Manager, University Relations & Global Mobility

Coherent Corp.; San Francisco (CA); On-site; USD 140,000 - 210,000; Full time

Job summary

Coherent Corp. in San Francisco is seeking a Manager of University Relations and Global Mobility to design and lead programs that strengthen the company’s future talent pipeline and mobility across the global organization.

The role focuses on the United States, building relationships with universities, colleges, research institutions, and professional organizations to attract top talent and manage internships, graduates, and other early-career programs while coordinating immigration and mobility

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent professional experience in HR, business, or related field.
• Significant university relations and early-career recruitment experience.
• Experience with global mobility and employment-based immigration.
• Proven ability to develop university partnerships and early-career programs.
• Experience managing relationships with universities, immigration agencies, and relocation providers.
• Strong understanding of US mobility compliance and staffing operations.
• Experience in a complex, international, matrixed organization.

Responsibilities

• Develop and execute Coherent’s university relations, early-career talent, and global mobility strategy in alignment with business priorities.
• Forecast talent requirements and translate them into annual recruitment and program plans.
• Use workforce data and program outcomes to identify priorities and improvements.
• Manage program budgets and improve efficiency, scalability, and value.
• Build strategic partnerships with universities, colleges, research institutions, and professional associations.
• Coordinate career fairs, campus presentations, and employer-branding initiatives.
• Lead recruitment programs for interns, co-ops, apprentices, and new graduates.
• Coordinate international assignments, transfers, relocations, and visa/work-authorization processes.
• Develop governance, dashboards, and reporting to measure outcomes, cost, and ROI.

Skills

Program and project management

Analytical skills

Stakeholder management

Cross-functional collaboration

Communication

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Human Resources, Business, International Relations, or a related discipline, or equivalent professional experience

Tools

Applicant-tracking systems

HR information systems

Mobility case-management systems

Reporting dashboards/tools

Job description

Job Description

The Manager of University Relations and Global Mobility will develop and deliver programs that strengthen Coherent’s future talent pipeline and support the movement of talent across our global organization.

Job Description

The Manager of University Relations and Global Mobility will develop and deliver programs that strengthen Coherent’s future talent pipeline and support the movement of talent across our global organization. With a primary focus on the United States, this role will build strategic relationships with universities, technical colleges, research institutions, and professional organizations to attract high-potential students and graduates. The Manager will oversee internship, graduate, and other early-career programs, creating a consistent and engaging experience from attraction and selection through development and conversion. The role will also manage global mobility and employment-based immigration activities involving the United States. Working closely with Talent Acquisition, HR, Legal, Total Rewards, Payroll, Tax, Finance, and external partners, the Manager will ensure employees, candidates, and hiring teams receive clear guidance and a consistent, compliant, and supportive experience.

Primary Duties & Responsibilities

Strategy and Workforce Planning

• Develop and execute Coherent’s university relations, early-career talent, and global mobility strategy in alignment with business and workforce priorities.
• Partner with business and HR leaders to forecast talent requirements and translate them into annual recruitment and program plans.
• Use workforce data, market insights, and program outcomes to identify priorities and recommend improvements.
• Manage program budgets and identify opportunities to improve efficiency, scalability, and value.

University Relations and Partnerships

• Build strategic partnerships with universities, technical colleges, research institutions, career centers, faculty members, professional associations, and student organizations.
• Identify priority institutions and academic programs across engineering, physics, photonics, optics, materials science, computer science, manufacturing, operations, and other critical disciplines.
• Develop relationships with academic departments, professors, research groups, student societies, and diversity-focused professional organizations.
• Establish and manage campus ambassador, employee alumni, and mentoring networks.
• Coordinate career fairs, campus presentations, technical events, student engagement activities, and employer-branding initiatives.

