Coordinator and Assistant Director, Employer Engagement
Office of Undergraduate Programs
The Grainger College of Engineering
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign

The Office of Undergraduate Programs in The Grainger College of Engineering seeks applicants for a Coordinator, Employer Engagement and Assistant Director, Employer Engagement. These positions will contribute to employer engagement and student career education.

The Coordinator, Employer Engagement will be responsible for fostering partnerships with employers, supporting employer recruitment strategies and executing employer programming. The Assistant Director will expand employer/industry partnerships, develop engagement strategies, consult with employers on situated best practices, and enhance recruiting opportunities for engineering students. Both positions will also deliver career and professional development coaching including job/internship/research strategies to engineering students both undergraduate and graduate through 1:1 appointments and workshops.

COORDINATOR, EMPLOYER ENGAGEMENT

Duties and Responsibilities:

• Employer Relations and Recruitment Strategy
• Support outreach efforts to maintain relationships with existing employer partners through scheduled campaigns and follow-up communication.
• Assist in implementing employer engagement strategies to expand recruiting opportunities, including helping with outreach plans targeting employers seeking engineering talent for internships, co-ops, and full-time roles for undergraduate, masters, and PhD students.
• Build and maintain positive relationships with employers, alumni, and external stakeholders; participate in campus meetings as directed.
• Coordinate employer meetings and provide input on recruiting best practices; escalate complex inquiries to senior staff as needed.
• Facilitate referrals to appropriate internal stakeholders, campus contacts, and/or registered student organizations (RSOs) to support corporate engagement.
• Assist in planning and logistics for recruitment programs such as networking events, professional development workshops, and employer panels.
• Provide operational support for in-person and virtual career fair planning and execution in collaboration with the ECS team.
• Collaborate on preparation and distribution of employer engagement communications, including newsletters and event announcements.
• Engage with online platforms to ensure accurate posting of employer jobs, events, campus interviews, and career fair details.
• Student Career Coaching & Education
• Deliver high quality individualized career coaching and professional development to undergraduate, masters, and doctoral engineering students on job search strategies, resume and cover letter development, interview preparation, and networking best practices.
• Educate students on engineering specific employment trends and professional development skills.
• Conduct mock interviews, resume reviews, and career development workshops tailored to engineering/STEM/technology industries and careers under guidance of senior team members.
• Guide students on experiential learning opportunities, career pathways, and salary negotiations.
• Data Management and Reporting
• Track and report engagement metrics; maintain accurate records in ECS systems.
• Market Trends and Employer Feedback
• Maintain updated insights on hiring/recruitment trends, market conditions, competitive information, and industry shifts affecting the engineering & tech sector.

Minimum Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree.
• A total of two (2) years (24 months) in education, training, and/or work experience in career coaching, recruiting, or employer/corporate engagement, or related experience.
• Demonstrated experience in event support and/or management.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Master’s degree
• Demonstrated experience coaching, advising, or mentoring college students
• Experience with international populations.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

• Ability to communicate effectively with others.
• Polished presentation capabilities
• Effective planning, organizational, and collaboration talents.
• Proven ability to independently, manage multiple priorities and deliver high-quality results in a fast-paced, dynamic environment.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office products including but not limited to Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, OneDrive, and Teams.
• Commitment to equity and inclusion, fostering a welcoming environment that values varied prospectives and backgrounds.
• Commitment to a highly collaborative team culture; actively promoting open communication, shared goals, mutual support, and alignment of individual contributions with team success.

ASSISTANT DIRECTOR, EMPLOYER ENGAGEMENT

Duties and Responsibilities:

• Employer Relations and Recruitment Strategy
• Maintain and oversee relationships with existing employer partners through outreach campaigns.
• Develop and execute employer engagement strategies to expand recruiting opportunities, including structured outreach plans targeting employers seeking engineering talent including internships, co-ops, and full time for undergraduate, masters, and PhD students.
• Build and maintain relationships with employers, alumni, and external stakeholders; represent ECS at campus-wide and external meetings with key partners.
• Consult on recruiting best practices and lead strategy calls with employers independently or in coordination with internal stakeholders (departments, corporate relations, etc.) to identify employer needs and make recommendations on talent connection opportunities.
• Facilitate referrals to appropriate internal stakeholders, campus contacts, and/or registered student organizations (RSOs) to support corporate engagement.
• Plan, facilitate, and evaluate recruitment programs such as networking events, professional development workshops, and employer panels.
• Support in person and virtual career fair planning and execution in coordination with career fair project manager and ECS team.
• Create and distribute a bi-monthly employer engagement newsletter featuring upcoming recruiting opportunities, best practices, and success stories to strengthen partnerships and visibility.
• Provide oversight for online platforms to support employer job postings, events, campus interviews, and career fairs.

