Director, Early Talent Programs

Acuity Inc.•Atlanta, GA

3d•Remote

About The Position

The Director of Early Talent Programs plays a critical role in shaping the future workforce of Acuity’s global organization. This leader drives the strategy to attract, develop, and retain early-career talent across key regions—initially focused on North America, with expansion to additional global locations over time. In this role, you will oversee early-career pipelines including university partnerships, internship and co-op programs, and rotational leadership development programs. You will work closely with business leaders, HR teams, and academic partners to position the company as an employer of choice for emerging talent around the world.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in HR, Business, Education, or related field. Master’s degree in HR, Organizational Development, Business, or related field preferred
8+ years of experience in global talent acquisition, university relations, or early-career program leadership within a multinational organization
Proven ability to design, scale, and manage early-talent and leadership development programs across multiple regions
Experience working with HR technologies, ATS platforms, CRM systems, and campus recruiting tools
Demonstrated success building and sustaining strategic academic and external partnerships
Strong leadership, communication, and stakeholder management skills, including influencing across cultures and time zones
Willingness and ability to travel (approximately 30%) for campus events and partnership activities

Responsibilities

Develop and execute a global early talent strategy aligned with long-term workforce needs, collaborating with senior leaders and HR partners across regions.
Build and scale early-career programs, including internships, co-ops, graduate, and rotational leadership programs that meet business needs.
Partner with Business leaders and COE partners to design a high-quality Leadership Program, including forecasting HC needs, defining appropriate curriculum, structured rotations, meaningful assignments, performance management process, and development opportunities that will provide a consistent and enriching experience for all program participants.
Monitor and improve talent pipeline effectiveness into all programming, ensuring high-quality candidate and employee experiences from recruitment through conversion.
Establish and maintain strategic relationships with universities, colleges, professional associations, and student groups in key areas.
Represent the company at academic events, advisory boards, and recruitment summits.
Lead global campus recruiting strategies that strengthen our employer brand and increase visibility across targeted institutions.
Partner with Marketing/Communications teams to develop engaging campus marketing campaigns, social media outreach, and digital content that reflect our global employer brand and associate value proposition.
Oversee the planning and execution of campus events, on-site experiences, competitions, and other engagement activities.
Enable and influence business leaders globally to engage with early talent initiatives and support program success.
Implement performance management, mentorship, training sessions, and development experiences for interns and early-career leadership hires.
Drive conversion strategies that help transition top interns and program participants into full-time roles across global business units.