About the University of Denver

The University of Denver (DU), a private university, is the oldest independent university in the Rocky Mountain region, with approximately 12,900 students in undergraduate and graduate programs. DU is classified as an R1: Doctoral University.

At the University of Denver, we’re doing higher education our way: authentic to the Rocky Mountain Wests confident optimism and pragmatic independence. It sets us apart. We’re preparing young people to be the solutions in their own stories, empowering them to face uncertainty with confidence and uncommon sense.

We’re fiercely ambitious and forward-thinking, surpassing all expectations to redefine success and how to achieve it. And we’re true to our mission as a top-tier private institution dedicated to making the world a better place – contributing to our communities and making positive change in the world.

About DU Advancement

The Denver Difference campaign is our most ambitious campaign yet. It marks a dramatic shift in conventional thinking about what the university experience can and should be. DU is setting the bar with our approach to higher education, developing and preparing students to be successful in life in every way. The University of Denver is building an advancement enterprise that mirrors the excellence and innovation of our great institution. Inclusive of alumni relations, development, and student and alumni career services, DU Advancement is building and fostering a culture of deep engagement and philanthropy in support of our bold vision.

The University of Denver and DU Advancement deeply value inclusive excellence, recognizing that its success depends on how well it values, engages, and includes the rich diversity of constituents. As a part of that effort, we are continuing to grow a team of inclusive, collaborative, inquisitive, innovative, ethical, and transparent advancement professionals who possess deep mutual respect for one another and for our shared profession.

About Career & Professional Development

Career & Professional Development empowers students and alumni to explore, prepare for, and pursue meaningful careers through personalized guidance, experiential learning, and employer engagement. Its purpose is to bridge academic experiences with professional opportunities, fostering lifelong career success and industry connections.   

Employer Connections builds and nurtures relationships with companies and organizations to create meaningful career opportunities for students and alumni. They connect employers with campus talent through events, internships, and job postings, while also aligning industry needs with academic programs. Their work enhances student career outcomes, strengthens the university’s reputation, and supports strategic partnerships that drive long-term value for both the institution and its employer partners. 

Position Summary

Reporting to the Executive Director of Employer Connections & Alumni Career Engagement, the Assistant Director, Employer & Industry Engagement plays a key role in cultivating and managing long-term relationships with employers who recruit University of Denver students and alumni for internships and full-time roles. This position focuses on building a robust pipeline of industry-specific and target employers, generating new opportunities, and driving engagement through events such as career fairs, networking sessions, and customized recruiting experiences. 

The Assistant Director of Employer & Industry Engagement serves as a liaison between DU and employers and vice versa, ensuring alignment between employer needs and university talent in their assigned industry cluster(s)—groupings that align with student interests, academic majors, and career outcomes—allowing for targeted outreach and meaningful connections. They also serve as liaisons to specific curricular and co-curricular areas, deepening ties between students and industry. 

In partnership with the Executive Director, key responsibilities include planning and executing high-volume recruiting activities, maintaining an employer engagement tracker and target list informed by student interest and alumni outcomes, and leading at least one signature employer program. The role requires a proactive, data-informed approach to employer engagement that supports student success and strengthens DU’s industry partnerships. 

Essential Functions

Employer & Industry Engagement

• Develop and sustain employer relationships within assigned industry clusters by collaborating with staff, academic departments, and leveraging alumni, parent, and community networks.
• Collaborate with employer partners to understand their recruiting and hiring goals, and connect them with tailored engagement opportunities or customized plans that align with their talent needs.
• Advise employers on creating internships and full-time roles that align with student interests and expectations, emphasizing key elements such as competitive compensation, meaningful projects, growth opportunities, and relevant benefits.
• Share student feedback and advise employers on recruitment procedures and expectations, ensuring alignment with university policies while negotiating solutions when needed.
• Stay informed on assigned industries by regularly following local, regional, and national trends, and attending Colorado industry events to better support stakeholder questions and needs.
• Use data-driven strategies to create and implement meaningful engagement opportunities for students and alumni.
• Represent the department and university at a variety of external events, including industry events and recruiting visits to employer sites.   

Program Development & Promotion

• Connect employers with appropriate engagement opportunities, including internship and job postings, information sessions, career & internships fairs, industry panels and information sessions, customized events, and tabling. Develop tailored engagement opportunities for employers that strategically align with departmental priorities.  
• In partnership with the Executive Director, facilitate one signature program, the Employer Development Series or Alumni-Employer City Treks, fostering strong partnerships and ensuring employers are well-integrated into our community.  
• Effectively communicate program details to students, ensuring they are well-informed about programs through various channels such as email, social media, and campus announcements.  
• Assist with marketing materials, employer newsletter, and website as needed.   

Records & System Management

• Maintain detailed employer notes in our career services software, ensuring accurate and up-to-date records to track interaction, understand employer needs, and foster strong, ongoing relationships.  
• Accurately track and document all employer engagements, providing a comprehensive overview of our partnerships to help in identifying trends, measuring success, and making informed decisions for future outreach.  
• Conduct post-program surveys for both students and employers to assess satisfaction, identify areas for improvement, and enhance the overall effectiveness of our programs.  
• Assist with inbox management, job postings for key employers, and job posting approvals as needed.   

