Job Description

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.

Global University Partnership & Recruiting Director (M110)

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

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.

Strategy Development & Execution:

1. Develop and implement a comprehensive University Hiring & Partnership Strategy aligned with business stakeholders, workforce planning needs and enterprise goals.
2. Define KPIs to measure the success of university hiring programs and partnerships.
3. 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.

University & Academic Partnerships:

1. Identify and establish strategic partnerships with top universities, colleges, technical schools, and industry organizations.
2. Develop a long-term relationship with external stakeholders eg career services, faculty, student organizations, and research centers to strengthen the company’s presence on campus.
3. Organize and participate in career fairs, networking events, and guest lecture opportunities to engage with student and faculty.
4. Drive collaboration with universities and internal stakeholders on research projects, curriculum development, and sponsorships to enhance employer branding.

Early Career & Internship Programs:

1. Design and oversee structured internships, co-op, and graduate hiring programs to build a strong early-career talent pipeline.
2. Work with hiring managers to identify entry-level roles, rotational programs, and apprenticeship opportunities within the organization.
3. Develop standardized assessment and selection processes for interns and recent graduates.
4. Ensure a high-quality candidate experience from application through onboarding and full-time conversion.

Talent Acquisition & Workforce Planning:

1. Collaborate with HR and business leaders to forecast entry-level hiring needs and align university recruiting efforts with business objectives.
2. Develop campus recruiting materials, career development content, and employer branding campaigns to attract top students and graduates.
3. Leverage data analytics to assess university hiring trends, candidate conversion rates, and overall recruitment effectiveness.
4. Implement tools and technologies to streamline campus recruitment, interview scheduling, and candidate engagement.

Employer Branding & Engagement:

1. Lead initiatives to strengthen the company’s employer brand on university campuses and social media platforms.
2. Develop digital and in-person engagement strategies, including virtual career events, hackathons, case competitions, and industry mentorship programs.
3. Ensure consistent messaging and brand alignment across all student outreach efforts.

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 systems (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.

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