Health & Applied Sciences Engagement Officer

Hiring Department: Office of Business, Community, and Government Engagement | Reports to: Director of Employer Engagement | Location: El Paso, Texas (on-site with required travel) | Hours: 40 hours per week, standard Monday–Friday 8:00 AM–5:00 PM; flexibility required for evenings and weekends | FLSA status: Exempt

About the Role

The Engagement Officer serves as the primary point of contact between the University of Texas at El Paso (UTEP) and external employers—including industry, government, nonprofit, and community organizations—seeking to engage students and hire graduates. This role proactively cultivates and manages a defined portfolio of external partners, coordinating meaningful engagement opportunities that support internships, applied learning experiences, and post-graduation employment for UTEP students. The position focuses specifically on building relationships with nonprofit organizations and civic associations to develop volunteer opportunities, experiential learning, and internship or employment opportunities.

Responsibilities

• Manage and actively engage a defined portfolio of approximately 75 nonprofit and community-based organizations.
• Serve as the primary liaison between UTEP and assigned external partners to understand workforce needs and develop opportunities for student internships and employment.
• Identify, develop, and coordinate employer engagement opportunities, including on-campus events, internships, experiential learning opportunities, and job postings on university platforms.
• Coordinate and share information with academic colleges, faculty, Advising and Student Services, and Institutional Advancement.
• Track engagement activity, partner interactions, and outcomes using designated relationship management and data systems to support assessment and enable leveraging relationships across the university.
• Represent UTEP professionally in meetings, site visits, events, and external engagements with employers and community partners.
• Lead and manage UTEP’s Community Work Study Program, including student placements and partnerships with nonprofit and civic organizations.
• Comply with all State and University policies.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution.
• Minimum of one (1) year of experience in employer relations, workforce development, economic development, higher education partnerships, business development, or a related field.
• Demonstrated experience building and managing professional relationships with external partners.
• Strong communication, interpersonal, and organizational skills.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities, maintain detailed records, and meet deadlines.
• Proficiency with CRM systems, databases, or relationship management tools.
• Ability to work independently while collaborating effectively across teams and units.
• Ability to communicate effectively in person, virtually, and in writing.
• Ability to travel locally and attend off-campus meetings and events, including daily local travel to employer sites, meetings, and events, as well as occasional evening or weekend work to support employer engagement activities.

Preferred Qualifications

• Master’s degree in business, public administration, higher education, economic development, or a related field.
• Experience working with employers, government agencies, or nonprofit organizations in a higher education or workforce context.
• Familiarity with experiential learning, internships, or career development programs.
• Bilingual proficiency (English/Spanish).
• Experience working with nonprofit organizations, civic associations, or community-based agencies.

About UTEP

The University of Texas at El Paso (UTEP) is a comprehensive public research university increasing access to excellent higher education. We advance discovery of public value and positively impact the health, culture, education, and economy of the community we serve. UTEP is America’s leading Hispanic-serving university. Located at the westernmost tip of Texas, where three states and two countries converge along the Rio Grande, 84% of our 26,000 students are Hispanic, and half are the first in their families to attend college. UTEP offers 170 bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral degree programs at the only open-access, top-tier research university in America. This is an especially exciting time to join UTEP as it advances the goals of its 2030 Strategic Plan, built around the institution’s core strengths—its location, its people, its supportive culture, and its community partnerships.

Benefits

• Medical, prescription, life insurance, and wellness platform.
• Voluntary benefits: dental, vision, additional life insurance, UT Flex, short- and long-term disability plans.
• Retirement programs.
• Longevity pay.
• Paid vacation and sick leave.
• Paid holidays.
• Employee discounts and perks.
• Employee Education Assistance program.
• Additional benefits available (visit UTEP’s Benefits Summary Page for details).

Note: This is a full-time, temporary position contingent upon availability of funds, with a possibility of extension and eligibility for full benefits.