External Relationships & Campus Representation

• Liaise and collaborate with employer relations professionals embedded at the Sturm College of Law, Daniels College of Business, and Korbel School of International Studies.  
• Serve as an active and collaborative partner to all central and unit-based advancement functions and other campus colleagues, to foster strategic, effective, and collaborative practices.  
• Represent the Employer Connections team at university-wide events, professional organizations, and community events to promote the University of Denver and build partnerships.  
• Provide excellent customer service to university leadership, advancement staff, campus colleagues, alumni, donors, visitors and others.  Respond knowledgably and professionally to inquiries over email, telephone, and in-person. 

Partnerships & University Citizenship

• Serves as an active and collaborative partner to all central and unit-based Advancement staff and other campus colleagues, to foster strategic, effective, and collaborative career and professional development practices.
• Models “One DU” leadership.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Industry Insight: Strong understanding of employment trends and industry landscapes to guide employer and student engagement strategies. 
• Communication: Excellent interpersonal and communication skills for effective collaboration with students, alumni, employers, and colleagues. 
• Relationship Building: Proven experience building successful relationships with external stakeholders.   
• Customer Service: Proven customer service orientation with the ability to resolve issues and respond to inquiries professionally. 
• Program Management: Experience in planning and executing career-related programs and events. 
• Multitasking: Ability to manage multiple priorities and meet deadlines in a fast-paced environment. 
• Technical Proficiency: Proficiency with career services platforms and data management tools. 
• Data Analysis: Skilled in data analysis and reporting to inform strategic decisions and program enhancements. 
• Organization: Highly organized with strong time management and attention to detail. 
• Collaboration: Demonstrated ability to work inclusively and collaboratively with diverse stakeholders. 
• Emotional Intelligence: High emotional intelligence and relationship-building skills. 
• Ethical Standards: Familiarity with EEO regulations and adherence to NACE Principles for Professional Conduct. 

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent combination of education or work experience (Veterans with equivalent combination of military certification/education and experience may substitute for the degree qualification).  
• Demonstrated ability to provide high-quality customer service in a fast-paced, stakeholder-facing environment.
• 3 years of professional work experience in employer relations, program management, strategic planning, recruiting, sales, or related fields.  

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience designing and executing signature employer engagement programs, such as city treks, micro-internship initiatives, or customized recruiting events.
• Demonstrated success in cultivating new employer partnerships through data-informed outreach, alumni networks, or strategic collaborations.
• Ability to develop and promote high-impact experiential opportunities (e.g., internships, project-based work, or mentorship programs) that support student career readiness.
• Comfort using CRM and career services platforms (e.g., Salesforce, Handshake) to manage relationships and track engagement metrics.
• Experience applying data insights to improve program outcomes, assess employer satisfaction, and inform future outreach.
• Strong cross-functional collaboration skills, especially in working with academic departments, advancement teams, and external stakeholders to align goals and resources.

Working Environment

• Standard open office environment
• Noise level is quiet to moderate

Physical Activities

• Ability to use a computer for an extended period
• Occasionally required to move about the office/campus with the capability of transporting objects up to 20 lbs. with assistance

Work Schedule

Monday - Friday, 8:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. Some nights and weekends as required. 

In accordance with the University’s flexible work policy, this position is eligible to be considered for partial remote work. Further details regarding this plan will be determined with the hiring manager and are dependent on the division and team specific needs.

Application Deadline

For consideration, please submit your application materials by 4:00 p.m. (MST) August 11, 2025.

Special Instructions

Candidates must apply online through jobs.du.edu to be considered. Only applications submitted online will be accepted.

Salary Grade Number

The salary grade for the position is 10.

Salary Range

The salary range for this position is $62,000-$72,000.

The University of Denver has provided a compensation range that represents its good faith estimate of what the University may pay for the position at the time of posting. The University may ultimately pay more or less than the posted compensation range. The salary offered to the selected candidate will be determined based on factors such as the qualifications of the selected candidate, departmental budget availability, internal salary equity considerations, and available market information, but not based on a candidate’s sex or any other protected status.

Benefits

The University of Denver offers excellent benefits, including medical, dental, retirement, paid time off, tuition benefit and ECO pass. The University of Denver is a private institution that empowers students who want to make a difference. Learn more about the University of Denver.

Please include the following documents with your application:

1. Resume
2. Cover Letter

The University of Denver is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex (including sex stereotypes, sex characteristics, sexual orientation, gender identity, and gender expression), marital, family, or parental status, pregnancy or related conditions, national origin, disability, or status as a protected veteran. The University of Denver does not discriminate and prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, national origin, ancestry, age, religion, creed, disability, sex (including sex stereotypes, sex characteristics, sexual orientation, gender identity, and gender expression), marital family, and parental status, pregnancy, genetic information, military enlistment, or veteran status, and any other class of individuals protected from discrimination under federal, state, or local law, regulation, or ordinance in any of the University’s educational programs and activities, and in the employment (including application for employment) and admissions (including application for admission) context, as required by Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972; the Americans with Disabilities Act; Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973; Title VI and VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964; the Age Discrimination Act of 1975; the Age Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967; the Equal Pay Act; the Colorado Equal Pay for Equal Work Act; the Colorado Protecting Opportunities and Worker's Rights ("POWR") Act; and any other federal, state, and local laws, regulations, or ordinances that prohibit discrimination, harassment, and/or retaliation. For more information, please see the University of Denver's Non‑Discrimination‑Statement.

All offers of employment are contingent upon satisfactory completion of a criminal history background check.