Assistant Director, Employer Development

Assistant Director of Employer DevelopmentThe Assistant Director of Employer Development is responsible for leading the Career Center's employer development and revenue-generating initiatives. This role drives the cultivation and stewardship of employer partnerships through outreach, on-site visits, and strategic relationship-building, with the goal of supporting the Center's programs and operations. The position oversees the Career Center's Corporate Partner Program, manages sponsorships for career fairs and events, and collaborates with campus stakeholders to enhance the recruiting experience for employers engaging with USC. The Assistant Director uses data and works closely with career services leaders to set fundraising targets, shape outreach strategies, and ensure alignment between employer recruitment needs and student career outcomes.Key responsibilities include:Partner with the Executive Director of Career Services and Associate Director of Employer Engagement to align revenue goals with institutional priorities.Execute an annual employer fundraising strategy that supports the Career Center's operational goals, raising funds annually through sponsorships and targeted employer engagement initiatives.Use First Destination Survey (FDS) and Summer Experience Survey (SES) results, employment trends, and engagement data to shape strategic employer outreach and development plans.Manage and grow the Career Center's Corporate Partner Program, including creating partnership tiers, overseeing benefit fulfillment, and renewing or renegotiating agreements.Oversee the design and delivery of sponsorship decks, pitch materials, presentations, and employer-facing collateral.Act as a Career Center liaison to employer-facing stakeholders across campus, including corporate relations teams, the Alumni Association, school-based career offices and advancement teams.Collaborate with faculty, department heads, and student organizations to uncover new employer partnership opportunities and connect recruiters with relevant talent pipelines.Conduct proactive outreach to new employers across industries by initiating and maintaining a schedule of site visits, pitch meetings, cold leads follow-ups, and in-person or virtual relationship-building activities.Represent the Career Center at employer sites, recruitment events, and industry conferences to cultivate relationships and grow employer engagement.Maintain a robust employer development pipeline and track relationship progress and outcomes in the career center's CRM system.Serve as the primary point of contact for key employers, ensuring timely communication, benefit delivery, and positive recruitment outcomes.Work closely with the Employer Engagement team to ensure partnership deliverables (e.g., event visibility, marketing exposure, logistics) are executed seamlessly.Independently lead all employer development activities on behalf of the Career Center.Manage timelines and deadlines for sponsorships and employer partnerships, and coordinate internal communications to ensure the team is aware of partnership expectations.Provide regular reports to leadership on revenue generation progress, employer engagement metrics, and new opportunities for growth.Maintain knowledge of industry trends, hiring projections, and employer needs to proactively match opportunities to university talent.Qualifications include:Bachelor's degree in business, marketing, higher education, or related field.Minimum of 3-5 years of professional experience in career services, employer relations, development, sales, or a related field.Proven track record of revenue generation through partnerships, sponsorships, or business development.Excellent communication and relationship-building skills with demonstrated ability to engage corporate partners at all levels, including C-suite executives.Experience preparing professional presentations and marketing materials; advanced skills in Microsoft PowerPoint and Excel.Ability to work independently, manage multiple priorities, and lead collaborative initiatives across campus.Willingness and ability to travel for employer visits, conferences, and outreach activities.Preferred qualifications include:Master's degree in business, marketing, higher education, or related field.Experience in higher education and understanding of university employer development structures.Familiarity with platforms such as Handshake, Salesforce, Brazen, uConnect, or similar CRM/event systems.Strong data fluency and ability to use data to guide strategy and assess outcomes.The annual base salary range for this position is $76,442$90,000. When determining an offer, the University of Southern California considers factors such as the scope and responsibilities of the role, the candidate's experience, education, training, key skills, internal peer alignment, applicable laws, contractual requirements, grant funding, and market conditions.