Associate/Assistant Director - Placements

Description:

- The organization is a premier higher education institution known for its strong academic legacy, multidisciplinary programs, and industry-focused approach. With a large and diverse student community, the institution is committed to fostering academic excellence, innovation, and career readiness through robust corporate collaborations and global partnerships.

- The campus is equipped with advanced infrastructure, modern learning environments, and a dedicated career services division that works closely with leading employers across industries.

- The institution emphasizes holistic student development and aims to bridge the gap between academia and the corporate world through continuous engagement, experiential learning opportunities, and career development initiatives.

Role Overview:

- The Associate / Assistant Director - Placements is a senior leadership position responsible for leading, enhancing, and executing the institutions overall placement strategy. The role requires strong industry relationships, strategic planning capabilities, and the ability to drive high-quality placement outcomes for students across diverse academic programs.

- This position serves as a vital interface between the institution and the corporate world, ensuring students are career-ready while enabling employers to engage with skilled and relevant talent. The role involves managing end-to-end placement operations, employer relations, student readiness initiatives, and data-driven reporting to leadership.

Key Responsibilities:

1. Placement Strategy & Planning:

- Develop and implement an annual placement strategy aligned with institutional goals.

- Analyze industry trends, hiring patterns, and skill demands to continuously refine placement processes.

- Collaborate with leadership to create long-term frameworks for improving employability and industry engagement.

2. Student Career Guidance & Readiness:

- Conduct one-on-one and group counseling sessions to support students in identifying career pathways.

- Organize workshops, masterclasses, and training programs on resume writing, interview skills, aptitude preparation, professional etiquette, and networking.

- Coordinate mock interviews, assessment centre simulations, and employability bootcamps.

3. Employer Relations & Corporate Outreach:

- Build and sustain strong relationships with national and international organizations across sectors.

- Drive new employer acquisition strategies to expand internship and placement opportunities.

- Act as the primary point of contact for corporate partners during campus recruitment processes.

- Organize job fairs, HR conclaves, campus drives, and industry networking events.

4. Placement & Internship Operations:

- Manage the full cycle of placement processes, including job postings, student registrations, scheduling, interview coordination, and offer management.

- Work closely with academic departments to align curriculum goals with market expectations.

- Ensure compliance with institutional policies and maintain smooth coordination between students, faculty, and recruiters.

5. Data Management & Reporting:

- Track, analyze, and present placement metrics, employer engagement data, and performance trends.

- Prepare periodic MIS reports for senior leadership along with recommendations for improving placement outcomes.

- Maintain accurate dashboards and records in placement management systems.

6. Branding, Marketing & Communication:

- Create communication plans to promote placement activities, success stories, and employer partnerships.

- Utilize digital channels, newsletters, and social media to enhance visibility and student engagement.

- Support development of brochures, employer packets, and marketing collateral.

7. Professional Development & External Engagement:

- Stay updated with evolving job market trends, emerging sectors, and recruitment innovations.

- Represent the institution at conferences, HR forums, industry associations, and career service events.

- Benchmark best practices from leading institutions and integrate improvements into internal processes.

Qualifications & Experience:

- Masters degree in business administration, HR, Education Management, Counseling, or related fields.

- Minimum 10-12 years of experience in career services, talent acquisition, corporate relations, or similar roles.

- Demonstrated experience in building robust corporate networks and delivering strong placement results.

- Strong verbal and written communication skills with proven negotiation and relationship-management abilities.

- Experience with placement management platforms, ATS systems, and career assessment tools is preferred.