Assistant Director of Industry to Campus Connections

Organizational Unit

The Center for Career & Professional Development at the University of South Florida (Tampa campus), within the Division of Student Success, is the university's centralized career planning and employment assistance service for students and graduates. Programs help students and graduates develop and implement career goals, gain employability skills and career-related experiences, prepare for graduate/professional school or the labor market, and connect with employers for part-time jobs, internships, cooperative education, and professional employment.

Position Summary

Reporting directly to the Director of Industry Connections, this role works closely with the Center for Career & Professional Development, the University, top employers, and strategic partners. The position manages a Coordinator of Employer Connections and will:

• Serve as part of the Industry to Campus Connections team and Center for Career & Professional Development to develop strong relationships with key employers, faculty, and staff across campus and the broader community; communicate program offerings; assess existing services; identify future needs; and leverage technology to reach unit goals.

• Work across unit teams to research, identify, plan, and implement immersive programs and talent recruitment events, while innovating new models.

• Collaborate with Center leadership to facilitate external engagement, ensuring strategic partnerships, signature programs, key employer relationships, new initiatives, and sponsored activities foster relationships across the University and beyond through trust, collaboration, execution, and value creation.

• Work with the Director of Industry to Campus Connections and Director of Strategic Initiatives to support strategic partners' talent requests, including connections to faculty, staff, and student organizations; campus interviews; employer events; information sessions; and resume books.

• Host career fairs, participate in Center events, and represent the unit at Chamber of Commerce activities, university committees, and local, state, regional, and national employer development meetings.

• Facilitate an annual summer Employer Summit to provide professional development for community recruiters and foster connections to USF.

Responsibilities

• Engage with employers and alumni to support efforts to connect with USF students. This includes working with the team to host events, panels, career fairs, and activities for student interaction. Serve in the Chamber of Commerce to connect with Tampa employers.

• Supervise and direct the Coordinator of Employer Connections.

• Work with Center for Career & Professional Development team members and campus partners to incorporate employers into programs and workshops.

• Work with the Director of Industry Connections to establish employer engagement goals at USF.

• Perform other duties as assigned.

Qualifications

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree from a regionally accredited institution and four years of related exempt experience, including two years of supervisory experience.

Degree Equivalency Clause

Four years of direct experience may substitute for a bachelor's degree.

Senate Bill 1310 – Substitution of Work Experience for Postsecondary Education Requirements

A public employer may include a postsecondary degree as a baseline requirement only as an alternative to the required years of direct experience, not to exceed:

• (a) Two years of direct experience for an associate degree.

• (b) Four years of direct experience for a bachelor's degree.

• (c) Six years of direct experience for a master's degree.

• (d) Seven years of direct experience for a professional degree.

• (e) Nine years of direct experience for a doctoral degree.

Related work experience may not substitute for required licensure, certification, or registration. Minimum qualifications requiring a high school diploma are exempt from SB 1310.

Preferred Qualifications

Preferred Candidate Experiences

• Dynamic leader with strong organizational and relationship skills who fosters collaboration and trust in external relationship management and demonstrates professionalism and integrity.

• Possesses a strategic mindset related to achieving goals, able to communicate vision and translate ideas into operational goals effectively.

• Ability to work in a fast-paced, process-driven environment while maintaining attention to detail and accuracy with lean staff support.

• Outstanding written, verbal, and presentation skills, with the ability to communicate effectively with stakeholders at all levels.

• Ability to manage time-sensitive problems constructively and positively.

• Software capabilities, including career management systems (CMSs) such as Handshake.

Leadership Competencies and Personal Traits

• Emotional intelligence and the ability to establish credibility, collaborate, and influence outcomes with diverse stakeholders.

• Strong relationship-building skills with internal and external constituents.

• Ability to maintain composure, humor, and a positive attitude during extended periods of high-volume work.

• Highly motivated self-starter who works well independently.

• Willingness to travel up to 20% locally to globally, as needed.

• Flexibility to work occasional evenings, early mornings, and weekends.

• Ability to assume other duties as assigned.

Preferred Hiring Qualifications

• Master's degree or higher.

• High standards of customer service, professionalism, and maturity.

• Leadership experience in Employer Relations, University Recruiting, Career Management, Admissions, Advancement, or Business Development/Sales/Marketing.

• Strong organizational, personnel, and administrative management skills.

• Experience working effectively with faculty, university administrators, and advisory board members.