Senior Director Employer Relations

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How to Apply

A cover letter is required for consideration (one page or less) and should be submitted with your resume as a single file due to system constraints. In your cover letter, please briefly describe your interest in this position and how your background aligns with the required qualifications. For questions about this position, please email [email protected].

Job Summary

The Stephen M. Ross School of Business at the University of Michigan is a diverse learning community grounded in the principle that business can be an extraordinary vehicle for positive change in today's dynamic global economy. The Ross School of Business mission is to build a better world through business. Through our powerful ideas, purpose-driven leaders, and positive impact, we empower business leaders to improve the world. Learn more about Ross here.

The Career Development Office (CDO) at Ross supports approximately 4,400 students each year across our MBA, specialty master's, and BBA programs by building and sustaining employer relationships that expand recruiting opportunities and by delivering workshops and coaching that help students develop career skills for life.

As the Senior Director of Employer Relations, you will set the employer engagement strategy and lead a team that builds and stewards partnerships with companies, alumni, and key stakeholders to strengthen recruiting pipelines and expand opportunities across all degree programs. Reporting to the Managing Director, you will serve on the CDO leadership team and directly manage employer relations professionals, including managers, while partnering closely with Ross leadership and key stakeholders. Success will be reflected in measurable employer engagement outcomes and a high-performing team with clear goals and accountability.

This role is hybrid with on-site expectations in Ann Arbor, MI three days per week. Additional on-site presence may be required based on business needs. Evening and weekend work is sometimes required during peak periods, and domestic travel may be required. The posting range for this position is $100,000 - $117,350. For the full job description, see link here.

Responsibilities*

Strategic Leadership & Planning (40%)

• Lead a team of professional staff, ensuring alignment with CDO's mission and goals.
• Oversee the team of managers who serve as the primary liaisons with employers, alumni, and internal partners to align talent pipelines with student career interests and School priorities.
• Leverage corporate engagement insights to inform CDO staff, students, and CDO internal partners on recruiting trends, while ensuring best practices in recruiting and employer engagement.
• Collaborate with faculty, academic program offices, Centers & Institutes, and Advancement to align employer engagement with curricular strengths, industry priorities, and institutional initiatives.
• Establish industry-specific strategies to anticipate market shifts, expand opportunities, and strengthen employer pipelines.
• Contribute to long-term strategic planning, operational decision-making, and continuous innovation in employer engagement.

Team Leadership & Collaboration (25%)

• Provide strategic leadership, coaching, and professional development for the employer relations team.
• Foster a culture of accountability, collaboration, and innovation to achieve ambitious goals.
• Collaborate with cross-functional colleagues, including career coaching, program offices, admissions, and marketing, to deliver an integrated approach to employer engagement and student success.
• Represent Ross and the Career Development Office at professional associations, employer roundtables, peer-school consortia, and industry events.

Strategic Employer Partnerships & Engagement (25%)

• Design and implement a proactive strategy to expand employer relationships across industries and geographies.
• Leverage alumni as advocates, hiring managers, and corporate champions to expand opportunities for students.
• Build new long-term partnerships with employers and alumni, serving as a trusted advisor on recruiting strategies and workforce trends.
• Develop innovative approaches to support domestic and international student hiring.
• In collaboration with the managers, consult with employers on recruiting strategies and maximize engagement through recruiting events, treks, and tailored partnerships.
• Ensure operational excellence on the team in managing day-to-day processes and procedures, systems, events, and logistics.

Data-Driven Insights & Market Intelligence (10%)

• Partner with CDO colleagues and leadership to collect, interpret, and communicate employer and market data.
• Use data to inform employer outreach strategies, identify gaps, and advise leadership on emerging hiring trends.
• Present market insights to CDO leadership colleagues, staff, students, faculty, and the Dean's Office to inform coaching, curriculum, and strategic priorities.
• Benchmark strategies with peer institutions to ensure best-in-class practices.

Required Qualifications*

• Master's degree or MBA required.
• 7+ years of progressive experience in employer relations, corporate recruiting, or related fields.
• 5+ years of demonstrated experience developing and executing an employer engagement strategy with measurable outcomes.
• 5+ years of demonstrated experience supervising direct reports, including coaching, goal setting, and performance management.

Why Work at Michigan?

In addition to a career filled with purpose and opportunity, the University of Michigan offers a comprehensive benefits package to help you stay well, protect yourself and your family and plan

for a secure future. Benefits include:

• Generous time off (Vacation, Holidays, Season Days)
• A retirement plan that provides two-for-one matching contributions with immediate vesting
• Many choices for comprehensive health insurance
• Life insurance
• Long-term disability coverage
• Flexible spending accounts for healthcare and dependent care expenses
• Flexible Work Program
• Ross Onsite Fitness Center

Modes of Work

Positions that are eligible for hybrid or mobile/remote work mode are at the discretion of the hiring department. Work agreements are reviewed annually at a minimum and are subject to change at any time, and for any reason, throughout the course of employment. Learn more about the work modes.

Additional Information

The posting range for this position is $100,000 - $117,350. This posting range reflects multiple factors involved in determining compensation, such as skills, experience, training, certifications, and other organizational needs. At Ross, it is not common for new hires to be offered a salary at the upper end of the range. Compensation decisions are based on the details of each situation.

Application Deadline

Job openings are posted for a minimum of seven calendar days. The review and selection process may begin as early as the eighth day after posting. This opening may be removed from posting boards and filled anytime after the minimum posting period has ended.

U-M EEO Statement

The University of Michigan is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We are committed to providing an environment of mutual respect where equal employment opportunities are available to all applicants, including protected veterans and individuals with disabilities.