Employer and Community Engagement Coordinator

Primary Purpose:Career Services empowers students to achieve career success by leading, guiding and partnering to advance career education at the University of Saskatchewan. The primary purpose of this position is to provide strategic leadership in employer and community engagement to increase the diversity of partnering and recruiting organizations, expand the range of recruitment activities, and facilitate quality career opportunities for USask students and alumni. The incumbent will develop and cultivate professional collaborative relationships, assess stakeholder needs, recommend, and facilitate access to recruitment solutions, and lead the development and implementation of events, programming, and resources that support USask student in accessing opportunities and creating connections. Additionally, the incumbent will contribute to advancing career education institutionally, analyzing the needs of employer and community partners, college and unit partners, and students and alumni; and developing, connecting, and contributing to projects and initiatives in these areas.

This position reports to the Manager, Career Services. This position has no direct reports. This position is based out of the Saskatoon campus and may be eligible for hybrid work under the terms of USask’s Alternative Workspace Guidelines.  

Nature of Work:

The Employer and Community Engagement Coordinator exercises a high level of discretionary decision-making and judgment. The ability to advance projects in alignment with stakeholder and institutional goals and objectives is essential. This position is required to establish and maintain a high level of professional relationships amongst a wide stakeholder group that supports excellent collaboration and problem-solving and establishes personal credibility both internal and external to the university. The work is complex, requiring creativity, close attention to detail and quality of work, and the need to collaborate with the unit and across the institution whilst balancing employer and community stakeholder interests. A particular focus will be to develop and cultivate relationships with a broad range of employer and community partners and creating new opportunities for them to engage with and recruit USask students and alumni. This position has a strong impact on the credibility and profile of the institution and Teaching, Learning and Student Experience (TLSE). Some travel, evening and weekend work may be required.  

Accountabilities:

Employer and Community Relations 

• Lead the development and implementation of a strategy to increase the diversity of private sector, public sector, and non-profit organizations engaging with and recruiting USask students and alumni.
• Strengthen and cultivate existing employer and community relationships and provide support to continually improve the relationship and the quality of their experience.
• Identify and develop new opportunities to grow the base of employer and community partners engaged in recruitment efforts.
• Consult with employer and community partners to understand their business, assess their needs, and recommend recruitment options, student engagement strategies, and sponsorship opportunities to assist them in building their brand at USask and reaching their hiring goals.
• Inform and educate current and potential employers of the quality of USask programs; the knowledges, skills, and attributes our graduates possess, and the contributions they can make to their organizations.
• Participate actively in various local, provincial, national, and international organizations, chambers of commerce, professional associations, and committees to increase career opportunities for USask students and alumni.
• Seek out and create opportunities to collaborate with other career services and post-secondary institutions to explore innovative strategies for engaging employer and community partners and expanding career opportunities for students.  

Recruitment Events and Opportunities 

•  Lead the development and implementation of a strategy to expand the range of employer and community recruitment activities, and to facilitate quality career opportunities for USask students and alumni.
•  Develop and implement a suite of recruitment events, resources, programs, and supports that are in alignment with partner and student/alumni needs, and Career Services’ strategic direction.
• Collaborate with the Career Services’ Event and Communications Specialist and the TLSE Service Team to develop and distribute recruitment-related content and messaging to employer and community partners, college and unit partners, and students and alumni.
• Develop and implement procedures, processes and deadlines that ensure a high-quality recruiting program reflecting the needs and expectations of employer and community partners, college and unit partners, and students and alumni.
• Measure the success of employer and community engagement and recruitment efforts to assess and improve quality, customer experience, participation, strategy, and achievement of learning outcomes.
• Identify barriers to growth and success, and recommend solutions based on research and industry knowledge.
• Develop a strong practical and theoretical knowledge of recruitment trends, labour market needs, and labour related issues and their actual and potential impact on the hiring of USask students and alumni.  

Institutional Collaboration and Communications 

• Develop and facilitate strong working relationships between employer and community partners and the university community including colleges, service units, faculty, staff, students and alumni.
• Collaborate with college and unit partners focusing on (but not limited to) underserved populations, graduate students, Indigenous students, international students, and those facing barriers to employment and career success.
• Work closely with the Experiential Learning Coordinators, Gwenna Moss Centre for Teaching and Learning, and colleges to help facilitate the development of experiential learning opportunities for students.
• Liaise with college and unit partners, including college-based career and student service professionals, to ensure open lines of communication and consultation, where appropriate.
• Contribute to conversations and initiatives to create and foster an institutional culture that values, supports and promotes student career success.
• Participate in university-level committees as identified to be appropriate.
• Represent Career Services in a variety of university, community and networking events, visits to employer sites, and hosting organizations on campus.  

