University Relations & Talent Acquisition Specialist

UNKNOWN; Santa Clara (CA); On-site; USD 65,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

Coherent Corp. is seeking an University Relations & Talent Acquisition Specialist in Santa Clara to support university partnerships and early-career recruiting. You will help attract interns, graduates, and co-op students while coordinating from sourcing to onboarding.

The role requires strong organization, proactive communication, and the ability to work with students, hiring managers, HR partners, and external partners. Travel to campuses may be needed.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in HR or related field, or equivalent experience.
• 1–3 years in Talent Acquisition or campus recruiting.
• Experience with university relations or early-career programs preferred.
• Experience using an Applicant Tracking System or HR tools preferred.
• Strong communication and relationship-building skills.

Responsibilities

• Support relationships with universities, colleges, and professional associations.
• Coordinate sourcing, screening, scheduling, and candidate communications.
• Assist with internships, co-op programs, and early-career hiring events.
• Maintain accurate candidate data in the ATS and HR systems.
• Contribute to process improvement and reporting.

Skills

Interpersonal skills

Organizational skills

Communication skills

Relationship-building

Education

Bachelor’s degree in HR

1–3 years experience in Talent Acquisition

Tools

Applicant Tracking System (ATS)

HRIS systems

Job description

Reporting to the Manager of University Relations and Global Mobility, the University Relations & Talent Acquisition Specialist will support Coherent’s university relations, early-career recruiting, and Talent Acquisition programs. This role will help build relationships with universities, technical colleges, student organizations, and professional associations to attract interns, co-op students, apprentices, new graduates, and other early-career talent.

The Specialist will coordinate recruiting activities from sourcing and candidate engagement through interviewing, offer administration, onboarding, and program support. The role will also assist with university events, employer branding, recruiting communications, reporting, and process improvement.

The successful candidate will be organized, service-oriented, proactive, and comfortable working with students, candidates, hiring managers, recruiters, HR business partners, university representatives, and external partners.

Primary Duties & Responsibilities

University Relations and Outreach

• Support relationships with universities, technical colleges, career centers, faculty members, student organizations, and professional associations.
• Assist in identifying schools, academic programs, and student populations aligned with Coherent’s workforce needs.
• Coordinate university outreach activities, including career fairs, information sessions, classroom presentations, technical events, networking events, and campus visits.
• Support campus ambassador, employee alumni, and student mentoring programs.
• Maintain regular communication with university contacts and coordinate event logistics, registration, materials, and follow-up.
• Represent Coherent in a professional and engaging manner at university and community events.
• Help promote Coherent’s employer brand, career opportunities, technology, culture, and early-career programs.

Early-Career Talent Acquisition

• Support recruiting for interns, co-op students, apprentices, new graduates, and other early-career positions.
• Partner with recruiters and hiring managers to understand position requirements and develop appropriate candidate outreach strategies.
• Source, identify, and engage candidates through university partnerships, applicant-tracking systems, job boards, social media, referrals, and other recruiting channels.
• Review resumes and applications and conduct initial candidate screens as appropriate.
• Coordinate interview schedules, candidate communications, feedback collection, and recruiting updates.
• Maintain accurate and timely candidate information, interview activity, dispositions, and status updates in the Applicant Tracking System.
• Assist with offer preparation, pre-employment requirements, onboarding coordination, and candidate follow-up.
• Support a consistent, positive, and timely candidate experience throughout the recruiting process.
• Build and maintain talent pipelines for recurring and hard-to-fill early-career positions.

Program Coordination and Intern Experience

• Support the administration of Coherent’s internship, co-op, and early-career programs.
• Coordinate program communications, calendars, orientations, meetings, speaker sessions, networking events, and professional development activities.
• Assist with intern onboarding, site coordination, manager communications, and program logistics.
• Support mentorship and engagement activities designed to increase learning, connection, and retention.
• Collect feedback from interns, managers, HR partners, and program participants.
• Assist with conversion activities and tracking of interns and other early-career employees after program completion.
• Help ensure early-career programs are delivered consistently across participating locations.

Stakeholder Partnership

• Partner with the Manager, University Relations and Global Mobility, Talent Acquisition, HR business partners, hiring managers, and site leaders to support recruiting priorities.
• Provide timely updates regarding candidate pipelines, event participation, open positions, hiring progress, and potential issues.
• Build effective working relationships with candidates, students, managers, recruiters, university representatives, and internal partners.
• Escalate complex candidate, scheduling, compliance, or hiring issues to the Manager or appropriate Talent Acquisition partner.
• Support hiring manager communications, recruiting materials, interview preparation, and early-career hiring guidance.

Reporting, Compliance, and Process Improvement

• Prepare recruiting, event, and program reports using Applicant Tracking System and other HR or reporting tools.
• Track recruiting activity, pipeline development, event outcomes, hiring results, offer acceptance, conversion, and program participation.
• Maintain accurate records and documentation in accordance with company policies and applicable legal and data-protection requirements.
• Support compliance with recruiting, employment, onboarding, and record-retention processes.
• Assist with the preparation and maintenance of recruiting guides, communication templates, presentations, event materials, and process documentation.
• Identify opportunities to improve university relations, candidate engagement, recruiting efficiency, and the early-career experience.
• Perform other related duties and projects as assigned.

Education & Experience

• Bachelor’s degree in Human Resources, Business, Communications, Marketing, Education, or a related discipline, or equivalent professional experience.
• One to three years of experience in Talent Acquisition, university relations, campus recruiting, human resources, program coordination, career services, or a related field.
• Experience supporting recruiting, career events, internships, co-op programs, or other early-career initiatives preferred.
• Experience using an Applicant Tracking System, HR system, event-management platform, or reporting tools preferred.
• Experience building relationships with students, candidates, universities, hiring managers, or external partners.
• Strong organizational skills and the ability to manage multiple activities, deadlines, events, and stakeholders.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Strong customer-service and relationship‑building skills.
• Ability to maintain confidentiality and handle sensitive candidate and employee information.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office or comparable business software.
• Ability to travel occasionally to universities, career fairs, Coherent locations, and recruiting events.

CORE COMPETENCIES

• University and community relationship management
• Candidate engagement and communication
• Recruiting coordination and follow-through
• Event planning and execution
• Organization and attention to detail
• Data accuracy and reportingCollaboration and customer service
• Initiative and problem‑solving
• Professional judgment and confidentiality
• Ability to work effectively in a global, matrixed organization

Skills

• Strong interpersonal, teaming, and problem‑solving skills.
• Work effectively with other members of Coherent Corp

Working Conditions

• May need to lift/carry up to 25lbs on occassion
• Prolonged standing and sitting

Physical Requirements

• None

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 integrity – Create an Environment of Trust

C collaboration – Innovate Through the Sharing of Ideas

A accountability – Own the Process and the Outcome

R respect – Recognize the Value in Everyone

E enthusiasm – 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]](mailto:[e-mail]).