Corporate Engagement and Internship Manager

United Way of the Midlands was established in Columbia in 1925. We provide critical health and human service needs in Calhoun, Fairfield, Lexington, Newberry, Richland, and Orangeburg counties. With a mission to unite people and resources to improve the quality of life in the Midlands, United Way of the Midlands focuses on helping provide a strong safety net, space for non-profit collaboration, and pathways to resiliency.

United Way's Community Impact Department is a dynamic group of professionals working to improve the quality of life in the Midlands. We enlist an extensive network of community partners and volunteers to make lasting change. We manage grant funding and relationship with partners, directly operate community interventions, and provide thought leadership in health and human service content areas. Young Men United (YMU) is an evidence-informed initiative designed to create pathways for young men to reach their academic and career goals by bringing wrap around supports to college capable high school students starting in the tenth or eleventh grade.

The Corporate Engagement and Internship Manager leads YMU’s postsecondary career exploration efforts by developing, managing, and expanding partnerships that create meaningful paid internships for YMU students who attend four-year colleges. This position will also support the program’s professional development workshops, campus tour, workplace tours, and family support efforts.

The position is in-office based in Columbia, South Carolina. Exclusively working from a remote location is not a consideration due to the team working environment.
Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. The tasks listed below are those that represent the majority of the time spent working in this position. Management may assign additional tasks related to the type of work of the position as necessary.

Essential Responsibilities

Career Exploration

• Identify, recruit, and maintain relationships with local, regional, and remote employers to increase paid internship pipelines
• Build mutually beneficial partnerships with corporations, government agencies, and community stakeholders
• Conduct 1-on-1 and group sessions to help college students clarify career goals, target relevant industries, and navigate the internship application process
• Help students tailor resumes, write industry-specific cover letters, and prepare for interviews
• Maintain an active caseload of 35-55 students, meeting on a regular basis to monitor academic progress and career planning
• Develop and facilitate internship host orientations
• Monitor student progress at internship sites
• Provide logistical support for college campus visits and workplace tours
• Support Young Men United professional development workshops alongside key Young Men United stakeholders and the Young Men United staff
• Review and update Young Men United database records to ensure data accuracy, consistency, and completeness
• Support the program’s external evaluator by ensuring mentors participate in programmatic assessments

Industry Advisors

• Connect Young Men United college students with professionals who provide ad hoc industry-specific career advice
• Manage Industry Advisor recruitment, retention, and involvement
• Administer the Industry Advisor- Young Men United student matching process
• Develop and facilitate Industry Advisor orientations

Position Responsibilities - Non Essential

• Manage communications of Young Men United in collaboration with UWM's Communications staff including development of content, printed materials, social media posts, documenting student and mentor success stories, and website updates.
• Support Young Men United Advisory Committee meetings and other meetings with coordination, set-up and volunteer management
• Promote Young Men United through speaking engagements and media outlets

Essential Skills and Experience

• Master’s degree preferred
• Bachelor’s degree in education, human resources, or relevant education and experience in related fields
• Ability to build and sustain employer relationships, identify industry-specific opportunities, support student career readiness, and track outcomes related to internships and employment
• Three or more years of experience in workforce development, career services, higher education, nonprofit programming, employer engagement, or a related field
• Organizational, interpersonal, communication (oral and written) skills
• Ability to think systemically and build sustainable programmatic structures
• Proficient skills in Word, Excel, Outlook, Teams, and PowerPoint
• Ability to prioritize projects and manage time effectively
• Ability to develop positive interpersonal and working relationships with volunteer networks, UWM staff, human services organizations, schools, faith-based organizations, funders, and supporters

Beneficial Skills and Experience

• Knowledge of labor market trends and workforce development systems