General 

• Collaborate with Career Services team to develop, support, and deliver programming and resources that align with Career Services’ strategic direction.
• Ensure programming is aligned with and advances intended institutional, college, unit, and student outcomes.
• Ensure work is completed within established deadlines, by defining goals, aligning all required resources, effectively setting work priorities, collaborating with others as needed, and assessing and reporting outcomes.
• Assist in developing and managing annual budgets for initiatives to ensure cost-effective use of resources.
• Undertake personal and professional development activities to advance expertise in employer relations, recruitment, and career education, and to progress one’s skills both from a theoretical and applied perspective.
• Support equity, diversity, and inclusion (EDI) within Career Services and advance and champion EDI in all programming.
• Assist with the day-to-day front-line service and support when necessary and undertakes other activities, as may be delegated from time to time, in support of Career Services and TLSE goals and priorities. 

Education:An undergraduate university degree. An equivalent level of education and experience may be considered.

Experience:

• A minimum of 3-5 years of directly related experience with a demonstrated progression in level of responsibilities is essential.
•  Experience networking and building professional relationships through business development, customer service, relationship management and/or recruitment roles is preferred.
•  Experience working within higher education, the University of Saskatchewan and/or familiarity with Career Services is an asset.
• Experience working with Indigenous communities or organizations is an asset.

Skills and Competencies:

• Demonstrated commitment to building strong, long-term business relationships by consistently going above and beyond stakeholder expectations.
• Highly effective communication skills, both written and oral, with an ability to communicate in a compelling manner to effectively convey key messages to a variety of audiences.
• Ability to build consensus and maintain collaborative working relationships with a wide range of stakeholders.
• Ability to exercise diplomacy, judgment, and tact, and to act confidentially, and with ethical standards and cultural sensitivity.
• Ability to structure, organize and build initiatives, and effectively plan and manage multiple projects. The ideal candidate will also possess the ability to be flexible and adaptable able to adjust to changing priorities and evolving contexts.
• Ability to work independently and collaboratively, self-motivated and reliable.
• Models a high standard of performance and outcomes, and challenges self and others to achieve desired results.
• Ability to problem-solve, think and act strategically and creatively.
• Proficiency in contemporary computer applications and knowledge of social media and web platforms (e.g., Zoom, Microsoft Office, LinkedIn).  

Inquiries regarding this position can be directed to Kimberly Matheson, Manager Career Services at [email protected] or 306-966-5093.

Department: Career Services

Status: Permanent

Employment Group: ASPA

Shift: Mon-Fri, 8:30-4:30

Full Time Equivalent (FTE): 1.0

Salary: The salary range, based on 1.0 FTE, is $64,107.00 – 100,169.00 per annum. The starting salary will be commensurate with education and experience.

Salary Family (if applicable): Specialist Professional

Salary Phase/Band: Phase 2

Posted Date: 9/28/2022

Closing Date: 10/11/2022

Number of Openings: 1
Work Location: May be eligible for hybrid work under the terms of USask’s Alternative Workspace Guidelines

The successful applicant will be required to provide the following current verification(s) where ‘Yes’ is indicated below. Further information is available at: https://careers.usask.ca/tips-for-applying.php

Criminal Record Check: Not Applicable
Driver’s License and Abstract Check: Not Applicable
Education/Credential Verification: Not Applicable
Vulnerable Sector Check: Not Applicable

Please review the University of Saskatchewan’s health and safety requirements for faculty, staff andstudents in consideration of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The University believes equity, diversity, and inclusion strengthen the community and enhance excellence, innovation and creativity. We are dedicated to recruiting individuals who will enrich our work and learning environments. All qualified candidates are encouraged to apply; however, in accordance with Canadian immigration requirements, Canadian citizens and permanent residents will be given priority. We are committed to providing accommodations to those with a disability or medical necessity. If you require an accommodation in order to participate in the recruitment process, please notify us and we will work together on the accommodation request. The University of Saskatchewan’s main campus is situated on Treaty 6 Territory and the Homeland of the Métis. We pay our respects to the First Nations and Métis ancestors of this place and reaffirm our relationship with one another. Together, we are uplifting Indigenization to a place of prominence at the University of Saskatchewan.