Employer Engagement Manager

Grand Canyon University! One of Arizona’s leading institutions of higher learning. Located in the Valley of the Sun in the heart of Phoenix, Arizona. GCU is an institutionally accredited, private, nondenominational Christian University.

Position oversees the employer engagement team responsible for the programmatic aspects of employer engagement and operations, proactively identifying and addressing GCU’s employer development and engagement needs through extensive collaboration with external employers and internal partners, including Career Services staff, faculty, and key campus administrators. The role operates with increased autonomy while supervising a small team to identify employer needs and execute in person and virtual engagement activities while growing job/internship opportunities for GCU students and alumni.

What you will do: 

• Assist with the creation and execution of an annual plan for both in- and out-of-state industry engagement to support the expansion of the GCU Employer Network and nurture deeper relationships with current and prospective employers and business representatives.
• Monitor industry hiring cycles, workforce trends, and talent demands to strategically inform outreach efforts, engagement priorities, and employer partnership opportunities.
• Evaluate the performance of engagement initiatives and ensure documentation of employer communications and levels of engagement by team.
• Manage employer engagement via cross-functional collaboration across departments and other stakeholders to design, coordinate, and deliver industry-specific career exploration and employment-driven activities and events (e.g., career panels, site visits, topical programs, and access-to-industry events).
• Ensure logistical readiness, stakeholder alignment, and post-event follow-up on hiring outcomes; document progress to support continuous improvement.
• Supervise relationship building and education awareness with the colleges and other student-facing departments to strengthen alignment and adoption of best practices that support students in securing internships and work experience leading to employment or graduate school.
• Monitor and interpret workforce/career trends across industries; provide regular, actionable updates to department leadership and colleagues as appropriate; leads team to understand and guide employer partners on best practices and navigation of GCU-related activities and systems.
• Recommends enhancements to engagement strategy based on trend data and outcomes.
• Analyze department reports to comprehend data and support department leadership in sharing information across the university about employer engagement activity, trends, and connections to the greater university industry ecosystem.
• Perform other duties assigned to advance the goals and objectives of the department and university, including the direct management and oversight of full or part-time staff and student workers.

What you will need:

• Bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution; equivalent combination of education, training, and experience will be considered in lieu of the degree.
• Master’s Degree or degree in assigned college discipline preferred.
• Minimum 4 years’ experience in higher education career advising or a related field with proven ability to implement and manage programs that support student success.
• Willingness to work non-standard hours as needed for event support, including occasional evenings or weekends. working with internal and external clients, employers, alumni, faculty, and students.
• Must successfully pass a background check.
• Demonstrate through appropriate behavior, a positive example to students by supporting the University’s Doctrinal Statement, Ethical Position Statement and Mission of Grand Canyon University.

Why work at GCU:

• Exceptional workplace benefits include medical, dental, vision, life and disability insurance, flexible spending accounts, a 401K savings plan
• Generous time off plan and 11 paid holidays
• Paid time off to volunteer in the community or at GCU sponsored events
• Free covered parking
• We also offer full-time employees, their spouses, and dependent children an Education Tuition Discount Program
• Free on-site gyms on campus

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