Associate II, Workforce Pathways | Road to Hire

Position Overview Road to Hire is entering a critical phase in its evolution as we scale to support 200+ college graduates annually in securing high-quality, career-launching roles. The Associate I, Workforce Pathways, will serve as both a strategic driver and hands-on executor of student placement outcomes. This role is responsible for ensuring that Road to Hire college talent successfully transitions into high-wage careers through internships and full-time employment. Acting as a “talent agent” for a portfolio of students, this individual will actively source opportunities, build strong employer relationships, and drive students through the full placement lifecycle from preparation to application to offer acceptance. This is a high-accountability, high-impact role with a clear focus on measurable outcomes: internships secured, full-time placements, and long-term career trajectory. Reporting Structure: VP, Advancement (leader of the Workforce, Innovation, and Network team) Location requirements: Must live in the greater Charlotte region; R2H follows a hybrid work model with in-office requirements Tuesday-Thursday and in-person meetings as required, and some evenings for organizational or stakeholder events. Why This Role Matters This role is central to Road to Hire’s mission. You will directly shape whether students successfully translate their education into meaningful, high-paying careers. Your work will not only impact individual lives but also strengthen employer partnerships and regional talent pipelines, ensuring that opportunity is accessible, attainable, and sustainable for the students we serve. Key Responsibilities Talent Placement Ecosystem  This individual is responsible for activating and orchestrating a strong placement ecosystem around Road to Hire talent. Rather than owning primary employer relationship development, this role focuses on ensuring students are strategically positioned, matched, and advanced through opportunities generated through Corporate Relations and broader networks. Success requires deep understanding of both student readiness and employer expectations, and the ability to move talent efficiently through the hiring process. Own placement outcomes for a portfolio of college students and graduating seniors, with a focus on high-wage, career-aligned roles Activate and leverage employer opportunities sourced through Corporate Relations, ensuring strong alignment between role requirements and student readiness Serve as a talent agent for students, proactively matching candidates to opportunities and advocating on their behalf with hiring partners Identify gaps in role availability or alignment and provide feedback to Corporate Relations to inform employer engagement strategy Ensure a consistent and high-quality pipeline of opportunities for students by maximizing conversion across existing employer partnerships and channels Student Readiness & Placement Execution This role ensures that students are not only applying to roles, but are fully prepared to compete for and secure them. The Associate II will take an active, hands-on approach to coaching, ensuring students are equipped with the tools, confidence, and strategy needed to succeed in competitive hiring processes. This includes driving urgency, accountability, and follow-through at every stage. Actively coach and guide students through the job and internship search process, including resume development, interview preparation, and application strategy Ensure students are fully prepared for competitive hiring processes and employer expectations Monitor application pipelines and drive follow-through, ensuring no missed opportunities Support students through offer negotiation, decision-making, and onboarding readiness Cross-Functional Collaboration Placement success requires tight alignment across internal teams. This individual will play a key role in ensuring that employer engagement, student readiness, and program strategy are fully integrated. They will serve as a bridge between teams, bringing market insights back into the organization to continuously improve outcomes. Partner closely with Corporate Relations to align on employer engagement strategy and job pipelines Collaborate with Student Success and program teams to ensure alignment between student readiness and market opportunities Provide insights to internal teams on hiring trends, employer expectations, and skill gaps Data, Tracking & Outcomes Management This role is deeply outcomes-driven and requires disciplined tracking of progress and results. The Associate II will use data not only to report on outcomes, but to actively manage pipelines, identify gaps, and adjust strategy in real time to ensure placement goals are met. Track and manage key placement metrics including applications, interviews, offers, internships secured, and full-time placements Maintain accurate and up-to-date records in CRM or workforce systems Use data to drive strategy, identify gaps, and continuously improve placement outcomes What You’re Accountable For Achieving defined internship and full-time placement targets across your student portfolio Ensuring a strong, consistent pipeline of high-quality job opportunities that are proactive and not reactive Driving high levels of student engagement, preparedness, and follow-through Building and maintaining employer relationships that lead to repeat hiring and long-term partnerships where employers view Road to Hire as a trusted, go-to source for early talent Students are competitive, confident, and well-prepared for hiring processes Contributing directly to Road to Hire’s mission by translating education into economic mobility outcomes Qualifications Required Experience 4–7+ years of experience in recruiting, talent placement, workforce development, career services, or a related field Demonstrated track record of successfully placing early-