Manager, Talent Partnerships & Employer Relations

Manager, Talent Partnerships & Employer Relations

Centre for Career Growth & Experience, Faculty of Engineering

Engineering a Brighter Future
https://www.eng.mcmaster.ca/about-us/strategic-plan/

About The Team:

Consistently ranked among the top engineering schools in Canada and internationally, McMaster’s Faculty of Engineering is known for its leadership in innovation, research, and experiential learning. With a strong emphasis on hands-on, project-based education, the Faculty prepares future-ready engineers through one of the country’s largest co-op programs, world-class research opportunities, and a vibrant student community with over 70 clubs and teams.

The Faculty comprises three schools offering a wide range of programs and degrees designed to cultivate global citizens who are socially conscious and professionally agile. Home to over 200 faculty and 200 full-time staff, the Faculty supports over 7,600 undergraduate and 1,400 graduate students and secures roughly $65 million in research funding annually. Research and learning span more than 20 interdisciplinary centres, institutes, and networks, with active collaborations involving universities, government, and over 120 industry partners worldwide.

The Centre for Career Growth & Experience supports more than 7,000 students in their career journeys through experiential and work-integrated learning, industry connections, and professional development.. The Centre facilitates over 4,500 co-op work terms annually across undergraduate and graduate programs and supports student career readiness through one-on-one advising, workshops, and career programming.

About the Position:

The Manager, Talent Partnerships & Employer Relations leads a dynamic team responsible for building and strengthening industry partnerships and creating employment opportunities for McMaster Engineering students. The Manager will drive strategic initiatives in employer engagement, manage the co-op program’s academic administration and full-cycle recruitment services, and champion work-integrated learning initiatives that align with faculty and industry needs.

This role emphasizes collaboration—with employers, students, faculty, and internal and external partners—to create and sustain employment relationships that benefit McMaster Engineering students locally and globally.

Key Accountabilities:

Strategic Planning & Leadership

• Contribute to the development and support the implementation of an integrated employer relations strategy
• Collaborate with faculty, university partners, and external stakeholders to define employment goals and industry engagement priorities.
• Develop and manage annual plans, events, budgets, and performance benchmarks.
• Champion diversity hiring and EDI-focused employer engagement.
• Represent the Centre in inter-Faculty initiatives and professional associations (e.g., CEWIL, CACEE, EWO).

Work-Integrated Learning & Employer Engagement

• Pursue funding/subsidy opportunities to expand co-op and international work experiences.
• Manage student and employer issues related to co-op experiences in collaboration with relevant stakeholders
• Coordinate with student-run and university-wide programs involving employer participation.
• Expand co-op opportunities across emerging sectors and diverse employers.

Operational Oversight & Program Development

• Lead a team of up to 9 full-time and 5 student staff.
• Oversee reporting tools and platforms (e.g., Orbis, Career Forge).
• Monitor employment metrics, report outcomes and trends to leadership.
• Manage systems to support operational efficiency and data integrity.

Financial & Human Resources Management

• Manage operational budgets up to $100,000, including sponsorships, grants, and project-based funding.
• Identify opportunities for revenue generation and funding partnerships.

• Recruit, supervise, and support the professional development of staff.
• Implement onboarding, cross-training, and performance management practices.
• Foster a coaching culture to support growth and high performance.

Additional Position Information

• Supervisory responsibility for up to 9 full-time staff and 5 student staff.
• Manages co-op services impacting over 7000 undergraduate and 1100 graduate students.
• Works with approximately 1000 employer partners.
• Travel required (some evening and weekend commitments; national/international travel possible).
• Represents McMaster on professional and economic development boards.

Qualifications:

Education:

• Bachelor’s degree in human resources, adult education, economic development or a relevant field.
• Completion of or working towards a CHRP/CHRL designation considered an asset.

Experience:

• Minimum of 5 years experience in a leadership role.
• Experience in work-integrated learning in a post-secondary setting.
• Proven track record in employer engagement and program development.

Knowledge & Skills:

• Knowledge of Canadian labour laws and recruitment best practices.
• Expertise in labour market trends, employer engagement, and talent development.
• Strong leadership, problem-solving, and coaching abilities.
• Experience managing confidential and sensitive student/employer issues.
• Data-driven approach to decision-making.

How to Apply:

To apply for this job, please submit your application online.

Employment Equity Statement:

McMaster University is located on the traditional territories of the Haudenosaunee and Mississauga Nations and within the lands protected by the “Dish With One Spoon” wampum agreement.

The diversity of our workforce is at the core of our innovation and creativity and strengthens our research and teaching excellence. In keeping with its Statement on Building an Inclusive Community with a Shared Purpose, McMaster University strives to embody the values of respect, collaboration and diversity, and has a strong commitment to employment equity.

The University seeks qualified candidates who share our commitment to equity and inclusion, who will contribute to the diversification of ideas and perspectives, and especially welcomes applications from indigenous (First Nations, Métis or Inuit) peoples, members of racialized communities, persons with disabilities, women, and persons who identify as 2SLGBTQ+.

As part of McMaster’s commitment, all applicants are invited to complete a confidential Applicant Diversity Survey through the online application submission process. The Survey questionnaire requests voluntary self-identification in relation to equity-seeking groups that have historically faced and continue to face barriers in employment. Please refer to the Applicant Diversity Survey - Statement of Collection for additional information.

Job applicants requiring accommodation to participate in the hiring process should contact the following to communicate accommodation needs:

• Human Resources Service Centre at 905-525-9140 ext. 222-HR (22247), or
• Faculty of Health Sciences HR Office at ext. 22207, or
• School of Graduate Studies at ext. 23679

Hybrid Work:

To ensure an ongoing and vibrant University community that meets the needs of our students, staff and faculty and supports the University mission, ability to work on-site continues to be a requirement for most University positions. The University is supportive of exploring flexible work arrangements that effectively balance operational needs and employee interests.

Interview Experience:

At McMaster University, we believe in a comprehensive and inclusive interview process. Our interview methods encompass a variety of approaches that allow our hiring teams to provide a flexible and accessible experience for engaging with our candidates. Throughout your recruitment process at McMaster, you may be requested to participate in a variety of formats, that may include in-person, virtual or recorded interviews. If you have any questions as you move through the hiring process, please reach out to [email protected] or the HR contact associated with your position of interest.