Associate Director, Recruiting & Industry Relations

CSU Careers • San Diego, CA

5d • $80,000 - $89,256 • Onsite

About The Position

The Associate Director of Recruiting & Industry Relations serves as a key leader within SDSU Career Services, driving partnerships that expand meaningful career opportunities for students and alumni. This role leads the university’s employer engagement strategy—developing innovative industry services, strengthening recruiting pipelines, and leveraging data-informed practices to support regional workforce and economic development. The Associate Director oversees a dedicated Industry Relations team, advances revenue-generating initiatives, and represents SDSU with executives, workforce boards, chambers of commerce, and community partners. This is an exciting opportunity for a collaborative, strategic, and relationship-driven professional to shape the future of industry engagement at a nationally recognized institution.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in a relevant field or equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Five (5) years of progressively responsible experience in employer relations, recruiting, talent development, or workforce engagement.
• Demonstrated experience managing staff and leading programs that connect students or job seekers with professional opportunities.
• Proven ability to develop and sustain partnerships with industry, community, and academic stakeholders.
• Knowledge of workforce development, career readiness, and employer engagement trends.
• Experience with Customer Relationship Management (CRM) tools and outcome reporting.
• Strong leadership, team building, and communication skills.
• Strategic and data-driven mindset with a focus on results and innovation.
• Experience managing budgets, contracts, and fee-based programs.

Responsibilities

• Recruiting & Industry Relations Strategy Lead the planning, implementation, and evaluation of employer-facing services, ensuring high-quality engagement experiences for students, alumni, and industry partners.
• Implement and maintain CRM strategies to strengthen partnerships, improve employer engagement, and drive growth in work-based learning opportunities.
• Develop and refine an Industry Menu of Services and innovate new offerings that add value beyond traditional recruiting.
• Manage employer participation platforms and set/enforce fee structures that support annual revenue goals.
• Cultivate new and existing employer relationships to generate internships, jobs, and experiential learning opportunities.
• Internal & External Partnerships Communicate key metrics to internal stakeholders and external partners to expand collaborations and enhance employment pathways.
• Coordinate strategic planning with campus divisions and community organizations to support revenue generation and industry engagement.
• Build and strengthen relationships across the university to align programs with institutional priorities.
• Represent SDSU at conferences, networking events, and industry convenings while promoting the university’s brand across diverse sectors.
• Serve on workforce and economic development boards and maintain partnerships with chambers of commerce, SBDCs, and related organizations.
• Develop MOUs and support cross-campus use of employer engagement tools and systems.
• Management, Administration & Outcomes Supervise, support, and develop the Industry Relations team, fostering innovation, collaboration, and accountability.
• Monitor labor market trends and assess industry engagement efforts using data, logic models, and institutional priorities.
• Lead the creation and oversight of industry-focused services, ensuring compliance with policies, legal requirements, and best practices.
• Direct revenue-generation strategies and oversee financial administration, including grants and contracts.
• Communications, Marketing & Outreach Incorporate student voice to guide programming and service delivery.
• Develop and assess marketing and communications strategies to elevate SDSU’s visibility among industry partners.
• Leverage digital, media, and in-person channels to promote departmental initiatives and strengthen industry engagement.

Benefits

• Generous Leave Benefits: Enjoy 15 paid holidays, 24 vacation days, and 12 sick days per year.
• Retirement Security: Benefit from a CalPERS defined benefit pension plan, with reciprocity with the UC Retirement Plan, plus retiree healthcare benefits.
• Comprehensive Health Coverage: Access a variety of health, dental, and vision plans at no or low cost to you.
• Educational Opportunities: Take advantage of the California State University system fee reduction program for yourself or a qualified dependent.
• Voluntary Benefits: Opt into additional benefits like Auto & Home Insurance, Life and Disability Insurances, a Legal Plan, Pet Insurance, and the ScholarShare 529 Plan for college savings.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Director
• Number of Employees: 5,001-10,000 employees