Manager, Placements and Internships

Role Summary:

The role will be pivotal in strengthening Ahmedabad University's engagement with industry by facilitating high-quality internship and placement opportunities for students across the University's academic programmes, including Business Management, Commerce, Engineering, and Liberal Studies.

The incumbent will be responsible for managing the end-to-end placement and internship lifecycle, developing and nurturing strategic relationships with corporate employers, and enhancing student career readiness.

Responsibilities:

Industry Engagement & Corporate Relations

• Contribute to the development and execution of the annual corporate outreach and employer engagement strategy for the Career Development Centre.
• Build, strengthen, and sustain long-term relationships with corporates, consulting firms, start-ups, research organisations, think tanks, NGOs, government bodies, and other potential recruiters.
• Conduct regular local and domestic outreach to expand the University's recruiter network, with particular emphasis on Business School (Undergraduate and Postgraduate) programmes.
• Develop relationships with HR leaders, hiring managers, business leaders, and CXOs across leading organisations to create internship and placement opportunities for students.

Industry Engagement & Corporate Relations

• Contribute to the development and execution of the annual corporate outreach and employer engagement strategy for the Career Development Centre.
• Build, strengthen, and sustain long-term relationships with corporates, consulting firms, start-ups, research organisations, think tanks, NGOs, government bodies, and other potential recruiters.
• Conduct regular local and domestic outreach to expand the University's recruiter network, with particular emphasis on Business School (Undergraduate and Postgraduate) programmes.
• Develop relationships with HR leaders, hiring managers, business leaders, and CXOs across leading organisations to create internship and placement opportunities for students.

Placements & Internship Management

• Plan, coordinate, and manage the complete internship and campus placement process for assigned Schools.
• Develop a comprehensive target recruiter database based on market trends, student preferences, programme offerings, and employment opportunities.
• Coordinate with recruiting organisations to obtain job descriptions, hiring requirements, compensation details, and recruitment schedules, ensuring timely communication with students.
• Ensure smooth execution of placement drives, interviews, pre-placement talks, assessments, and offer management.

Student Career Development

• Mentor and advise students on career preparedness, recruitment processes, employer expectations, and professional conduct through individual and group interactions.
• Share industry insights, recruitment trends, and employer feedback with students to enhance employability.
• Collaborate with academic leadership and student placement committees to strengthen student engagement and placement readiness initiatives.

Stakeholder Management

• Work closely with Deans, faculty members, and student placement committees to plan and execute placement initiatives effectively.
• Appoint, guide, and collaborate with Student Placement Committees to support placement operations and employer engagement activities.
• Foster strong internal partnerships to ensure seamless coordination across academic and administrative functions.

Data Management & Reporting

• Administer and maintain the University's placement portal, recruiter database, and student résumé repository.
• Ensure accurate maintenance of placement-related data, employer records, student profiles, and recruitment activities.
• Leverage CRM platforms and placement technologies effectively, coordinating with technology teams to ensure system efficiency and data integrity.
• Prepare periodic MIS reports, dashboards, placement statistics, employer engagement reports, and other key performance metrics for leadership review.

Key Skills & Competencies

• Excellent verbal and written communication skills in English.
• Strong relationship-building and stakeholder management capabilities.
• Proven networking and business development skills.
• Strong presentation, negotiation, and influencing skills.
• Analytical mindset with proficiency in reporting and data management.
• Advanced proficiency in Microsoft Excel, PowerPoint, and Word.
• Comfortable using CRM platforms and placement technologies.
• High degree of professionalism, initiative, and customer orientation.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities in a dynamic environment.

Qualification:

• Master's degree from a premier institution.
• 8–10 years of relevant professional experience.