Talent Acquisition Business Partner, University Relations

Talent Acquisition Business Partner, University Relations

Blue Bird (NASDAQ: BLBD) is recognized as a technology leader and innovator of school buses since its founding in 1927. Our dedicated team members design, engineer and manufacture school buses with a singular focus on safety, reliability, and durability. School buses carry the most precious cargo in the world 25 million children twice a day making them the most trusted mode of student transportation. The company is the proven leader in low- and zero-emission school buses with more than 25,000 propane, natural gas, and electric powered buses sold. Blue Bird is transforming the student transportation industry through cleaner energy solutions.

Job Summary

Reporting to the Director, Total Talent this position will be a vital extension of the Total Talent team, focused on full-lifecycle professional recruitment and building future-ready workforce by cultivating early talent pipelines, strengthening relationships with academic institutions, and driving strategic diversity and veteran recruiting initiatives.

This role will lead the execution of university relations programming and oversee the end-to-end recruitment of interns, co-ops, and entry-level talent while also supporting overflow recruiting for professional roles. The ideal candidate is a skilled full-lifecycle recruiter with experience in university/campus recruitment and a passion for relationship-building, diversity hiring, and employer branding.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

• Serve as Blue Bird's brand ambassador on campuses, promoting our mission and employee value proposition to emerging talent.
• Build and manage strong partnerships with universities, student organizations, and faculty across priority campuses.
• Organize and attend on-campus and virtual recruiting events (e.g., career fairs, industry days, speaking panels, company spotlights).
• Lead sourcing, screening, and selection of candidates for internship and co-op programs across functions.
• Manage the full lifecycle recruiting process for early talent, from pipeline generation through pre-onboarding.
• Act as a strategic partner to hiring managers and HR focusing on sourcing and attracting top talent, ensuring a positive candidate experience.
• Manage University Ambassador Program, supporting Ambassador training, and University event coordination.
• Track and report on program KPIs and post-internship conversion success.
• Provide full-cycle recruiting support for overflow professional openings when needed, including job postings, screening, interviewing, and offer facilitation.
• Maintain data integrity in the Applicant Tracking System (ATS) and generate reports to monitor event ROI, sourcing effectiveness, and candidate flow.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities for Success

• Proven success in building early talent pipelines and managing recruiting events.
• Strong relationship-building and communication skills; able to connect with students, faculty, and internal stakeholders across all levels.
• Familiarity with Applicant Tracking Platforms (ATS)
• Willingness and ability to travel up to 35% (seasonal based on event calendar).

Basic Education and Experience Required

• Bachelor's degree in Human Resources, Business, Marketing, or related field
• 3+ years of professional full-lifecycle recruiting experience required
• 12+ years of direct campus/university recruiting experience required

Preferred Experience

• Prior experience working in manufacturing, automotive, or STEM-related industries.
• Comfort with public speaking, presenting to student audiences, and facilitating professional development sessions (e.g., mock interviews, resume reviews).
• Event planning and project management capabilities.

Includes

• Continued Professional Development
• Benefits including medical, dental and vision insurance, 14 paid holidays, vacation time and 401k matching

Blue Bird is an equal opportunity employer and makes employment decisions on the basis of merit. We strive to have the best available talent in every job based on the Knowledge, Skills and Abilities each person brings. Blue Bird is committed to compliance with all applicable laws providing equal employment opportunities. This commitment applies to all persons involved in Company operations and prohibits unlawful discrimination in all forms.

All candidates must be a U.S. citizen or permanent resident. Candidates must be authorized to work in the United States and will be required to provide proof of employment eligibility at the time of hire.