Ivy Tech

Talent Connection Manager-Ivy+ Career Link

Lafayette, IN Full time
GENERAL PURPOSE AND SCOPE OF POSITION: The Talent Connection Manager (TCM) serves as a strategic connector between students, academic programs, and employers to drive career outcomes, work-and-learn participation, and student success. This role is responsible for developing and implementing career navigation, career coaching, and work-and-learn readiness strategies that help students understand career pathways, prepare for employment, and successfully transition into internships, apprenticeships, and full-time roles.

The TCM partners closely with Career Coach, Employer Consultants, Deans, Academic Advisors, and regional employer partners to ensure students are not only enrolled, but career-ready, placement-ready, and supported through completion and employment.

Reports to the campus Vice Chancellor of Workforce and Economic Development, Ivy+ Career Link.

MAJOR RESPONSIBILITIES:

Student Career Coaching & Career Readiness

  • Provide and support career coaching activities to help students understand career options, pathways, and next steps related to their program of study.
  • Coach students on resume development, interview preparation, professional communication, and workplace readiness.
  • Help students translate classroom learning, labs, clinicals, and hands-on training into employer-relevant skills and experience for resumes and interviews.
  • Support students in navigating career decisions related to manufacturing, healthcare, IT, business, logistics, skilled trades, and other high-demand regional industries.
  • Coordinate and support career development workshops and events for students, including resume workshops, interview prep sessions, and employer information sessions.

Work-and-Learn & Employment Opportunities

  • Increase student participation in internships, apprenticeships, and employer-sponsored pathways through targeted outreach and engagement.
  • Build awareness of work-and-learn and job opportunities with students across academic and workforce programs.
  • Support students in preparing for and successfully transitioning into internships, clinicals, apprenticeships, and employment placements.
  • Work closely with employers in the Lafayette region and surrounding counties to identify and develop work-and-learn and employment opportunities aligned to Ivy Tech programs.

Employer Partnerships & Regional Alignment

  • Partner with Employer Consultants to engage employers across advanced manufacturing, healthcare, logistics, construction, IT, business, and skilled trades.
  • Support relationships with key regional employers such as manufacturers, healthcare systems, logistics providers, and small-to-medium businesses.
  • Work with employers to understand hiring needs, workplace expectations, and skill requirements, and align student preparation accordingly.
  • Collaborate with faculty, Deans, Academic Advisors, Career Coaches, and K-14 partners to ensure students are informed, prepared, and supported for employer opportunities.

Data Entry, Tracking & Reporting

  • Enter, update, and maintain accurate student and employer records in college systems and career platforms, including participation in internships, apprenticeships, and job placements.
  • Track and document student employment outcomes, wages, employer information, and work-and-learn activity.
  • Ensure all placements, referrals, and career activities are entered timely and accurately.
  • Run basic reports and assist with tracking data related to:
  • student participation in work-and-learn
  • job placements and retention
  • employer engagement activity
  • wage outcomes

Strategy, Planning & Collaboration

  • Partner with the campus Vice Chancellor of Workforce and Economic Development, Ivy+ Career Link leadership, and Systems Office leadership to support campus strategy and execution related to career outcomes and work-and-learn participation.
  • Assist with initiatives connected to the Indiana Office of Work-Based Learning, Department of Workforce Development, Commission for Higher Education, and other workforce partners.
  • Participate in professional development related to career coaching, workforce development, and employer engagement.

What Applicants Should Expect in This Role:

  • Student-facing work (coaching, workshops, career conversations)
  • Employer-facing work (supporting partnerships and opportunities)
  • Behind-the-scenes work (data entry, tracking, reporting, coordination)

You will be working with:

  • students in programs such as manufacturing, nursing, healthcare, IT, business, logistics, construction, and skilled trades
  • employers across a nine-county campus service area
  • campus partners including faculty, advisors, Career Coach, and Employer Consultants

This role is ideal for someone who:

  • enjoys helping students connect education to real careers
  • is comfortable balancing people interaction with detailed data work
  • is organized, relationship-driven, and motivated by measurable outcomes
  • wants to see direct impact in student success and workforce outcomes

This is not to be construed as an exhaustive list.  Other duties logically associated with this position may be assigned.  All responsibilities will be conducted within the parameters of the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA), other applicable regulatory requirements, and professional standards.

Benefits:

Excellent benefits, including voluntary benefits: medical, dental, vision, retirement, life insurance, spouse/child life insurance, , LTD, STD, Identity Guard, etc.

Employer contribution annually to Health Savings Account.

No waiting period to enroll in benefits. Coverage starts on day 1.

Employer contribution to retirement plan. (10% of annual salary, employee contribution not required)

Paid time off: vacation and sick time accrued bi-weekly.

Paid holidays: 9 days plus winter break between December 25th and January 1st.

Free tuition for employees and dependents.

Professional Development opportunities.

EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE: Associate’s degree required; Bachelor’s degree preferred. A minimum of three (3) years related experience in business development, employer consulting, or professional job recruitment required. Experience in career development preferred.

Demonstrated skills and abilities to listen effectively, communicate clearly, build key relationships and concurrently manage numerous tasks, some with conflicting priorities required. Must have excellent oral and written communication, interpersonal, and organizational skills. Commitment to student learning outcomes and staff development required. Ability to work within an entrepreneurial framework and scale a large project required.

Experience planning and scheduling events and managing resources.

Must be able and willing to travel to and from campuses and professional development activities. The incoming employee must hold a valid Indiana driver's license and complete the Driver Approval Form to obtain authorization from the Systems Office for operating any College-owned, leased, or rented vehicles as part of their job responsibilities.

This position is not eligible for visa sponsorship.  Applicants must be currently authorized to work in the United States on a full-time basis.

$45,000 TO $50,000 Annually with full benefits (Exact salary based on education and experience)

Ivy Tech Community College is an accredited, equal opportunity/affirmative action employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, ethnicity, national origin, marital status, religion, sex, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability, age or veteran status. As required by Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, Ivy Tech Community College does not discriminate on the basis of sex, including sexual harassment in its educational programs and activities, including employment and admissions. Questions specific to Title IX may be referred to the College’s Title IX Coordinator or to the US Department of Education Office of Civil Rights.