Lead Recruiter & Job Developer

Overview

This position has been budgeted for $32.69 per hour and is non-negotiable.

San Diego State University (SDSU) is a premier public research university renowned for its commitment to preparing leaders for the future and serving as a global hub for innovation. With a strong emphasis on academic excellence and cutting-edge research, SDSU fosters a culture of discovery and collaboration that addresses the challenges of a rapidly changing world. The university is dedicated to equipping students with the knowledge, skills, and experiences needed to succeed in the workforce of today and tomorrow. Through innovative programs, global engagement, and a focus on diversity and inclusion, SDSU continues to shape the next generation of leaders while driving economic and social progress both locally and globally.

SDSU Career Services is an award-winning, nationally recognized leader in career development and industry relations, setting new standards for excellence for university career centers. By prioritizing student employment outcomes and earnings as its key success metric, the department is reshaping the role of career services in higher education and challenging traditional approaches. Through bold regional and statewide initiatives, SDSU Career Services drives workforce development, fosters strong industry partnerships, and serves as a catalyst for economic mobility. The department cultivates a culture of innovation, empowering its staff to push boundaries, embrace new possibilities, and develop transformative strategies that ensure student success. With a relentless focus on student achievement and dynamic industry engagement, SDSU Career Services remains at the forefront of redefining career readiness and workforce impact.

SDSU Career Services is seeking a forward-thinking, technology oriented Lead Recruiter & Job Developer (LRJD) to serve as a regional lead for industry relations and recruiting activities with a focus on workforce development, hiring, job and internship development, and business development. 

This position leads employer engagement within a specific industry and works closely with the Career Management team to ensure employer integration into the academic and career development process. This role helps keep the department and institution current on workforce development trends and industry needs. 

This position will also support grants awarded and any other grants that may be awarded with a focus on employer engagement, and job development.  This individual will be responsible for supporting the planning, implementation, execution and reporting for the grant programs.  Additionally, they will conduct research, collect data and document best practices.  

Local travel is a routine part of this role. Weekend/evening work may be required as needed. 

Responsibilities

The Lead Recruiter & Job Developer is responsible for but not limited to:

Industry Relations 30%

• Serve as industry lead for specific career pathways and industry sectors.
• Build and maintain strong industry partnerships to gain insights into workforce needs, labor market trends, and relevant workforce policies, shaping our strategic direction.
• Conduct employer consultations to identify potential talent pipeline needs, partnerships, and opportunities for students.
• Develop and enhance employer relationships to generate new work opportunities for students and alumni with a focus on internships and other forms of experiential education.
• Work with career center staff and leadership to ensure ongoing employer involvement in departmental workshops, presentations, and programming.
• Support industry and career development programs and awarded grants that may include experiential learning and high impact educational practices; programs may include and/or relate to internships, mentoring, service learning, industry related class projects, leadership programs, staffing/recruiting, and other related activities.
• Collaborate with regional community organizations, chambers of commerce, economic development offices (EDCs), SBDCs, and educational partners to create work-based learning (WBL) opportunities for students.
• Contribute to the ongoing Industry Menu of Services that integrate Career Service and campus partner offerings. Campus partners may include Global Campus, philanthropy/development, Foundation, Fowler College of Business Career Management Center, and beyond.
• Coordinates reasonable fees for employer use of recruiting and other industry services in order to generate revenue.
• Support the center’s online career services management (CSM) system for employers and students to promote and track employer participation.
• Attend and support career services programs and events such as career fairs, information sessions, employer orientations, workshops, classroom presentations, and networking events to connect students with employers.
• Identify and attend external branding and networking opportunities that may include conferences, banquets, luncheons, industry events, and more.
• Coordinates program activities, training opportunities, seminars, conferences, and other industry-related activities with community partners to enhance and promote programming throughout various industries.
• Cultivate relationships with the local community that advance the well-being of diverse individuals and communities.

Internal Campus Relations 30%

• Identify campus partners for specific career pathways and industry sectors
• Keep campus partners current on recruiting practices and requirements. 
• Strengthen and expand university partnerships to ensure that the center’s services, programs, resources, and initiatives are effective, innovative, and aligned with the university’s strategic plans and priorities.
• Coordinate the identification of contacts to explore, promote, and solicit industry interest in developing long-standing relationships with SDSU that include recruiting, mentoring, and various forms of career development and beyond.
• Deploys cross-sectional collaboration efforts between Career Services, academic and non-academic departments/divisions, the community, and other stakeholders to support student growth and development.
• Contribute to the ongoing faculty & Staff Menu of Services that integrate Career Service and campus partner offerings. Campus partners may include Global Campus, philanthropy/development, Foundation, Fowler College of Business Career Management Center, and beyond
• Work in collaboration with campus partners to ensure industry access to institutional educational resources that may include non-credit, and for-credit opportunities.

