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Title: Associate Director, Employer and Alumni Engagement
Division Name: Student Affairs
Department: Career Services

Job Summary

Career Services at Illinois State University empowers and supports Redbirds to achieve their professional goals by providing resources, experiences, and industry connections. The department provides a wide variety of events, programs, and services that prepare students and alumni for career success. The Associate Director of Employer and Alumni Engagement is a member of the Director's leadership team which collaboratively works to provide leadership, strategy and vision to effectively deliver comprehensive, dynamic, and innovative employer and alumni engagement services.

Additional Information

University Benefit Highlights:

- Insurance benefits, including health, dental, vision, and life
- Retirement and supplemental retirement planning options
- Tuition waiver benefits available to staff as well as their eligible dependents
- Paid holiday/administrative closures during Thanksgiving and Winter Breaks
- Paid benefit time

Additional University Benefit information, including information regarding eligibility to participate in the State Universities Retirement System and the State of Illinois Group Insurance program, can be reviewed here: https://hr.illinoisstate.edu/benefits/

Salary Rate / Pay Rate

$6862 - $7102 per month

Required Qualifications

1. Bachelor’s degree in business, communications, education, higher education administration, human resources, marketing, or closely related field.
2. Five (5) years of full-time or part-time equivalent progressively responsible work experience in employer relations career services, recruiting, business development; student development; program development; higher education; human resources; talent acquisition; workforce development.
3. Exceptional organizational, written and oral communication skills
4. Project and relationship management skills, and the ability to work in a fast-paced environment with a broad range of internal and external constituents.
5. Knowledge of career development, workforce trends, and effective employer engagement strategies.
6. Ability to work effectively with diverse stakeholders, including employers, students, faculty, staff, and community partners.
7. Ability to travel.

Preferred Qualifications

1. Master's degree in business, communications, education, higher education administration, human resources, marketing or closely related field.
2. Demonstrated experience in career services or employer relations in a college or university setting.
3. Demonstrated experience managing internship programs.
4. Familiarity with career services technology platforms and customer relationship management tools, such as Symplicity.

Work Hours

Core hours are Monday through Friday, 8am to 4:30pm.

Functional Expectations

Must be able to complete the following with or without a reasonable accommodation:
1. Effectively communicate daily.
2. Remain at a workstation for extended periods.
3. Move about in various locations on and off campus as needed to complete day-to-day work.
4. Occasionally lift up to 20 pounds.

Proposed Starting Date

January 2026

Required Applicant Documents

Resume
Cover Letter
Reference List
Transcripts - See Special Instructions section for additional options

Please Note: These documents are required to be submitted online in order to complete the application process. Please have these documents ready prior to clicking on "Apply"

Optional Applicant Documents

Certification of Retirement Annuity

Please Note: These documents may be submitted online in order to complete the application process. Please have these documents ready prior to clicking on "Apply"

Special Instructions for Applicants

Please fully complete the entire application including, but not limited to, the education and work history portions. Be specific on your work history, including employment dates (if part-time you must list the number of work hours) and duties for all positions held. Applicable part-time work experience will be considered toward qualifying for this position; however, it will be converted to a full-time equivalency to determine combined length of experience. Please do not put "see resume" in the duties and responsibilities section of the work history. This will be considered an incomplete application and incomplete applications will not be considered.

College or university transcripts (may be unofficial) must be submitted prior to the application deadline in order to receive full consideration. Transcripts can either be uploaded with your application or submitted via the options listed below. In order to be eligible for Veteran's Preference points on the exam, appropriate military service documentation, such as a DD214, must be submitted prior to the application deadline.

Transcripts and/or DD-214 paperwork may be faxed or mailed to Human Resources by the application deadline:

Fax: 309.438.0011, Attn: Mackenzie Chapman
Address: Illinois State University
Human Resources
Campus Box 1300
Normal, IL 61790-1300

The Civil Service examination for this classification is based on your application materials and responses to the supplemental questions. No participation other than submission of applicant materials is required from applicants that qualify to take the exam. If you meet the minimum required qualifications for this position, you will receive a score calculated based on your education and experience, and your name will be placed on the active employment register by exam score. After the application deadline, the names within the top three scores will be referred to the department for interview. The active register for this classification will be voided when the position is filled.

Illinois State University is authorized to do business within the State of Illinois. All work under this appointment is required to be performed from within the State of Illinois. If hired, out-of-state candidates must establish Illinois residency within 180 calendar days from the start date for this position. Illinois residency requires proof of a valid Illinois driver’s license or a valid State of Illinois ID card. Failure to produce the required documentation within 180 calendar days will result in immediate termination of employment.

Applicants for this position must be authorized to work in the U.S. without ISU sponsorship. Sponsorship for work authorization will not be considered for this position.

Contact Information for Applicants

Mackenzie Chapman
Human Resources
309-438-3092
mrchap1@ilstu.edu 

Important Information for Applicants

This position is subject to a criminal background investigation and if applicable, an employment history review, based on University Policy 3.1.30 and any offer of employment is contingent upon you passing a satisfactory criminal background investigation and/or an employment history review. You may not begin work until the criminal background investigation results have been received and cleared by Human Resources.

Illinois State University is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, or status as a protected veteran.

If you are an individual with a disability and need a reasonable accommodation under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) or other state or federal law you may request an accommodation by contacting the Office of Equal Opportunity and Access at (309) 438-3383. The Office of Equal Opportunity and Access will hold any confidential information you provide in confidence.

If you are having difficulty accessing the system, please call Human Resources at (309) 438-8311.