Job Details

Associate Director, Employer Relations

Main Campus - Boston, MA
R10988

ABOUT SIMMONS

Located in Boston's historic Fenway area, Simmons University has a strong tradition of empowering women and challenging traditional gender roles. Simmons was founded for equality 125 years ago as one of the first higher education institutions dedicated to helping women become leaders. Today, our university continues to grow and evolve and now offers Boston's only women's undergraduate program and graduate programs open to all.

You're joining our community at an especially exciting time as we continue to innovate for the future. Simmons recently launched a six-school academic structure that leverages our expert faculty and longstanding expertise in professions that make our communities stronger. In addition, we continue to highlight our high-value education proposition that is delivering greater ROI to students and putting them on the fast track to career growth and success. You'll find that people who work here truly believe in our mission of preparing students to become social justice-oriented leaders who excel in their professions and their communities. This commitment and pride make for a dynamic workplace.

As a university that values diversity, equity, and inclusion, Simmons encourages applications from all under-represented groups. Simmons is committed to creating, developing, promoting, and enhancing inclusive hiring practices-at all levels, for all positions-ensuring diverse talent pools and the delivery of a consistent positive candidate experience. Simmons is an equal opportunity employer and is committed to continuing to develop a more diverse faculty, staff, student body, and curriculum.

JOB SUMMARY

The Associate Director of Employer Relations will play a pivotal role in expanding career and internship opportunities for Simmons University students across undergraduate and graduate programs. Reporting to the Assistant Dean for Community Engagement and Employer Relations, this experienced leader will be responsible for strategically initiating and cultivating relationships with employers across diverse industries. The Associate Director will proactively identify and secure job and internship opportunities, develop impactful employer engagement strategies, and serve as a key liaison between employers and the University. This role requires a highly collaborative individual who can partner effectively with faculty, staff, alumni, and external stakeholders to enhance the career opportunities and professional success of Simmons students.

ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS

Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform these essential functions.

Strategic Employer Engagement

• Develop and implement a comprehensive employer engagement strategy aligned with the University's strategic goals and the career interests of Simmons students across all disciplines.
  
• Identify, cultivate, and maintain strong relationships with local, regional, national, and potentially international employers to create a robust pipeline of internship and job opportunities.
  
• Proactively research and identify new employer partnerships in key industries and sectors relevant to Simmons' academic programs.
  
• Work closely with employers to understand their recruitment needs and identify suitable opportunities for Simmons students and alumni.
  
• Design and deliver presentations and workshops to employers to highlight the talent pool at Simmons University and the benefits of recruiting our students.
  

Data Tracking and Analysis

• Establish and maintain systems for tracking employer engagement activities, job and internship postings, and student placement outcomes.
  
• Compile and analyze data to assess the effectiveness of employer relations efforts and identify areas for improvement.
  
• Stay informed about current workforce trends, industry demands, and hiring practices relevant to Simmons' academic programs.
  
• Generate reports and provide insights to the Career Advising team and other stakeholders on employer engagement outcomes.
  
• Effectively utilize and maintain the university's career services platform (e.g., Handshake) to manage employer relationships, post opportunities, and track data.
  
• Stay current with relevant technology and explore new tools to enhance employer engagement efforts.
  

Collaboration and Outreach:

• Partner closely with faculty and academic departments to understand program curricula and student career interests, and to identify relevant employer connections.
  
• Collaborate with the Advancement Office to align employer engagement efforts with broader university development initiatives and identify potential job leads, as well as to leverage the alumni network for employer connections and mentorship opportunities.
  
• Collaborate with Center for Community Engagement to build partnerships for service-based internships for the Bonner Community Leaders and other relevant programs.
  
• Build strong internal relationships with various university departments to ensure a coordinated and integrated approach to employer engagement.
  
• Represent Simmons University at relevant local, regional, and national professional organizations and networking events.
  

Supervision and Team Support:

• Supervise Assistant Director for Employer Relations and Coordinator for the Office of Employer Relations
  
• Contribute to a collaborative and supportive team environment within the Office of Employer Relations
  

OTHER DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

• Other duties as assigned.
  

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Bachelor's degree required;
  
• 3-5 years of progressive experience in employer relations, university career services, corporate recruiting, workforce development, or a related field.
  
• Strong understanding of current recruitment practices, industry trends, and the needs of diverse employers.
  

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Master's degree preferred in Human Resources, Higher Education Administration or related field;
  
• Proficiency in using career services platforms (e.g., Handshake) and CRM systems for managing employer data and outreach.
  

COMPETENCIES

• Excellent communication (Written, Verbal, Presentation) and interpersonal skills;
  
• Commitment to Inclusive Excellence and Social Justice,
  
• Passionate about supporting diversity, equity & inclusion initiatives to create an inclusive, welcoming, and supportive environment;
  
• Teamwork & the ability to work collaboratively with others toward common goal
  

WORK ENVIRONMENT & CONDITIONS/PHYSICAL DEMANDS

• Full time, 40 hours a week position
  
• This position is eligible for partial remote work arrangement and may require occasional night or weekend work.
  
• Typical environment is an office setting with moderate noise.
  
• Physical activities required are, finger dexterity necessary to operate equipment used in the position, talking, seeing and hearing. Walking, sitting, bending/stooping, pushing/pulling and minimal unassisted lifting (up to 20 pounds) associated with the job duties is required.
  

Salary Grade
S08

Instructions to Applicants: Please upload all applicable application materials (e.g. resume/cv, cover letter, writing sample, teaching philosophy, etc.) in the Application Materials box on page 2 ("My Experience") of this application. Documents can be uploaded individually or as a combined document (e.g. PDF).

Simmons University is committed to inclusive excellence in all aspects of an individual's community experience. As a university committed to diversity, equity, and inclusion, Simmons encourages applications from all under-represented groups. Simmons is committed to creating, developing, promoting, and enhancing inclusive hiring practices-at all levels, for all positions-ensuring diverse talent pools and the delivery of a consistent positive candidate experience. Simmons is an equal opportunity employer and is committed to continuing to develop a more diverse faculty, staff, student body, and curriculum.


To apply, visit https://simmons.wd1.myworkdayjobs.com/en-US/Simmons-Careers/job/Main-Campus---Boston-MA/Associate-Director--Employer-Relations_R10988

Located in Boston's historic Fenway area, Simmons University is a small, private, non-sectarian College which has educated students for enriching careers and purposeful lives since 1899. Working at Simmons means joining a collaborative, diverse and mission-driven community of educators and professionals.

We prepare students to be leaders for themselves, their communities and the world. Our faculty and staff members lead by example - sharing a commitment to excellence and putting the students first.