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Columbia University

Employee Relations Manager

🇺🇸 New York, NY 🕑 Full-Time 💰 $75K - $82K 💻 Human Resources 🗓️ March 4th, 2026

Edtech.com's Summary

Columbia University is hiring an Employee Relations Manager for their Graduate Career Placement team. The role focuses on developing and managing employer partnerships to facilitate job placements for Columbia Engineering graduate students and leading initiatives like career fairs and alumni engagement. The manager will also coach students in career development while collaborating closely with various career and professional development teams.

Highlights
  • Develop and maintain employer and hiring alumni relationships to aid graduate student placements.
  • Manage execution of key Graduate Career Placement programs including the Executive in Residence program and career fairs.
  • Expand alumni relationships and programming to support hiring.
  • Provide individualized student career coaching and professional development support.
  • Support Professional Development and Leadership course and school-wide student affairs activities.
  • Required proficiency with Google Suite, Microsoft Office, publishing software, social media, and data analysis/visualization tools.
  • Minimum of 2-4 years experience in higher education, career services, recruitment, engineering industry, or related human resources roles.
  • Strong interpersonal, administrative, and communication skills with ability to work independently.
  • Bachelor’s degree required; graduate-level work preferred.
  • Salary range: $75,000 to $82,000 annually.

Employee Relations Manager Full Description

  • Job Type: Officer of Administration
  • Bargaining Unit:
  • Regular/Temporary: Regular
  • End Date if Temporary:
  • Hours Per Week: 35
  • Standard Work Schedule:
  • Building: Morningside
  • Salary Range: 75,000 - 82,000
The salary of the finalist selected for this role will be set based on a variety of factors, including but not limited to departmental budgets, qualifications, experience, education, licenses, specialty, and training. The above hiring range represents the University's good faith and reasonable estimate of the range of possible compensation at the time of posting.
 

Position Summary

The Employer Relations Manager is the member of the Graduate Career Placement (GCP) team responsible for developing new employer partnerships and managing existing relationships with employers that are likely to hire Columbia Engineering students/new graduates and leading special projects that strengthen Columbia Engineering’s capacity to facilitate the placement of all MS and PhD students. In close collaboration with Graduate Career Placement, Career Placement Officers (CPOs), and the Professional Development and Leadership (PDL) team, the incumbent will:(1) cultivate and maintain school-level employer relationships; (2) manage the execution of signature  GCP programs including the Executive in Residence program, career fairs, and exclusive recruitment programs; (3) expand relationships and programming with alumni; (4) coach students on how to secure positions and support their professional development.

Responsibilities

Manage School Level Employer and Hiring Alumni Relationships (50%):

  • Forge new employer relationships to facilitate the placement of Engineering graduate students.
  • Coordinate and execute new employer outreach plan and communication strategy.
  • Cultivate relationships with and develop hiring strategies for all school-level employers.
  • Source employers and industry experts to serve as instructors for the PDL course.
  • Manage employer-facing systems including onboarding employers and sourcing job opportunities for graduate engineering students.
  • Develop and expand relationships with alumni to facilitate hiring of graduate students.
  • Liaise with the Career Placement officers to support these efforts.

Graduate Career Placement (35%):

  • Fully plan and execute the Executive in Residence program in close partnership with the Office of Alumni & Development.
  • Organize signature recruitment events with employers including career fairs, on-campus interviews, and exclusive employer hiring partnerships.
  • Collaborate with Career Placement Officers on relevant placement initiatives.
  • Provide individual counseling to assist students in achieving career and placement goals.

Engineering Student Affairs (10%):

  • Support the execution of our Professional Development and leadership course.
  • Support signature student affairs activities including Welcome Day, Graduate Engineers Connect, graduation ceremonies, and other school-wide initiatives for engineering students.
  • Support student on-boarding activities including admissions yield, orientation, and advising.

(5%) Performs other and related duties and responsibilities as assigned/requested.

 Qualifications

A bachelor degree and or equivalent. Graduate-level work is preferred.

Minimum of 2-4 years of related higher education, career education, professional, campus recruitment, related engineering industry experience, development, or human resources experience required.  

Strong computer literacy/proficiency required: an understanding and appreciation of student services database software and on-line resources, and the willingness and enthusiasm to respond to the needs of students in an increasingly technologically-oriented society. Proficiency with Google suite of products, MS office, publishing software, social media, etc.

Data analysis and data visualization skills: candidate need to be comfortable with analyzing and work with large volumes of student and employer data.

Possess excellent interpersonal and administrative skills.

Ability to work independently and under pressure, with high level of attention to detail.

Candidate must exercise good judgment and flexibility.

Must be able to prioritize multiple tasks with minimal supervision.

Must be able to communicate effectively and tactfully with staff, faculty, students, employers, and alumni in small and large group settings.

Excellent command of English (verbal and written). 

Must be willing to work on occasional evenings and weekends, on a need basis. 

Positive, mission-oriented, forward-thinking attitude and sense of humor a must.  

 

Equal Opportunity Employer / Disability / Veteran

Columbia University is committed to the hiring of qualified local residents.