Communications, Marketing, & Outreach 10%

• Utilize marketing channels that may include physical/in-person platforms, media, social media, remote, and other outlets and assess their effectiveness. 
• Support departmental correspondence to mass audiences that include students, alumni, and industry stakeholders.
• Conducts outreach in-person and online utilizing current marketing tools that include social media, mass media, and mobile communications to identify and attract key stakeholders.
• Provides customer service to students, alumni, industry partners, and other stakeholders regarding industry relations activities, services, and resources.

Administration & Outcomes 10%

• Routinely research and integrate current best practices promoted by relevant professional associations such as NACE, MPACE, CCDA, CWA, and other career and workforce-related associations.
• Ensure that industry and employment-related outcomes are tracked, analyzed, and reported in a manner that supports department, division, and campus priorities and commitments.
• Assist with employer fund development with the broad goal of maintaining and building employer involvement in the department’s sponsor program and other forms of business development activities. 
• Maintains compliance with pertinent Federal, state and local laws, and contractual regulations.    
• Ensure that employer services and employment opportunities are in alignment with applicable policies, legal requirements, and professional standards.
• Support the review, development, and/or revision of guidelines, practices, and policies to support organizational goals and priorities.

Career Development 10%

• Create a positive and welcoming environment that encourages students to enhance their skills through education and career readiness.
• Research industry trends to stay current on job market demands.
• Collaborate with the career management team to facilitate workshops and group sessions on resume writing, interview preparation, work-based learning (WBL) search strategies, and career exploration that align with industry needs.
• Partner with campus stakeholders to create equitable pathways for career success and provide tailored support to ensure student success.

Other Duties and Responsibilities as Assigned 10%

Qualifications

• Exceptional verbal and written communication skills, with the ability to engage effectively with a wide range of stakeholders (students, employers, faculty, etc.).
• Exceptional problem-solving skills to address challenges in program delivery, employer relations, and student development.
• Strong organizational, time management, and multitasking skills to manage multiple responsibilities and meet deadlines.
• Proficient in the use of Google Workspace, Microsoft Office applications, and familiarity with collaboration tools such as Discord, Trello, and Zoom.

• Equivalent to a bachelor’s degree and/or equivalent training and administrative work experience involving study, analysis, and/or evaluation leading to the development or improvement of administrative policies, procedures, practices or programs.
• 3-years of progressively responsible experience in an office or administrative environment

Preferred Qualifications & Special Skills

• A minimum of 3 years of professional experience developing industry relationships
• A minimum of 3 years collaborating with external partners, including regional community organizations, chambers of commerce, economic development offices, SBDCs, and campus stakeholders

Additional Applicant Information

• Candidate must reside in California and live within a commutable distance from SDSU at time of hire.
• Job offer is contingent upon satisfactory clearance based on background check results (including a criminal record check).
• San Diego State University Research Foundation is an equal opportunity employer. Consistent with California law and federal civil rights laws, SDSU Research Foundation provides equal opportunity in employment without unlawful discrimination or preferential treatment based on race, sex, color, ethnicity, or national origin or any other categories protected by federal or state law.  
• Employment decisions are based on an individual’s qualifications as they relate to the job under consideration. Our commitment to equal opportunity means ensuring that every employee has equal access to resources and support. 
• SDSU Research Foundation complies with Titles VI and VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act, the California Equity in Higher Education Act, California’s Proposition 209 (Art. I, Section 31 of the California Constitution), and other applicable state and federal anti-discrimination laws including grant or contract terms and conditions related to funded program activities. Further the SDSU Research Foundation maintains a Nondiscrimination Policy that prohibits discriminatory preferential treatment, segregation based on race or any other protected status, and all forms of unlawful discrimination, harassment, and retaliation in all programs, policies, and practices.  
• SDSU Research Foundation makes all employment decisions including, but not limited to, applicant screening, hiring, promotion, demotion, compensation, benefits, disciplinary actions, and terminations on the basis of merit.