Western Carolina University continues to rank high on Forbes Best Employers lists each year. Including:
2024 - Ranking in the top 8.5% on Forbes Americas Best Midsize Employers list, WCU was ranked 34 out of the top 400 employers across all industries.
2023 - Ranked in the top 20% on Forbes Americas Best Midsize Employers list, WCU was ranked 97 out of the top 500 employers across all industries.
2022 - Ranked 14th in the top 100 employers in North Carolina in Forbes Americas Best Employers by State list.
Western Carolina University is the UNC systems westernmost campus and has been consistently ranked as one of the top 15 public regional institutions in the South.
Employees of WCU are provided a comprehensive benefits package as well as other resources, policies and programs to ensure a happy and healthy work/life balance. Benefit eligible employees have access to dental, vision and health insurance plans - eligibility begins on the first of the month following date of hire. Retirement plan contributions begin on the eligibility date following election and include employer contributions for either a defined contribution or a defined benefit plan. Optional disability plans are also available.
Eligible employees have access to tuition waivers for up to three courses per academic year; employee may enroll at any of the constituent UNC System campuses. Also offered are free group exercise classes multiple times per week, a discounted membership to the campus recreation center, free vaccine and booster shots offered on campus, pretax flexible spending accounts, 12 paid holidays and 24 hours of paid community service leave each year. Leave earning employees (staff and 12-month faculty) who work at least half of the working days of their first month of employment will begin accruing vacation and sick leave immediately. Paid parental leave after 12 months of continuous service.
WCU offers an abundance of training and development programs, certifications, workshops and conferences - many of which are offered free of charge.

The primary location of this position is on-site at the Cullowhee, NC campus. This position is designated as being exempt from the State of North Carolina Human Resources Act (EHRA).

The Associate Director of Employer Engagement in the Center for Career and Professional Development is responsible for building relationships among corporate and community organizations on the benefits of hiring university students and graduates for jobs as well as for internships. The goals of the position are to increase job postings, career opportunities, recruitment, and hiring activity for Western Carolina University students and graduates and to generate increased support and resources for the career center and the university.

Responsibilities of this position include, but are not limited to, the following:
1. Proactively develop and implement strategies designed to increase employment opportunities for WCU students and graduates.
2. Identify and cultivate relationships with organizations, agencies, and sectors that historically have had little or no interaction with the career center and/or experience with hiring our students and graduates. Seek to connect these entities with the appropriate resources and personnel at the career center and/or the University.
3. Advise and counsel employers with regard to the most effective means of identifying potential job candidates to meet the employers specific needs, including, but not limited to, campus recruitment, job postings, internships, career fairs, class/organization presentations, and resume searches.
4. Seek to generate monetary support, sponsorships, and gifts-in-kind from the private sector to support the goals and objectives of the career center and the university.
5. Track job market demand, use of career services, and hiring results for students in various academic majors; formulate strategies for achieving greater participation rates for those majors that under use available career resources.
6. Monitor the quality of customer service for employers, including the collection and analysis of survey data and assessment of and follow-up with informal feedback. Make recommendations on how the career center can maintain and improve quality customer service for employer partners.
7. Maintain a working knowledge of local and national employment market trends and their actual and potential impact on the hiring of college students and graduates.
8. Coordinate outreach activities, when appropriate, with other university departments and personnel, including, but not limited to, the Office of Development, alumni groups, and academic departments.
9. Manage, in collaboration with others in the CCPD, the administration of large all-industry and specialty career fairs.
10. Oversee the administration of the universitys on-campus recruitment program for employers, which may require skills in marketing and event planning.
11. Participate in career development programs coordinated by the career center, including, but not limited to, workshops, employer seminars, and meetings within and outside of the career center, and other special projects of the career center.
12. Interest in working with students in a counseling or mentorship capacity
13. Perform other duties as assigned to advance the goals and objectives of the career center and the university.

Must be legally eligible to work in the United States of America without the need for employer sponsorship or any other immigration-related assistance.

Masters degree in Counseling, Student Personnel, Business, Human Resource Management, Communications, Marketing, or related discipline required. Degree(s) must be from a regionally accredited institution. Experience in relationship development.

Three or more years of experience in a corporate or university career services environment. Previous experience with college recruiting from a higher education or a business perspective.

To be considered, you must apply online.

***Review of applications will begin May 12th and will continue until the position is filled.

Please include a cover letter, resume, and a list of at least three professional references to complete the application process.

For questions or additional information, please contact Theresa Paul at 828-227-7133.