Program Manager, University Relations & Community Outreach

MillerKnoll•Zeeland, MI

23h

About The Position

Our purpose is design for the good of humankind. It’s the ideal we strive toward each day in everything we do. Being a part of MillerKnoll means being a part of something larger than your work team, or even your brand. We are redefining modern for the 21st century. And our success allows MillerKnoll to support causes that align with our values, so we can build a more sustainable, equitable, and beautiful future for everyone. Position Summary The Program Manager of University Relations & Community Outreach will serve as a strategic connector between the organization, academic institutions, and communities where we live and work. This individual contributor role designs and executes innovative outreach strategies to attract top early-career talent and strengthen the company’s presence and reputation as an employer of choice. You will cultivate meaningful partnerships across the educational and workforce ecosystem—from four-year universities to trade and technical schools—to build sustainable, measurable talent pipelines that support enterprise workforce planning, strengthen community impact, and advance the organization's long-term growth and belonging strategy.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in human resources, Business, or a related field, or equivalent experience.
6–8 years of progressive experience in university relations, early talent strategy, workforce development, or talent acquisition, within a complex organization.
Proven success building and sustaining partnerships with educational institutions, workforce development programs, and community organizations.
Demonstrated experience designing scalable early-career pipelines tied to workforce planning and business demand
Strong project management, communication, and relationship-building skills, with the ability to navigate complex stakeholder environments.
Experience designing and executing events, programs, and initiatives that build engagement and measure impact.
Ability to travel to campuses, community events, and company sites as needed.

Responsibilities

University Relations Strategy Develop and lead a comprehensive university engagement strategy aligned with the company’s workforce and belonging goals.
Build and maintain strong relationships with career services teams, faculty, student organizations, and alumni networks at target universities.
Coordinate and represent the company at campus events, career fairs, information sessions, and student conferences.
Partner with internal stakeholders to ensure the university strategy aligns with current and future talent needs across functions.
Define and prioritize a focused portfolio of target institutions aligned to long-term workforce needs, professional subject matter areas of expertise, and geographic footprint
Community Outreach & Partnerships Expand the organization’s educational ecosystem by cultivating partnerships beyond traditional university settings, including community colleges, technical programs, trade schools, and high school career pathways in key regions where the company operates.
Translate community engagement into scalable pathways for workforce entry by collaborating with workforce development boards, nonprofit partners, civic organizations, and local leaders to identify shared opportunities for skills development, apprenticeships, and access to employment.
Design and execute localized talent engagement programs that connect community-based talent with career opportunities, promoting equitable access and supporting long-term economic vitality in the company’s communities.
Represent the organization at community, workforce, and education events to amplify brand visibility and demonstrate the company’s commitment to inclusive growth and career mobility.
Collaborate across internal teams both within HR and across the broader organization to develop and maintain workforce readiness initiatives such as internships, apprenticeships, and early-career development programs.
Measure and communicate impact of community and education partnerships through data and storytelling—highlighting how engagement efforts strengthen talent pipelines, foster inclusion, and drive business results.
Candidate Engagement & Experience Design and deliver high-touch, relationship-centered experiences for students, emerging professionals, and community-based talent.
Serve as a brand ambassador, effectively communicating the company’s mission, culture, and career opportunities to external audiences.
Maintain a consistent presence in early-talent and community networks through outreach, speaking engagements, digital content, and partnership activities.
Design structured, multi-touch engagement strategies to foster early-talent prospects across academic and community channels Program Development & Execution Partner with Talent Acquisition, Talent Management, and HR teams to develop and evolve early-career programs that support long-term workforce needs.
Design a data-driven dashboard that tracks pipeline yield, institutional performance, conversion rates, and retention outcomes Identify new opportunities to expand equitable hiring practices and support belonging-focused initiatives.
Establish and monitor key pipeline health metrics – specifically, the role will be accountable for monitoring and improving: applicant-to-interview ratio, interview-to-offer ratio, offer-acceptance rate, intern-to-full-time conversion rate, and 12-month retention of converted interns.
Partner with leadership on continuous improvement of early-career engagement frameworks across regions Internal Collaboration & Influence Work closely with hiring managers, recruiters, and HRBPs to align outreach efforts with business priorities.
Share insights on emerging talent trends, academic and trade program pipelines, and community feedback to inform recruiting strategies.
Support internal training and enablement efforts that reinforce inclusive recruitment, workforce development, and community partnership excellence.
Workforce Strategy & Pipeline Architecture Partner with Talent Acquisition and Workforce planning to translate long-term hiring demand into targeted early-career pipeline initiatives Align internship, apprenticeship, and community engagement efforts to enterprise talent forecasting cycles and fiscal planning timelines