Program Manager, Workforce Development & Employer Engagement, UC Clermont College

University of Cincinnati; Batavia Township (OH); On-site; USD 49,000 - 67,000; Full time

Job summary

University of Cincinnati – UC Clermont College seeks a Program Manager for Workforce Development & Employer Engagement to drive employer partnerships, work-based learning growth, and project management of workforce initiatives onsite.

You will collaborate with Career Services, Academic Affairs, faculty, employers, and community partners to connect education with employment and support students in internships, co-ops, and related experiences.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree required or five years of relevant work experience in lieu of education.
• Experience in workforce development, employer engagement, or related higher-education settings.
• Strong project management, communication, and stakeholder coordination skills.

Responsibilities

• Support workforce development priorities and initiatives at UC Clermont.
• Manage and steward employer relationships with ongoing communications and engagement.
• Coordinate employer participation in recruiting, classroom engagement, events, and activities.
• Identify opportunities for internships, co-ops, apprenticeships, and work-based learning.
• Serve as project manager for assigned workforce initiatives, coordinating teams and timelines.
• Collect and report employer needs, trends, and program data to inform initiatives.
• Develop communications and resources for work-based learning, including Handshake content.
• Support students in planning internships, co-ops, and other work-based experiences.

Skills

Project management

Relationship management

Communication skills

Organizational skills

Data collection & reporting

Tech savvy (MS Office, CRM, SIS)

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Business, Education, Student Affairs, Communications, Workforce Development, Human Resources, Public Administration, Project Management, or related field

Tools

CRM systems

Student Information Systems (SIS)

Handshake platform

Project management tools

Microsoft Office Suite

Job description

Program Manager, Workforce Development & Employer Engagement, UC Clermont College

Posting Start Date: 10/14/26

Work Arrangement: Onsite

REQ: 104387

Job Overview

Under the direction of the Assistant Dean of Student & Graduate Pathways, support UC Clermont’s workforce development efforts through employer relationship management, work-based learning growth, and project management of workforce initiatives.

Manage and steward employer partnerships, coordinate employer engagement opportunities, and work with internal and external partners to move workforce initiatives from planning through implementation. Collaborate with Career Services, Academic Affairs, faculty, staff, academic leadership, employers, workforce organizations, community partners, and university colleagues to strengthen connections between education, experience, and employment.

Support students in developing a plan to prepare for internships, co-ops, and other work-based learning experiences and connect them with appropriate resources and opportunities.

Essential Functions

• Support the Assistant Dean of Student & Graduate Pathways in implementing UC Clermont workforce development priorities and initiatives.
• Manage and steward employer relationships, providing consistent communication, follow‑up, recognition, and opportunities for continued engagement.
• Coordinate employer participation in recruiting, networking, classroom engagement, industry panels, tours, career events, workforce programming, and other employer‑connected activities.
• Identify and expand opportunities for employers to engage with students, faculty, staff, and academic programs through internships, co‑ops, apprenticeships, service learning, employer‑sponsored projects, and other career‑connected experiences.
• Serve as project manager for assigned workforce development initiatives within Career Services and Academic Affairs, coordinating faculty, staff, employers, community partners, timelines, deliverables, communication, and implementation.
• Support the growth of work‑based learning across UC Clermont by collaborating with faculty, staff, academic leadership, Career Services, employers, workforce organizations, community partners, and university colleagues.
• Gather and document employer needs, feedback, and workforce trends to inform workforce initiatives, academic partnerships, work‑based learning opportunities, and future projects.
• Develop and maintain employer and student communications and resources related to work‑based learning, including guides, newsletters, Handshake content, employer recognition, and other outreach materials.
• Help students develop a plan for preparing for internships, co‑ops, and other work‑based learning experiences, including identifying next steps, needed resources, and appropriate Career Services support.
• Represent UC Clermont in assigned experiential learning, workforce development, and industry‑facing meetings; support related institutional and state requirements; and maintain data needed to assess employer engagement, work‑based learning participation, workforce initiatives, and project outcomes.

Minimum Requirements

Knowledge

• Working knowledge of workforce development, employer engagement, work‑based learning, higher education, career services, program or project management, and relationship building with internal and external stakeholders.
• General understanding of internships, co‑ops, apprenticeships, service learning, employer‑sponsored projects, and other career‑connected learning experiences.
• General knowledge of career readiness and effective practices for preparing college students for internships and professional experiences.

Skills

• Strong organizational and project management skills with the ability to coordinate multiple initiatives, priorities, stakeholders, and deadlines.
• Strong interpersonal and relationship‑building skills with the ability to develop and maintain productive relationships with employers, faculty, staff, students, community organizations, workforce partners, and university colleagues.
• Excellent written, verbal, presentation, and interpersonal communication skills.
• Strong follow‑through, attention to detail, problem‑solving, and documentation skills.
• Ability to coordinate projects from planning through implementation.
• Ability to support students in planning and preparing for internships, co‑ops, and other work‑based learning experiences and connect them with appropriate resources and Career Services support.
• Ability to collect, organize, maintain, and communicate employer, program, project, and participation data accurately.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite and ability to learn and effectively utilize career management platforms, student information systems, CRM systems, project management tools, and other relevant technologies.

Abilities

• Ability to support strategic leadership while independently managing assigned relationships, programs, and projects.
• Ability to translate workforce priorities into organized implementation plans and measurable action.
• Ability to build and maintain collaborative relationships with diverse internal and external stakeholders.
• Ability to work independently while contributing effectively within Career Services, Academic Affairs, and cross‑functional teams.
• Ability to manage competing priorities and adapt to changing workforce, employer, institutional, and student needs.
• Ability to demonstrate initiative, exercise sound judgment, and maintain consistent follow‑through.
• Ability to communicate professionally with individuals from diverse backgrounds.
• Ability to maintain confidentiality and appropriately handle sensitive information.

Required Education

Bachelor’s degree in Business, Education, Student Affairs, Communications, Workforce Development, Human Resources, Public Administration, Project Management, or a related field.

Five (5) years of relevant work experience and/or other specialized training may be used in lieu of the education requirement.

Required Experience

One (1) year of experience in workforce development, employer engagement, partnership management, program or project management, experiential learning, higher education, career services, community engagement, or a related field.

Additional Qualifications Considered

• Experience developing, managing, or stewarding employer, industry, community, or workforce partnerships.
• Experience managing programs, projects, or initiatives involving multiple stakeholders.
• Experience supporting workforce development or regional workforce initiatives.
• Experience supporting internships, co‑ops, apprenticeships, service learning, experiential learning, or other work‑based learning.
• Experience collaborating with faculty, staff, or academic leadership.
• Experience preparing college students for internships or professional experiences.
• Experience coordinating employer‑engaged programs, events, or outreach.
• Experience using Handshake, CRM platforms, student information systems, project‑management tools, or related technology.
• Experience collecting, maintaining, and reporting employer, workforce, experiential learning, or program data.
• Experience working in higher education, particularly at an open‑access or regional campus.
• Knowledge of University of Cincinnati systems, policies, resources, and collaborative processes.

Compensation

Salary/Hourly Pay Rate Information: Competitive salary of $58,000 dependent on the candidate's experience.

Equal Opportunity Employer. Building a workplace where all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment, including Individuals with Disabilities and Protected Veterans.