Western Digital Director Early Talent Recruiting and Programs in Dover, Delaware
Company Description
At Western Digital, our vision is to power global innovation and push the boundaries of technology to make what you thought was once impossible, possible.
At our core, Western Digital is a company of problem solvers. People achieve extraordinary things given the right technology. For decades, we’ve been doing just that—our technology helped people put a man on the moon and capture the first-ever picture of a black hole.
We offer an expansive portfolio of technologies, HDDs, and platforms for business, creative professionals, and consumers alike under our Western Digital, WD, WD_BLACK, and SanDisk Professional brands.
We are a key partner to some of the largest and highest-growth organizations in the world. From enabling systems to make cities safer and more connected, to powering the data centers behind many of the world’s biggest companies and hyperscale cloud providers, to meeting the massive and ever-growing data storage needs of the AI era, Western Digital is fueling a brighter, smarter future.
Today’s exceptional challenges require your unique skills. Together, we can build the future of data storage.
Job Description
Global University Partnership & Recruiting Director (M110)
ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:
1. Responsible for developing and executing a strategic approach to university recruiting and partnerships, specifically early-career hiring, internal engagement and development and future talent pipelining. This role will design and implement initiatives that strengthen relationships with academic institutions, drive employer brand presence on campuses, and attract top emerging talent.
2. Develop and implement a comprehensive University Hiring & Partnership Strategy aligned with business stakeholders, workforce planning needs and enterprise goals.
3. Define KPIs to measure the success of university hiring programs and partnerships.
4. Stay ahead of industry trends in campus recruiting, internship programs, early-career hiring and UR marketing to refine and communicate strategies accordingly across the enterprise.
5. University & Academic Partnerships: Identify and establish strategic partnerships with top universities, colleges, technical schools, and industry organizations.
6. Develop a long-term relationship with external stakeholders e.g. career services, faculty, student organizations, and research centers to strengthen the company’s presence on campus.
7. Organize and participate in career fairs, networking events, and guest lecture opportunities to engage with students and faculty.
8. Drive collaboration with universities and internal stakeholders on research projects, curriculum development, and sponsorships to enhance employer branding.
9. Early Career & Internship Programs: Design and oversee structured internships, co-op, and graduate hiring programs to build a strong early-career talent pipeline.
10. Work with hiring managers to identify entry-level roles, rotational programs, and apprenticeship opportunities within the organization.
11. Develop standardized assessment and selection processes for interns and recent graduates.
12. Ensure a high-quality candidate experience from application through onboarding and full-time conversion.
13. Talent Acquisition & Workforce Planning: Collaborate with HR and business leaders to forecast entry-level hiring needs and align university recruiting efforts with business objectives.
14. Develop campus recruiting materials, career development content, and employer branding campaigns to attract top students and graduates.
15. Leverage data analytics to assess university hiring trends, candidate conversion rates, and overall recruitment effectiveness.
16. Implement tools and technologies to streamline campus recruitment, interview scheduling, and candidate engagement.
17. Employer Branding & Engagement: Lead initiatives to strengthen the company’s employer brand on university campuses and social media platforms.
18. Develop digital and in-person engagement strategies, including virtual career events, hackathons, case competitions, and industry mentorship programs.
19. Ensure consistent messaging and brand alignment across all student outreach efforts.
Qualifications
Key Qualification & Experience:
1. Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Human Resources, Business Administration, Organizational Development, or a related field.
2. 10+ years of experience in talent acquisition, university recruiting, employer branding, or workforce strategy, preferably within a multinational matrixed corporate setting.
3. Skilled in recruiting, managing and leading a team of direct and matrixed recruiters, as well as University Recruitment Program Leads, to drive talent acquisition success.
4. Proven track record in developing and managing university partnerships and early-career hiring programs.
5. Strong understanding of campus recruitment best practices, workforce planning, and candidate engagement strategies.
6. Experience working with HR technologies, applicant tracking system (ATS), and recruitment marketing platforms.
7. Excellent communication, relationship management, and stakeholder engagement skills.
8. Strong analytical and problem-solving abilities to assess hiring trends and optimize recruitment strategies.
Preferred Qualifications:
1. Experience with global university partnerships and international recruitment.
2. Knowledge of labor market trends, skills development programs, and emerging workforce needs.
3. Global Technology / Semiconductor Company Experience.
Additional Information
Western Digital is committed to providing equal opportunities to all applicants and employees and will not discriminate against any applicant or employee based on their race, color, ancestry, religion (including religious dress and grooming standards), sex (including pregnancy, childbirth or related medical conditions, breastfeeding or related medical conditions), gender (including a person’s gender identity, gender expression, and gender-related appearance and behavior, whether or not stereotypically associated with the person’s assigned sex at birth), age, national origin, sexual orientation, medical condition, marital status (including domestic partnership status), physical disability, mental disability, medical condition, genetic information, protected medical and family care leave, Civil Air Patrol status, military and veteran status, or other legally protected characteristics. We also prohibit harassment of any individual on any of the characteristics listed above. Our non-discrimination policy applies to all aspects of employment.
Western Digital thrives on the power and potential of diversity. As a global company, we believe the most effective way to embrace the diversity of our customers and communities is to mirror it from within. We believe the fusion of various perspectives results in the best outcomes for our employees, our company, our customers, and the world around us. We are committed to an inclusive environment where every individual can thrive through a sense of belonging, respect and contribution.
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