environment, VCU Career Services aims to reduce barriers to career and experiential opportunities, promote the development of career readiness skills, provide access to resources, knowledge and connections, and equip individuals and organizations to contribute to the current and future world of work, their communities and the broader world.

Members of the VCU Career Services team regularly engage in professional development, including in-house and external training and conference opportunities, to best serve students and alumni, to stay current with industry standards and changes, to revise programs and services to reflect trends, and to increase our office’s visibility, both at VCU and on a broader scale.

Core Responsibilities:

Program Development and Management (45%):

• Coordinate and support the execution of major on- and off-campus career fairs, in collaboration with the Employer and Experiential Development team. This includes, but is not limited to, employer invitations, registration, day-of-fair logistics, and communications regarding career fairs.
• Develop and implement experiential development programs and services to facilitate student learning through employer partnerships and campus resources, including employer site visits/Career Treks.
• Manage a mentorship circle through the VCU Link (PeopleGrove) platform, matching students in the Career Bridge cohort with an employer/alumni mentor to develop and expand their professional network.
• Provide leadership for and coordinate student-focused career events related to networking, career/professional development, and student support. Collaborate and communicate with specific team members, campus partners, and employers to ensure successful event design, marketing, staffing, delivery, and evaluation.
• Work with SEMSS Communications, utilizing appropriate processes so that event marketing can be created and distributed to employers and students as appropriate.
• Schedule and confirm visits with employers and ensure they have all necessary information for their visit (parking passes, scheduling issues, etc.), and follow up with employers after their visit as necessary.
• Collaborate with VCU Career Services staff, student employees, and other campus units on projects and programs that facilitate student learning and skill development.

Relationship Development and Management (35%):

• Coordinate and implement outreach to new and prospective employer/organizational partners who may have an interest in supporting our students through networking, professional development and engagement in experiential opportunities.
• Steward existing employers through the recruitment life cycle, including in-person, electronic, and phone communication in alignment with campus recruiting guidelines, and respond to external party inquiries regarding experiential and employment opportunities that might be a fit for VCU students.
• Orient employer partners to VCU, VCU Career Services, and our Handshake system so they can make informed decisions about engagement and be prepared to effectively post and follow up on experiential and employment opportunities, actively promoting on-campus and virtual recruitment of students.
• Assist employers in building their presence (brand) on campus, advising them on recruitment strategies and setting expectations about event participation and student involvement.
• Provide outstanding customer service in accordance with team standards to both internal and external customers by considering how actions or plans will affect partners; follow through on responsibilities to partners. Responds with appropriate urgency, flexibility, courtesy, and good judgment to meet customer needs and resolve problems.
• Implement, review, and enforce campus recruiting guidelines in conjunction with the Employer and Experiential Development Team.
• Adhere to principles of professional conduct and ethics as outlined by the National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE), including but not limited to:
• Engage with employer partners to promote equitable pay and wages, inclusive recruitment and hiring practices, mentoring and management, and professional development.
• Implement, review, and enforce employer recruitment policies.
• Providing resources for all those engaged in career advising and recruitment to promote informed and responsible decision-making.

Technology Management (10%):

• Promote effective office, employer, and campus engagement with Handshake in support of student engagement, retention, experiential learning, networking, and event participation, as well as organizational relationship management and documentation.
• Communicate with employers regarding the use of our online database (Handshake), and provide service as necessary to recruiters with navigating the system, registering for events/fairs, and posting opportunities.
• Support accurate and timely entry of data, troubleshooting, and communications with employers in the Handshake system, as needed, in collaboration with the Employer and Experiential Development team.
• Effectively leverage VCU Link (PeopleGrove) to establish the parameters and manage all administrative components of a mentorship circle.

Assessment and Reporting (5%):

• Leverage Handshake to identify and measure metrics that track success of student programs and services, employer engagement and recruitment efforts.
• Monitor student goal setting, relationship tracking and engagement within the Career Bridge mentorship program using data from VCU Link (PeopleGrove).

Strategic Initiatives (5%):

• Contribute actively to the development, adaptation, and implementation of the VCU Career Services Strategic Plan through collaboration and project work.
• Participate in various campus events involving prospective students, alumni, and families to engage those stakeholders in our services and programs.
• Participate in departmental, division, and/or university committees to represent VCS as assigned.
• Serve on relevant committees and industry program groups within or representing VCU Career Services, SEMSS, and VCU at large.
• Perform other duties to support team operations and strategic plan, as assigned.