The Senior Manager Lateral/Campus/University Sourcing will drive the end-to-end campus hiring strategy across premier engineering, management, and graduate institutions in India. This individual will lead a team responsible for identifying, attracting, and hiring top early-career talent, while strengthening the organizations brand presence across campuses. The role requires a blend of strategic planning, relationship building, data-driven decision-making, and flawless execution.

Key Responsibilities:

1. Campus Hiring Strategy & Planning:

- Develop and implement a comprehensive university hiring strategy aligned with business workforce plans.

- Partner with business leaders and HRBP teams to forecast campus hiring demand annually.

- Identify and prioritize target universities and programs (Tier 1, Tier 2, niche skill campuses).

- Drive innovative sourcing channels and engagement models to attract diverse and high-quality talent.

2. Execution of University Engagement Programs:

- Lead end-to-end campus recruitment drives (pre-placement talks, assessments, interviews, offers, onboarding).

- Design and execute employer branding initiatives including hackathons, case competitions, workshops, and leadership connects.

- Build and maintain strong relationships with placement committees, university leadership, and faculty.

3. Stakeholder Management:

- Partner closely with senior business leaders to understand talent needs and hiring priorities.

- Influence and collaborate with internal COE teams (Talent Marketing, TA Ops, D&I, L&D) to ensure seamless execution.

- Serve as a trusted advisor to leadership on market trends and competitive intelligence.

4. Governance, Data & Analytics:

- Own reporting on key metrics: pipeline health, offer-to-join ratios, DEI targets, and time-to-hire.

- Leverage analytics to optimize campus strategies and drive operational excellence.

- Ensure compliance with all legal, data privacy, and organizational policies.

5. Team Leadership:

- Lead and mentor a team of campus recruiters, sourcers, and program specialists.

- Build capability within the team through training, performance management, and career development.

Qualifications & Experience:

- 8-15 years of progressive experience in talent acquisition with a minimum of 5 years in campus/university hiring.

- Proven track record of managing large-scale early talent programs across engineering, MBA, and graduate colleges.

- Experience in stakeholder management at senior leadership levels.

- Exposure to driving D&I and employer branding strategies.

- Strong analytical, communication, and presentation skills.

- Experience working in IT/ITeS, Consulting, Financial Services, or Product organizations preferred.

- MBA / PG in Human Resources or related field preferred.

Preferred Skills:

- Deep understanding of Indias campus ecosystem and target schools.

- Strong program management and influencing skills.

- Ability to thrive in a fast-paced, matrixed environment.

- Proficiency with ATS platforms, CRM tools, and recruitment analytics.