Early-Career Programs

• Lead recruitment programs for interns, co-op students, apprentices, new graduates, and other early-career talent.
• Establish consistent program structures, selection processes, onboarding standards, learning opportunities, mentorship, and conversion strategies.
• Create meaningful early-career experiences that provide professional development, networking, mentorship, and exposure to Coherent’s technologies and leadership.
• Track early-career hiring, program participation, performance, conversion, retention, and career progression.

Global Mobility and Immigration

• Coordinate international assignments, transfers, temporary assignments, cross-border hires, and relocations involving the United States.
• Serve as a central point of contact for employees, candidates, managers, Talent Acquisition and HR partners throughout the mobility and immigration process.
• Partner with immigration counsel and specialist providers to coordinate visa and work-authorization requirements.
• Provide clear guidance regarding immigration feasibility, timelines, costs, and potential risks.
• Coordinate mobility support across immigration, relocation, tax, payroll, compensation, benefits, social security, and employment arrangements.
• Support the development and consistent application of mobility policies, relocation packages, assignment frameworks, and approval processes.
• Track visa expiration dates, work-authorization milestones, assignment dates, and other time-sensitive requirements.

Governance, Compliance and Vendor Management

• Establish effective governance, processes, service standards, documentation, and controls across all programs.
• Manage relationships with university, immigration, relocation, tax, and mobility partners, including cost, service quality, performance, and issue resolution.
• Develop dashboards and reporting to measure hiring outcomes, conversion, retention, employee experience, compliance, cost, vendor performance, and return on investment.
• Develop guidance, training, toolkits, and communication materials for managers, employees, HR teams, and Talent Acquisition.
• Maintain confidentiality and ensure candidate and employee information is managed in accordance with company policies and applicable data-protection and record-retention requirements.

Education & Experience

• Bachelor’s degree in Human Resources, Business, International Relations, or a related discipline, or equivalent professional experience.
• Significant experience in university relations, early-career recruitment, global mobility, employment-based immigration, or related talent programs.
• Demonstrated success developing university partnerships and early-career recruitment programs.
• Practical experience supporting employment-based immigration, international assignments, cross-border transfers, and employee relocation.
• Experience managing relationships with universities, immigration agencies, relocation providers and other specialist partners.
• Strong understanding of the operational and compliance requirements associated with US global mobility and employment-based immigration.
• Experience working in a complex, international, and matrixed organisation.
• Strong program and project-management capabilities, with the ability to manage multiple stakeholders, priorities, deadlines, and employee cases.
• Experience using applicant-tracking, HR, mobility, case-management, and reporting systems.
• Strong analytical skills, with the ability to evaluate program effectiveness and translate data into practical recommendations.

Working Conditions

• Onsite M-F

Physical Requirements

• May need to lift up to 25 lbs

Safety Requirements

All employees are required to follow the site EHS procedures and Coherent Corp. Corporate EHS standards.

Quality And Environmental Responsibilities

Depending on location, this position may be responsible for the execution and maintenance of the ISO 9000, 9001, 14001 and/or other applicable standards that may apply to the relevant roles and responsibilities within the Quality Management System and Environmental Management System.

Culture Commitment

Ensure adherence to company’s values (ICARE) in all aspects of your position at Coherent Corp.:

I ntegrity – Create an Environment of Trust

C ollaboration – Innovate Through the Sharing of Ideas

A ccounability – Own the Process and the Outcome

R espect – Recognize the Value in Everyone

E nthusiasm – Find a Sense of Purpose in Work

Coherent Corp. is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, race, color, religion, national origin, disability, protected Veteran status, age, or any other characteristic protected by law.

If you need assistance or an accommodation due to a disability, you may contact us at [e-mail] .

About Us

Coherent is a global leader in lasers, engineered materials and networking components. We are a vertically integrated manufacturing company that develops innovative products for diversified applications in the industrial, optical communications, military, life sciences, semiconductor equipment, and consumer markets. Coherent provides a comprehensive career development platform within an environment that challenges employees to perform at their best, while rewarding excellence and hard-work through a competitive compensation program. It's an exciting opportunity to work for a company that offers stability, longevity and growth. Come Join Us!