Manager, Early Careers

McCain Foods•Oakbrook Terrace, IL

4d•Hybrid

About The Position

The Manager, Early Careers is a key member of the North American Talent Acquisition team, responsible for developing and executing McCain’s campus recruiting and early careers strategy across the United States and Canada. This role leads programs that attract, engage, and retain diverse early-career talent through internships, rotational programs, co-ops, and entry-level hiring initiatives. The Manager, Early Careers will cultivate strategic partnerships with universities, business leaders, and external organizations while overseeing program design, recruitment delivery, candidate experience, and conversion strategies. This role also provides leadership to a team responsible for campus recruitment operations, coordination, and program administration.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree required; Human Resources, Business Management, or a related discipline preferred.
Minimum 5+ years of Human Resources experience with a strong focus on campus recruiting, university relations, or early careers talent acquisition.
Minimum 2+ years of people leadership or managerial experience.
Demonstrated success developing and executing campus recruiting programs, internship programs, or early talent initiatives.
Strong interpersonal, relationship-building, and communication skills with the ability to influence stakeholders across multiple levels of the organization.
Proven project management experience with the ability to manage multiple priorities and deliver results within tight timelines.
Experience collaborating across complex, matrixed organizations and building partnerships with internal and external stakeholders.
Strong analytical skills and experience leveraging metrics to measure recruiting and program success.
Advanced proficiency in Microsoft Excel and PowerPoint.
Experience working with Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) and Candidate Relationship Management (CRM) platforms.
Demonstrated ability to drive results through strong execution, accountability, and follow-through.
Curiosity and proficiency in utilizing AI-enabled tools and digital solutions to improve recruiting efficiency and administrative processes.

Responsibilities

Lead end-to-end campus recruiting efforts across North America, attracting and hiring high-quality, diverse early-career talent.
Develop, enhance, and scale internship, co-op, and rotational programs that align with business talent needs and workforce planning strategies.
Partner with business leaders and Human Resource Business Partners to understand hiring requirements and develop effective recruiting strategies.
Establish and maintain strong relationships with universities, career centers, faculty, alumni groups, professional associations, and diversity-focused organizations.
Design and implement metrics, reporting, and success measures to evaluate recruiting effectiveness, program outcomes, and talent conversion rates.
Partner with Talent Brand teams to strengthen McCain’s employer value proposition and increase brand awareness across targeted campuses.
Manage recruiting operations, hiring plans, stakeholder communications, and program deliverables to ensure timely execution.
Represent McCain at campus events, conferences, career fairs, and industry forums to identify and engage top talent.
Curate and lead a comprehensive summer internship and Xplore student experience focused on learning, engagement, and full-time conversion opportunities.
Manage program budgets, recruiting investments, and resource planning to maximize program effectiveness and return on investment.
Lead, coach, and develop a team of campus recruiting professionals responsible for recruitment coordination, administration, and candidate experience.