Director, Early Career and University Relations

It's fun to work in a company where people truly BELIEVE in what they're doing!

We're committed to bringing passion and customer focus to the business.

Corporate Overview 

In today’s cyber threat landscape, protection starts with people. At Proofpoint, that simple truth fuels our passion for protecting users, the data they create, and the systems they rely on from a uniquely people-centric perspective. 

And we’re just as passionate about finding the right people to help us in that mission. When you join Proofpoint, you’re helping to: 

• Build and enhance our proven security platform. 
• Blend innovation and speed in a constantly evolving cloud environment 
• Analyze new threats and offer deep insight through data-driven intel. 
• Collaborate with customers to help solve their toughest security challenges. 

We are singularly devoted to helping our customers protect their greatest assets and biggest security risk: their people. That’s why we’re a leader in next-generation cybersecurity—and why more than half of the Fortune 100 trust us as a security partner. 

The Role 

Proofpoint is seeking a Director, Early Career to support our continued growth and success.  The incumbent will be responsible for developing and implementing strategies to attract, engage, and retain early career talent. This role involves establishing and nurturing relationships with universities, colleges, and students, managing internship programs, organizing campus events, and collaborating with internal stakeholders to ensure a successful talent acquisition process. 

Key Responsibilities: 

University Relationship Management: 

• Develop and maintain relationships with key university contacts, faculty members, and student organizations. 
• Develop and implement a comprehensive university relations strategy aligned with the company's goals and objectives. 
• Identify, establish, and maintain relationships with key stakeholders, including university administrators, faculty members, and student organizations. 
• Organize and participate in university events, such as career fairs, guest lectures, and networking sessions. 
• Collaborate with universities to create internship and recruitment opportunities for students. 
• Plan and execute campus recruitment events, including career fairs, information sessions, and workshops. 

Internship and Leadership Development: 

• Design, implement, and manage internship programs that provide valuable experiences for both students and the organization. 
• Oversee the recruitment, onboarding, and mentorship of interns. 
• Work with business leaders to establish workforce plans for HC dedicated to intern conversions 
• Coordinate with various departments to provide value add and business critical projects to interns. 

Early Career Talent Acquisition: 

• Collaborate with HR and hiring managers to identify hiring needs for entry-level positions. 
• Implement innovative strategies and partner with Employment Brand team to attract top talent, including social media campaigns, employer branding initiatives, and networking events. 
• Represent the company at conferences, seminars, and other relevant events to enhance visibility and build relationships within the academic community. 

Program Development: 

• Design and implement early career development programs, including training sessions, mentorship programs, and leadership initiatives. 
• Evaluate program effectiveness and make data-driven recommendations for continuous improvement. 
• Track and evaluate the effectiveness of university relations initiatives, providing regular reports and recommendations for improvement 

Collaboration and Communication: 

• Work closely with internal stakeholders, including HR, hiring managers, and senior leadership, to align early career programs with organizational goals. 
• Communicate program goals, updates, and successes to internal teams and external partners. 
• Collaborate with internal teams to identify opportunities for partnership, research collaboration, and talent acquisition. 

 

Qualifications/Requirements: 

• Proven experience in university relations, campus recruitment, in a corporate setting. 
• Demonstrated leadership ability, with experience managing teams and driving results 
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to effectively engage and influence stakeholders. 
• Excellent organizational and project management abilities. 
• 10 + years university relations experience. 

 

Why Proofpoint  

Protecting people is at the heart of our award-winning lineup of cybersecurity solutions, and the people who work here are the key to our success. We’re a customer-focused and driven-to-win organization with leading-edge products—and many exciting reasons to join our team. We believe in hiring the best, the brightest and cultivating a culture of collaboration and appreciation. We are a diverse, multinational company with opportunities in all functions, and leaders that welcome candidates from all walks of life. Apply today and explore your future #LifeAtProofpoint.   

If you like wild growth and working with happy, enthusiastic over-achievers, you'll enjoy your career with us!

Consistent with Proofpoint values and applicable law, we provide the following information to promote pay transparency and equity. Our compensation reflects the cost of labor across several U.S. geographic markets, and we pay differently based on those defined markets as set out below. Pay within these ranges varies and depends on job-related knowledge, skills, and experience. The actual offer will be based on the individual candidate. The range provided may represent a candidate range and may not reflect the full range for an individual tenured employee. This role may be eligible for variable pay and/or equity. We offer a competitive benefits package that includes flexible time off, a robust well-being program that provides for 4 global wellbeing days per year, and a 3-week work from anywhere option.

Base Pay Ranges:

SF Bay Area, New York City Metro Area:

Base Pay Range: 189,750.00 - 278,300.00 USD

California (excludes SF Bay Area), Colorado, Connecticut, Illinois, Washington DC Metro, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Jersey, Texas, Washington, Virginia, and Alaska:

Base Pay Range: 158,400.00 - 232,320.00 USD

All other cities and states excluding those listed above:

Base Pay Range: 144,825.00 - 212,410.00 USD