Placement Officer: Company Relations (post level 11) (Contract appointment: 2 years) at University of the Free State

Duties and responsibilities:

Placement of students

• Source jobs/employment opportunities from different companies and successfully place UFS students and graduates according to deliverables.
• Implement MSDF foundation resolutions.
• Prepare students for interviews by reviewing cv’s, cover letters, and LinkedIn profiles, conduct mock interviews and provide feedback, in collaboration with student relations.
• Network build relationships and coalition with internal and external companies, staff and students for student placement.
• Drive initiatives and stakeholder relations to increase the employability and placement of students.
• Place students and graduates successfully in jobs.
• Post available job opportunities on different social media platforms and websites.
• Plan, organize and implement placement preparation day in collaboration with internal stakeholders.

Company Relations

• Plan, organize and implement career weeks and fairs successfully.
• Market Career Services through flyers, company presentations, podcasts, social media, e-mail communication and telephonic follow-up.
• Assist Student Relations with workplace readiness activities.
• Assist wherever possible with the career closet initiatives.
• Plan and execute company relations initiatives, programmes, and events to secure placement of students.
• Engage with faculty on current employment trends and placement.
• Represent the institution to target external companies by attending company relations’ stakeholder events and organizing Company Relations Corporate events.
• Create and manage new systems in the institution and technology sphere to communicate effectively with potential clients and students, to build and add onto the tool for professional communication with customers/companies.
• Assist with company relations’ initiatives, programmes, plans and events to secure placement for students.
• Collaborate with faculties through Academic Advisory Boards to build stronger ties within the industry and remain career relevant.

Division of Student Affairs Involvement

• Participate actively in student affairs structures by attending meetings and representing the Career Services division.
• Fulfil the roles of liaison officer and marketer when necessary.

Maintain and update the Company relations system

• Responsible for the successful implementation of the job portal and continued maintenance and management of the platform.
• Participate actively in strategic planning discussions in Career Services, Student Affairs and Centre for Teaching and Learning.
• Capturing and updating company information on the CRM system, CareerHub, Learner Case Management system, and spreadsheets.
• Post and regularly update the job portal and add job postings per week.

Monitoring and Evaluation

• Monitor and evaluate all programmes, workshops, and events continuously.
• Create, update, and maintain – the student database and stakeholder database utilizing the graduate exit survey and destination survey.
• Monitor student progress in the job application process as well as in their new work environment closely.
• Follow up on student progress through emails and calls.
• Monitor and evaluate all programmes, workshops, and events on a continuous basis.
• Track and report on successful placements.
• Report on career weeks and career fairs.
• Build and improve Career Services programmes.
• Encourage and monitor UFS academic achievers to partake in the GRADSTAR programme and awards.

Employment outcomes and deliverables

• Place students and graduates in jobs.
• Ensure successful implementation of the job portal and continuous maintenance and management of the platform.
• Ensure outcomes and deliverables for placement of students are met.
• Drive initiatives and stakeholder relations to increase the employability and placement of students.
• Liaise with service providers to upkeep the job portal.
• Liaise with companies, employers, firms, and stakeholders to increase the employment of students.

Strategic Planning

• Actively participate in strategic planning discussions in Career Services, Student Affairs and the Centre for Teaching and Learning.
• Strategize on opportunities to enhance recruitment efforts and implement identified strategies.
• Develop, coordinate, and help with marketing strategies.
• Research – analyse trends in the job market as well as in the recruitment sphere. 

Operational and Administrative Management

• Assist administrative staff with systems regarding finances, website, PeopleSoft data, etc.
• Take ownership and responsibility for office operations.
• Write and submit weekly and monthly reports on work progress and deliverables.

Inherent requirements:

• A bachelor’s degree/advanced diploma/ postgraduate certificate on NQF level 7.
• A minimum of Two (2) years of relevant working experience related to duties and responsibilities.

Recommendations:

• Postgraduate diploma on NQF Level 8.
• Blackboard, PeopleSoft, SharePoint, Excel. 
• Experience working with recruiters and successfully placing students into internships, graduate programmes, or job opportunities.
• Experience in organising and implementing career fairs and industry events.