Academic Program Specialist - Industry Engagement and Student Success

The John and Willie Leone Family Department of Energy and Mineral Engineering (EME) at Penn State is seeking an Academic Program Specialist to play a key role in advancing student success and strengthening connections among students, faculty, and industry partners.

This professional-level position operates at the intersection of academic affairs, student success, and industry engagement. The role is responsible for developing, administering, and continuously improving programs and processes that support recruitment, career placement, faculty activities, and academic program operations. The position exercises discretion and independent judgment in designing initiatives, advising leadership, and implementing strategies that directly impact student outcomes and the department's academic mission.

EME's national reputation is driven by strong student outcomes, engaged faculty, and deep relationships with industry partners. This position contributes to those outcomes by leading programmatic initiatives, evaluating effectiveness, and implementing improvements across recruitment, career placement, employer engagement, and academic programs.

The role has a direct impact on:

• Student recruitment and retention pipelines
• Internship, co-op, and employment outcomes
• Faculty program processes and compliance
• Employer engagement strategy and partnerships

• Develop and implement strategic recruitment and career placement initiatives to strengthen undergraduate and graduate pipelines and improve student outcomes.

• Analyze recruitment, placement, and engagement data; identify trends and develop actionable recommendations to improve program performance.

• Collaborate with academic advisers, program chairs, and academic leadership to align outreach strategies with departmental priorities.

• Serve as EME's representative to EMS Admissions and Career Services, contributing to college-level planning and coordinated recruitment strategies.

• Build and sustain relationships with industry partners to expand internship, co-op, and full-time employment opportunities.

• Represent EME in internal and external forums, advising on employer engagement models and workforce development needs.

• Design, administer, and continuously improve employer engagement and recruiting programs that connect students with industry opportunities.

• Serve as the primary point of contact for employers and recruiters, advising on engagement strategies and participation models.

• Oversee recruiting infrastructure, including Nittany Lion Careers, information sessions, and interview programs, ensuring effective and scalable operations.

• Evaluate the effectiveness of recruiting processes and employer engagement efforts; implement enhancements to improve employer participation and student access.

• Gather and interpret employer feedback to inform program improvements and strategic decision-making.

• Develop and execute communication strategies to promote internship, co-op, and employment opportunities to students.

• Administer and continuously improve academic affairs processes in partnership with departmental leadership and administrative teams.

• Coordinate faculty personnel processes, including promotion and tenure (P&T), non-tenure-line promotions, and faculty evaluation cycles, ensuring accuracy and compliance.

• Interpret and apply University and college policies, providing guidance to faculty and leadership on timelines, requirements, and appropriate courses of action.

• Manage faculty activity reporting processes, including Activity Insight data, external review coordination, and submission of required materials.

• Serve as a departmental resource and consultant on academic personnel processes, ensuring consistent application of policies and adherence to institutional guidelines.

• Identify process improvement opportunities and recommend enhancements to increase efficiency, compliance, and effectiveness.

• Oversee program operations related to visiting scholars, including appointment coordination, documentation, and onboarding in collaboration with University offices.

• Lead and support faculty and staff search processes by coordinating administrative components, advising search committees, and ensuring compliance with University procedures.

• Coordinate and enhance departmental engagement activities, including candidate visits, guest speakers, and external partner interactions, ensuring high-quality execution.

• Identify and implement process improvements across program operations to enhance effectiveness and stakeholder experience.