Program Manager, University Relations

Why Oatey

Since 1916 Oatey has provided reliable high-quality products for the residential and commercial plumbing industries with a commitment to delivering quality building trust and improving lives. Today Oatey operates a comprehensive manufacturing and distribution network comprised of industry leading family of companies: Oatey Cherne Keeney Quick Drain Hercules Dearborn Oatey Canada William H. Harvey Masters Contact Belanger Lansas and Durgo.

At Oatey were doing big things and by joining us youll have the chance to do big things too. You can build a strong career in an innovative inclusive high-performance environment with the confidence that your company cares about you our customers and our to make an impact in a place where you matter

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Position Summary:

The University Relations Program Manager leads the strategy design and execution of Oateys early talent programs and associated initiatives. This role serves as a key strategic partner in attracting engaging and retaining a diverse high-quality pipeline of early career talent.

This position combines expertise in university relations full-cycle recruiting program management and employer branding. The role owns The Oatey Intern Experience end to end including recruitment onboarding engagement development and conversion to full-time roles.

This role also carries accountability for external benchmarking and continuous improvement ensuring Oateys early talent and university relations programs remain competitive differentiated and market-leading relative to peer and aspirational organizations.

Position Responsibilities:

Talent Acquisition for Early Talent Programs

• Lead full-cycle recruitment for early career intern and entry-level programs including sourcing screening interviewing selection and onboarding.
• Partner with HR and business leaders across sites to forecast hiring needs and align early talent strategies with business objectives.
• Build a consistent data-driven approach to early talent acquisition through dashboards metrics and return on investment (ROI) analysis for university recruiting and internship programs.
• Facilitate hiring manager training and ensure a best-in-class candidate experience across all stages of the hiring process.
• Partner with the Director of Talent Acquisition & Workforce Development to build and sustain conversion pipelines for high-performing interns including maintaining and leveraging the Oatey Intern Alumni network and associated communications.

University Relations & External Partnerships

• Serve as Oateys primary liaison to universities colleges trade schools and professional associations.
• Develop and maintain strategic relationships with career services student organizations (e.g. NSBE NBMBAA SHPE) and academic programs to strengthen Oateys campus presence.
• Plan and oversee campus recruiting activities including career fairs classroom presentations student networking events and industry partnerships.
• Represent Oatey in external workforce development initiatives and local business partnerships to expand reach and impact.
• Engage associates as Campus Ambassadors to extend Oateys campus footprint and increase employee participation in recruiting events.

Program Management Benchmarking & Continuous Improvement

• Design facilitate and continuously enhance the annual Oatey Intern Experience from orientation and training through project scoping execution report-outs and conversion to full-time employment.
• Conduct ongoing external benchmarking of early talent internship and university relations programs against industry peers competitors and best-in-class organizations to identify opportunities for differentiation and improvement.
• Leverage market insights professional networks industry research and early talent forums to ensure Oateys programs remain competitive and aligned with evolving candidate expectations and workforce trends.
• Translate benchmarking insights into actionable recommendations that enhance program design learning experiences compensation alignment (where applicable) engagement strategies and conversion outcomes.
• Develop a structured intern learning path focused on career readiness leveraging internal subject matter experts (SMEs) and external platforms to deliver content including (but not limited to): diversity equity & inclusion communication skills emotional intelligence personal branding networking public speaking resume writing and interviewing.
• Develop and deliver training for supervisors mentors and volunteers to ensure consistent high-quality intern management and engagement.
• Manage program budgets schedules and logistics while ensuring alignment with Oateys purpose values and workforce priorities.
• Build and maintain tools guides and templates that standardize the intern and early talent experience across all sites ensuring consistency while allowing for localized needs.
• Collect and analyze feedback from interns supervisors and business stakeholders to inform continuous program improvements.

Employer Brand & Talent Communications

• Own and execute early talent and university relations communications across external platforms including LinkedIn Handshake university job boards and campus-facing marketing channels.
• Own and manage internal communications related to early talent programs across platforms such as Oatey Insider and Ozone ensuring visibility engagement and alignment with enterprise messaging.
• Partner with Corporate Communications HR and Marketing to ensure cohesive storytelling and brand alignment across internal and external audiences.
• Develop content strategies that highlight intern experiences program outcomes career pathways and associate involvement to strengthen Oateys employer brand.

Corporate Talent Acquisition Support

• Act as an engaged member of the Oatey Corporate Talent Acquisition team supporting additional needs as they arise including sourcing community engagement full lifecycle recruitment new hire orientation recruitment marketing data analysis and other duties as assigned.

Knowledge and Experience:

• 5 years of progressive talent acquisition experience including direct experience with university relations early talent recruiting and employer branding.
• Demonstrated experience managing complex programs or multi-site internship initiatives preferred.
• Strong knowledge of recruitment marketing tools talent customer relationship management (CRMs) social and digital engagement platforms.
• Proven ability to translate data benchmarking insights and market trends into strategic recommendations.
• Exceptional organizational communication and presentation skills.
• Demonstrated success partnering cross-functionally and leading through influence.
• Champions Oateys values of Collaboration Integrity Respect Courage Leadership and Excellence.

Education and Certification:

• Bachelors degree in human resources business communications or a related field or equivalent work experience required.
• Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM) Talent Acquisition Specialty Certification preferred.
• AIRS CDR (Certified Diversity Recruiter) certification preferred.

Physical Activities and Other Working Conditions:

• Associates working at Corporate sites are required to work in-person according to the Hybrid & Remote Workplace Policy.
• This role is primarily sedentary and involves prolonged periods of sitting and working on a computer. Regular use of hands for typing and operating office equipment is required along with visual focus on screens and documents. Occasional standing walking and lifting up to 1015 pounds may be required. Work is performed in a climate-controlled office or remote environment with moderate noise levels.
• 10% travel is required for career fairs and other campus events
• Ability to set up and tear down career fair tables which includes banner stands table cloths boxes flyers and marketing collateral such as water bottles stress balls etc.
• Career fairs require the ability to drive up to four hours each way and to stand for a period of up to eight hours.

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Compensation Range for the Position:

Target Cash Profit Sharing for the Position:

Offer amount determined by experience and review of internal talent.

Oatey Total Rewards

• Generous paid time off programs and paid company holidays to support flexibility and work-life balance

• Annual Discretionary Cash Profit Sharing

• Immediate eligibility and vesting in 401(k) including 100% company match up to 5% of eligible compensation

• Market leading health insurance including medical dental vision and life insurance offerings for associates and qualified dependents

• Significant company contribution to Health Savings Account with a High Deductible Health Plan (HDHP)

• Short-Term and Long-Term Disability income protection coverage at no cost to associates

• Paid Maternity and Paid Parental Leave

• Tuition reimbursement

• A strong set of complementary resources to support associate well-being including resource groups EAP and dedicated mental health support.

Equal Opportunity Employer

The Oatey family of companies are an equal opportunity employer committed to Diversity Equity and Inclusion. We recruit employ promote and offer competitive pay for all jobs without regard to race color creed religion sex age national origin disability sexual orientation or any other characteristic protected by law.

Protect Yourself from Recruitment Scams

Oatey is committed to a safe and transparent hiring process. Please be aware of fraudulent recruiting communications.

How to recognize official Oatey communication:

• Emails will come from @ or

• We do not use unofficial or misspelled domains

What Oatey will never do:

• Ask for payment or fees at any stage

• Request sensitive personal or financial information early in the process

• Make a job offer without interviews

If something seems suspicious do not engage. Instead verify roles through our careers site and please make us aware by contacting .