Employer Engagement Manager (Greater Los Angeles/Long Beach Area)

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The salary range for this position takes into account the wide range of factors that are considered in making compensation decisions including but not limited to skill sets; experience and training; licensure and certifications; and other business and organizational needs.

At WGU, it is not typical for an individual to be hired at or near the top of the range for their position, and compensation decisions are dependent on the facts and circumstances of each case. A reasonable estimate of the current range is:

Job Description

Job Profile Summary

The Employer Engagement Manager is a dynamic role within the University's Career & Professional Development team (CPD), responsible for initiating and driving the success of industry recruiting partnerships at the local, regional, and national level. This individual will develop and manage a portfolio of high-impact recruiting and job placement partnerships by identifying and nurturing industry relationships that align with both workforce needs and the university's students, graduates, and alumni. This role involves strategic consulting with corporate partners, B2B development of the university's student and alumni talent pipeline, fostering strong long-term relationships, and collaborating with cross-functional teams to deliver tailored high-value solutions. The role directly impacts the job placement of university students and alumni into roles and industries that align with their degrees and career aspirations.

Primary Responsibilities
* Drives B2B partnership growth by identifying and securing recruiting partnerships that align workforce needs with the university talent pipeline.
* Builds and expands a network of key talent stakeholders within target and partner organizations, positioning the university as a trusted and preferred talent partner.
* Acts as a strategic consultant to recruiting partners and corporate decision-makers, helping them source in-demand talent from the university's network, leading to expanded hiring and the potential development of enrollment partnerships.
* Takes a consultative approach to understanding recruiting partners' needs, offering customized university solutions that align with their strategic goals.
* Leverages insights on workforce trends and challenges to recommend and implement tailored talent solutions and refers leads to the corporate partnerships team to discuss degree and certificate programs when appropriate.
* Converts industry lead referrals into active recruiting partners.
* Collaborates with internal teams (Alumni team, Account Executives/Partner Success Managers, Marketing, Academy, Operations, etc.) to address enterprise-level partnership opportunities.
* Works closely with internal teams to identify new opportunities for expanding partnerships.
* Plans and delivers large and small-scale virtual career events such as career fairs, employer information sessions, hiring events, interviews, and other events that connect students and alumni to career opportunities.
* Proactively promotes partners' employment opportunities to students and alumni, driving the hiring of university graduates.
* Monitors the performance and satisfaction of recruiting partners, proactively addressing issues and ensuring that partners achieve their desired outcomes.
* Identifies areas of improvement within existing partnerships and recommends solutions to enhance value and engagement.
* Tracks and reports on the success of recruiting partnerships, providing regular updates on progress, challenges, and opportunities for further growth.
* Performs other job-related duties as assigned.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities
* Passion for student success and creating lasting partnerships that benefit both learners and employers.
* Understanding of workforce development trends and corporate recruiting processes.
* Strong consultative B2B sales and negotiation skills, with a proven track record of aligning customer needs with a suite of solutions.
* Ability to quickly learn and articulate the university's value proposition and differentiators.
* Exceptional relationship management skills, with the ability to build trust and maintain long-term partnerships with corporate stakeholders.
* Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to influence and negotiate effectively at all levels of the organization.
* Excellent collaboration skills, with the ability to work effectively with internal teams across departments.
* Skilled at coordinating with cross-functional teams to ensure seamless implementation and execution of partnership deliverables.
* Strong project management skills with the ability to manage multiple priorities and ensure the successful delivery of partnership goals and KPIs.

Minimum Qualifications

Education
* Bachelor's Degree in Business, Education, or related field.

Experience
* 5 years of experience in recruiting, account management, partnership management, career services, or similar fields.
* Proven track record of relationship development and management.
* Strong familiarity with talent solutions and how they align with workforce recruiting needs.

Location and Travel

* Travel is required monthly (regional/national).
* The position is remote, but requires regular in-person work.
* The position supports the West Region, which includes California, Nevada, and Arizona. WGU is headquartered in Salt Lake City, Utah.

Experience in lieu of education
Equivalent relevant experience performing the essential functions of this job may substitute for education degree requirements. Generally, equivalent relevant experience is defined as 1 year of experience for 1 year of education and is the discretion of the hiring manager.

Preferred Qualifications
* Master's Degree.

This job description includes a general representation of job requirements rather than a comprehensive inventory of all required responsibilities or work activities. The contents of this document or related job requirements may change at any time with or without notice.

Position & Application Details

How to Apply: If interested, an application will need to be submitted online. Internal WGU employees will need to apply through the internal job board in Workday.

Additional Information

Disclaimer: The job posting highlights the most critical responsibilities and requirements of the job. It's not all-inclusive.

Accommodations: Applicants with disabilities who require assistance or accommodation during the application or interview process should contact our Talent Acquisition team at recruiting@wgu.edu.

Equal Employment Opportunity: All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to any protected characteristic as required by law.