Associate Director, Employer and Alumni Relations

About this role

Associate Director, Employer and Alumni Relations

Columbia College

Associate Director, Employer and Alumni Relations

• 560430
• New York
• Columbia College
• Full Time
• Opening on: Oct 30 2026
• Grade 12
• Job Type: Officer of Administration
• Bargaining Unit:
• Regular/Temporary: Regular
• End Date if Temporary:
• Hours Per Week: 35
• Standard Work Schedule:
• Building:
• Salary Range: $72,000 - $78,000 annually

The salary of the finalist selected for this role will be set based on a variety of factors, including but not limited to departmental budgets, qualifications, experience, education, licenses, specialty, and training. The above hiring range represents the University's good faith and reasonable estimate of the range of possible compensation at the time of posting.

Position Summary

The Center for Career Education (CCE) is an innovative team of career services professionals dedicated to supporting our diverse body of students and alumni in reaching their personal and professional goals. We achieve this by providing access to networking connections, experiential learning opportunities and jobs, comprehensive resources, and customized career counseling to prepare students for an evolving career landscape. CCE serves undergraduate students and alumni in Columbia College, The Fu Foundation School of Engineering and Applied Science, and the School of General Studies, and collaborates with Career Centers in the other schools at Columbia University and its affiliated institutions

The Employer and Alumni Relations (EAR) team within CCE is dedicated to helping 700+ employers recruit undergraduate students and alumni for full and part-time employment and internships. The team also markets the unique talents and skills of Columbia students, attracting a wide array of employers in a diverse range of industries, nationally and internationally, to recruit students from the undergraduate schools served by CCE.

The Employer and Alumni Relations team works closely with employers to simplify and maximize their recruitment efforts by:

• Consulting with organizations to understand their immediate and future hiring needs
• Developing targeted recruitment strategies designed to access Columbia talent, including on-campus recruiting; career fairs; a job/internship listing service (LionSHARE powered by Handshake); industry showcases; connecting with student clubs
• Providing a variety of effective promotional resources
• Build and maintain relationships to stay abreast of industry trend to support student career development

Responsibilities

• Work in a team-based environment to build relationships with employers and alumni interested in engaging in both in-person and virtual career programs and activities managed through CCE. These activities will range from recruiting activities such as career fairs, information sessions, on campus recruiting, etc.; and other career development programs designed to help Columbia students acquire new competencies and skills to support their overall career development.
• Manage a portfolio of employer relationships across assigned industries, developing engagement plans and goals based on employer needs, student interests, recruiting activity, and CCE priorities. Lead employer engagement for one of CCE’s most active employer industries and stay current on their hiring trends, industry timelines, and recruiting shifts. Proactively cultivate new relationships while deepening engagement with existing employer partners. Plan employer visits locally, nationally, and if required internationally, to present Columbia undergraduate students, deepen industry connections, and highlight Columbia as a recruiting destination.
• Report on industry trends; provide information and data on employers to staff at CCE, Columbia students, and other key stakeholders as required. Disseminate employer trends and other data broadly through in-person meetings, online and using CCE's Salesforce Client Relationship Management system. Manage employer interface with on-campus recruiting where required.
• Manage a highly active cohort of employers and alumni who come to campus to recruit Columbia students annually. Develop opportunities for employers to engage with Columbia undergrads beyond traditional recruiting activities, including industry education, career exploration, skill development, alumni engagement, site visits, and other programs aligned with student career development. Manage logistics remotely and via CCE's online recruiting system, LionSHARE, powered by Handshake, act as their first point of contact for recruiting, monitor student engagement and marketing efforts, and troubleshoot as required. Work with the Administration & Planning team to implement effective processes to manage employer billing for recruiting and career events.
• Under the direction of the Executive Director of Employer & Alumni Relations, iterate and improve upon processes for on-campus and virtual recruiting events such as info sessions, career fairs, skills workshops, and interviews. Implement training for EAR and other pertinent CCE staff to ensure CCE provides high quality customer service and experiences for employer, alumni, and student clients. Lead assessment initiatives for these activities to ensure continuous improvement.
• Work with the EAR team to develop processes for the dissemination of industry information -- employer trend data; employer stories; employer and on-campus recruiting outcomes; etc., through all forms of media -- to students, student groups, CCE staff and other key stakeholders. Manage alumni volunteer programs as required, e.g., mentoring, practice interviewing, etc.
• Collaborate with the Experiential Education Team at CCE to source employers to participate in internship programs, host site visits, and lead exploration-focused workshops and information sessions. Coordinate employer and alumni outreach with colleagues across CCE to ensure clear relationship ownership, consistent communication, and integrated experience for external partners.
• Maintain accurate and timely employer, alumni, outreach, and engagement activity in Salesforce, Handshake, and other designated systems. Use CRM and recruiting data to manage relationships, identify opportunities, track progress, and support reporting and decision making.
• Participate in CCE's student career advising initiatives, including Quick Questions and mock interviews. Develop and deliver innovative programs, media, workshops, and other opportunities to help students learn more about given industry focus area. Work with the faculty and administrators of the undergraduate schools that CCE serves to understand the demographics, skill sets, and interests of the students.
• Work with the Communications & Event Management team to help plan and coordinate employer events such as career fairs and industry showcases, assisting in everything from employer communication to logistics planning and outreach to students through clubs and organizations. Participate in on-going evaluation and assessment for designated events.
• Perform other related duties as assigned.

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree and/or equivalent related experience.
• A minimum of 3 years of related experience, such as experience in career services, corporate recruiting, college relations, customer service, operations and/or marketing.
• Strong written, oral and interpersonal communication skills.
• Excellent relationship management skills.
• Proficiency in Google Workspace, Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint.
• Demonstrated ability to work effectively in a team environment with diverse populations.
• Ability to travel on behalf of Career Education to develop and maintain relationships with employers as necessary.
• Availability to work some evenings throughout the year is required.

\\*Applications submitted without a resume or cover letter will not be reviewed\\*

Preferred Qualifications

• Master's degree in a relevant discipline.
• Experience organizing large events.
• Technical expertise to design processes, databases and data reporting and analysis.
• Experience with Handshake and Salesforce CRM.

Equal Opportunity Employer / Disability / Veteran

Columbia University is committed to the hiring of qualified local residents.