• Student Career Coaching & Education
• Deliver high quality individualized career coaching to undergraduate, masters, and doctoral engineering students on job search strategies, resume and cover letter development, interview preparation, and networking best practices.
• Educate students on engineering specific employment trends and professional development skills.
• Conduct mock interviews, resume reviews, and career development workshops tailored to engineering/STEM/technology industries and careers.
• Guide students on experiential learning opportunities, career pathways, and salary negotiations.

• Data Management and Reporting
• Track and report metrics related to employer engagement to evaluate the effectiveness of career programs and recruitment efforts.

• Market Trends and Employer Feedback
• Maintain updated insights on hiring/recruitment trends, market conditions, competitive information, and industry shifts affecting the engineering & tech sector and share relevant insights with stakeholders.

Minimum Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree.
• A total of three (3) years (36 months) in education, training, and/or work experience in career coaching, recruiting, or employer/corporate engagement, or related experience.
• Demonstrated experience in event support and/or management
• Demonstrated experience facilitating small and/or large-scale recruiting or networking events.
• Demonstrated experience coaching, advising, and/or mentoring college students.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Master’s degree
• Experience selecting, training, supervising and evaluating staff.
• Experience presenting to large groups.
• Experience with international populations

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

• Proven ability to develop and implement strategic initiatives/goals.
• Knowledge of employment search processes and effective techniques for engaging potential and existing employers/partners or professional development equivalent.
• Proven capability to maintain a high sense of professionalism while managing relationships with internal and external constituents.
• Knowledge of engineering / tech careers and recruiting trends.
• Ability to communicate effectively with others
• Effective planning, organizational, and collaboration talents.
• Proven ability to independently, manage multiple priorities and deliver high-quality results in a fast-paced, dynamic environment.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office products including but not limited to Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, OneDrive, and Teams.
• Commitment to equity and inclusion, fostering a welcoming environment that values varied prospectives and backgrounds.
• Commitment to a highly collaborative team culture; actively promoting open communication, shared goals, mutual support, and alignment of individual contributions with team success.

APPOINTMENT INFORMATION

These are full-time Civil Service Program Coordinator positions appointed on a 12-month service basis. The expected start date is as soon as possible after the closing date. The budgeted salary range for the Coordinator position is $55,000 - $60,000. The budgeted salary range for the Assistant Director position is $60,000 - $68,000. Salary is competitive and commensurate with qualifications and experience, while also considering internal equity. Hybrid work options may be available for these positions, with the ability to be on-site at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign campus as needed per the University’s Workplace Flexibility policy. This position is not eligible for any type of sponsorship for work authorization.

APPLICATION PROCEDURES AND DEADLINE INFORMATION

Applications must be received by 6:00 pm (CST) on 3/18/26. Apply for this position using the Apply Now button at the top or bottom of this posting. Please upload your cover letter, resume, and names/contact information for three references. In order to be considered as a transfer candidate, you must apply for this position. Applications not submitted through https://jobs.illinois.edu will not be considered. If required by the position, transcripts or other documentation of credentials are to be provided no later than the first day of employment. For further information about this specific position, please contact Anisa Abalos-Ramirez at aabalos@illinois.edu. For questions regarding the application process, please contact 217-333-2137.

At the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign — the state’s flagship public university and one of the world’s leading research institutions — every staff member helps shape what’s next. Founded in 1867, Illinois is home to a vibrant community of 59,000 students from all 50 states and 129 countries, supported by 15 colleges and instructional units, more than 20 research institutes, and one of the most comprehensive student service ecosystems in the nation. Whether you’re empowering first-generation students, fueling breakthrough innovation, or strengthening communities across Illinois and beyond, your work here has a far-reaching and deeply meaningful impact. The university offers a highly competitive benefits package designed to support your well-being, growth, and financial security. Join a top 10 public university that has launched over 330 startups and continues to redefine excellence — where the Illinois Value Proposition ensures that your contributions are recognized, your potential is nurtured, and your career can thrive.

Champaign-Urbana

Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools may be used in some portions of the candidate review process for this position; however, all employment decisions will be made by a person.

This position is intended to be eligible for benefits. This includes Health, Dental, Vision, Life Insurance, a Retirement Plan, Paid time Off, and Tuition waivers for employees and dependents.

The University of Illinois must also comply with applicable federal export control laws and regulations and, as such, reserves the right to employ restricted party screening procedures for applicants.