Senior Manager - Career Partnerships & Talent Programs

Overview

The Senior Manager, Career Partnerships and Talent Programs will build relationships and programs that connect Suffolk with emerging talent and help people thrive after they join. The role leads three connected portfolios: strategic university partnerships, military veteran recruiting and programming, and the Career Start alumni network. Across each portfolio, the manager turns relationships into clear pathways to recruit, develop, and retain talent in close partnership with regional operations, HR, and the Early Careers Team.

The role will also work closely with other national programs including the Career Start program, the Intern program and Campus Recruiting to ensure alignment among the Early Career programs.

This role requires an on-site presence 4 days a week in our amazing Boston office - which offers free parking, a free on-site gym and cafeteria and other perks that make for a great culture and unique employee experience! 

Responsibilities

University partnerships

• Develop multi-year plans with priority universities, aligning Suffolk leaders, faculty, career services, and student organizations around shared outcomes.
• Create distinctive, recurring experiences that give students meaningful exposure to construction and Suffolk, including applied project challenges, employer-informed learning, mentoring, and site or office experiences.
• Build pathways from university engagement into Internships, Co-Ops, and Career Start; coordinate with campus recruiting and regional teams to identify, assess, and convert strong candidates.
• Track engagement and hiring outcomes, gather partner and student feedback, and refine plans annually.

Military veteran recruiting

• Build a veteran talent strategy that connects military experience with construction, project operations, and functional career paths at Suffolk.
• Develop trusted relationships with veteran transition organizations, military-affiliated universities, internal veteran employees, and other relevant partners.
• Create practical candidate pathways through role translation, targeted outreach, hiring-team preparation, peer connection, and onboarding support; partner with recruiters and hiring leaders to improve candidate experience and retention.

Career Start alumni network

• Design an ongoing experience for Career Start alumni that strengthens connection, career visibility, and belonging for Career Start graduates.
• Build structured touchpoints such as peer mentoring, alumni events, career conversations, leadership access, and opportunities for alumni to support current participants and recruiting.
• Partner with operational leaders and HRBPs to understand alumni progression, engagement, time in role, and retention risks; coordinate timely support where needed.
• Use alumni feedback and program data to recommend improvements to career development, recognition, and continued connection with the program

Shared leadership and execution

• Set goals, measures, annual plans, and budgets for each portfolio; manage timelines, communications, events, and partner commitments.
• Coordinate with campus recruiting, regional Early Careers teams, HRBPs, operations leaders, and internal communications to connect national direction with effective local execution.
• Represent Suffolk with care and credibility, ensuring initiatives are inclusive, accessible, and aligned with workforce needs and company values.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent combination of education and relevant experience.
• At least 5-8 years of experience in talent acquisition, university relations, early career programs, workforce development, veteran engagement or hiring, alumni engagement, or a equivalent work experience.
• Demonstrated ability to build durable partnerships and turn them into coordinated programs with clear outcomes.
• Strong project management, communication, facilitation, and relationship-building skills; able to work effectively with senior leaders, students, candidates, and community partners.
• Ability to use data and feedback to assess program effectiveness and improve the candidate and employee experience.
• Experience in construction, engineering, workforce transition, or a large multi-region organization is helpful.

Necessary Attributes 

• Demonstrates Suffolk’s Core Values: Passion, Integrity, Hard Work, Professionalism, Caring
• Strategic thinker who balances long-term planning with flawless execution.
• Strong business acumen with the ability to align talent strategies to organizational goals.
• Collaborative leader who builds credibility and trust across all levels of the organization.
• Adaptable and resilient in a fast-paced, evolving environment.
• Highly organized with exceptional attention to detail.
• Comfortable making data-driven decisions while maintaining a people-first mindset.
• Passionate about developing early career talent and building the future leadership pipeline of the organization.

Working Conditions

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to sit for long periods of time; talk or hear; perform fine motor, hand and finger skills in the use of a keyboard, telephone, or writing. The employee is frequently required to stands; walk; and reach with arms and/or hands. Specific vision abilities include close vision, distance vision, depth perception and the ability to adjust focus. The employee will spend their time in an office environment with a quiet to moderate noise level. Job site walking.

EEO Statement

Suffolk provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, pregnancy or maternity, national origin, citizenship, genetic information, disability, protected veteran, gender identity, age or any other status protected by law.  This policy applies to recruiting, hiring, transfers, promotions, terminations, compensation, benefits, and all other terms and conditions of employment.  Suffolk will not tolerate any unlawful discrimination toward, or harassment of, applicants or employees by anyone at Suffolk, or anyone working on behalf of Suffolk.

Compensation Information

Where required by law, pay ranges can be found in Suffolk's job postings. Base Salary for this position is just one component of Suffolk’s total rewards package for employees. Actual salaries may be based on several factors including, but not limited to, a candidate's skill set, experience, education and other qualifications. Suffolk offers a comprehensive benefits package as part of its overall total rewards strategy. Salary ranges are reviewed regularly to reflect market trends.

About Suffolk

Suffolk is a national enterprise that builds, innovates, and invests. We provide value across the entire project lifecycle through our core construction management services and complementary business lines in real estate investment, design, self-perform construction, and technology start-up investment (Suffolk Technologies). By integrating data, artificial intelligence, and advanced technology through our Seamless Platform, we connect design, construction, and operations to deliver smarter, more predictable results and redefine how America builds. 

Suffolk – America’s Contractor – is a national company with more than $13 billion in annual revenue, 3,000 employees, and 17 offices, including Boston (headquarters), New York City, Miami, West Palm Beach, Tampa, Estero, Dallas, Los Angeles, San Francisco, San Diego, Las Vegas, Herndon, U.S. Virgin Islands, and other key markets. Suffolk manages some of the most complex and transformative projects in the country, serving clients across healthcare, life sciences, education, gaming, aviation, transportation, government, mission critical, and commercial sectors. Suffolk is privately held and is led by founder, chairman and CEO John Fish. Suffolk is ranked #8 on ENR’s list of “Top CM-at-Risk Contractors.” For more information, visit www.suffolk.com and follow Suffolk on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, YouTube, and Instagram. 

At Suffolk, we believe that our total rewards program should offer you and your family the support you need when it matters most. That’s why we have created a program that provides employees with access to a wide variety of options that can be personalized to support you and your loved ones physically, emotionally, and financially. 

Benefits include, competitive salaries, auto allowances and gas cards for certain roles, access to market leading medical and emotional and mental health benefits, dental, and vision insurance plans, virtual care options for physical therapy and primary care, generous paid time off, 401k plan with employer match and access to expert financial resources, company paid and voluntary life insurance, tax deferred savings accounts, 10 backup daycare days each year, short- and long-term disability, commuter benefits and more.? For more information, click here.