University Relations Specialist

Position Summary

The University Relations Specialist will own university activities with business partners, human resources managers and talent acquisition team members to ensure that required tasks are completed on time and to expectations. You will be responsible for both full-cycle recruiting and branding events across multiple local and national universities, as well as fostering relationship development with administrators, professors, and students. This individual will be responsible for the overall program management of AutoZone’s nationally recognized annual summer internship program and other hiring events throughout the academic year.

The University Relations Specialist will develop a sound University strategy, focusing on effective early career and diverse talent acquisition, as well as exceptional employer branding, to meet the critical workforce planning needs for AutoZone.

Job Duties and Responsibilities

• Develop a comprehensive, diverse university relations recruitment strategy that delivers an outstanding candidate experience, and improves our ability to source, identify and select early career talent to build the future leaders of our company
• Partner with Talent Acquisition, HR Business Partners and Diversity & Inclusion to develop a comprehensive early career talent engagement and acquisition strategy to meet our diversity goals
• Plan and execute all internship program events, training sessions, executive meetings and on-campus recruiting activities to include, but not limited to, career fairs, student group engagement, collegiate competitions, speaker series, networking sessions, team building and business resource group collaboration events
• Source, attract, select and hire undergraduate and graduate students for AutoZone’s internship and early career talent programs, by conducting phone screens and interviews, managing the referral process and onboarding new hires
• Represent the Company by conducting information sessions, student organization presentations and attending career fairs, while communicating an employer brand message that reflects our organizational culture and values
• Prepare and maintain University Relations reports, metrics to arrive at actionable insights into the effectiveness and impact of the Intern program, and present to Senior Leadership
• Manage early career talent programs end-to-end, creating clear program plans, timelines, stakeholder engagement, communications strategies and partner enablement
• In partnership with Talent Acquisition leadership, ensure AutoZone’s employer branding efforts are represented and sustainable across social media, online presence, event marketing materials and employer messaging
• Manage, monitor and report Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) across social media and career platform accounts for Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, Handshake, and LinkedIn in close cooperation with Communications and Marketing
• Build highly workable relationships with internal stakeholders (AutoZone’s executives, managers and team members) and advise external stakeholders (University and Community Partners) to understand the early career talent needs of the business and ensure meaningful roles
• Ensuring ongoing communication with interns and collaboration with functional area leadership
• Provide program management of weekly events to include calendar invites, program materials, catering, execution and metrics

Position Skills and Requirements

• BS/BA degree or equivalent, preferably in HR Management or Business Administration
• Must have 3-5 years of recruiting experience with knowledge of University Recruiting, University Campus engagement or professional level HR experience
• Demonstrable experience of setting strategic goals and tasks in an innovative and fast-paced environment
• Excellent critical thinking, problem-solving, organizational, analytical skills and executional ability
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills to manage university relations, with the ability to work cross-functionally and dealing with all levels of the organization daily
• Demonstrated ability to work independently, and with a minimum amount of supervision
• Knowledge and experience in a diverse cultural environment and working with culturally diverse people
• Familiarity with employment law and employment recruiting trends
• Proven project management skills with the ability to lead multiple simultaneous projects in various stages of completion
• Results-driven, organized professional who effectively handles contending priorities
• Strong strategic and creative thinker who can distill business strategy into effective recruitment and actionable plans