Partnerships Manager Jobs in Irvine, CA

LINCOLN INSTITUTE

Talent & Career Partnerships Manager

Institute Connect Program Full-Time

Location

Irvine, CA

Employment Type

Full-Time, Exempt

Compensation

$62,000/yr + Benefits + Bonus

Reports To

Chief Operations Officer

Program

Institute Connect

Start Date

Immediate / Flexible

ABOUT THE PROGRAM

Institute Connect is the Lincoln Institute’s professional development and career placement program, serving as the bridge between high-potential college students and California’s business community. Students apply for membership in the program, gaining access to exclusive events led by accomplished business and industry leaders, a curated professional network, and preferential consideration for job and internship opportunities that come through the Institute’s employer relationships. Institute Connect exists to ensure that the next generation of principled leaders enters the workforce equipped, connected, and championed.

POSITION SUMMARY

The Talent & Career Partnerships Manager owns the program’s talent pipeline from end to end. This is a recruiter’s role at heart: you will source and screen student applicants, build and maintain relationships with employers and business leaders, match qualified members to opportunities, and coordinate the professional events that bring the network together. The ideal candidate brings real recruiting or talent acquisition experience — someone who knows how to evaluate candidates, manage a requisition-style pipeline, and represent both sides of a placement with professionalism.

ROLE BREAKDOWN

Responsibility Area

Time Allocation

Description

Talent Pipeline Management

30%

Source, screen, and onboard student applicants; maintain an organized, up-to-date member pipeline in Airtable; conduct candidate interviews and readiness assessments.

Employer & Business Leader Relations

25%

Cultivate relationships with hiring companies, executives, and industry leaders; develop new employer partnerships that generate job and internship opportunities for members.

Placement & Matching

25%

Match qualified program members to incoming opportunities; prepare candidates for interviews; manage referrals through to outcome and track placement results.

Event Coordination & Reporting

20%

Plan and execute Institute Connect events featuring business leaders; manage logistics, invitations, and follow-up; report program KPIs to leadership.

CORE RESPONSIBILITIES

Recruiting & Member Pipeline

• Manage the full applicant lifecycle: outreach, application review, screening interviews, and member onboarding.
• Evaluate applicants for professionalism, readiness, and alignment with program standards, maintaining a high bar for membership.
• Maintain accurate, current member records and pipeline stages in the program’s Airtable database.
• Coach members on résumés, interview preparation, and professional presentation.

Employer & Network Development

• Build and steward a portfolio of employer and business leader relationships across Southern California.
• Source new job, internship, and mentorship opportunities for program members through proactive outreach.
• Represent the Lincoln Institute professionally in meetings with executives, hiring managers, and community partners.
• Match members to opportunities and manage the referral process through to a hire or placement decision.

Events & Program Operations

• Coordinate Institute Connect speaker events, networking receptions, and professional development workshops.
• Manage event logistics including venues, invitations, RSVPs, run-of-show, and post-event follow-up.
• Track and report program metrics — applications, active members, employer partners, placements, and event attendance — to the COO on a regular cadence.

QUALIFICATIONS

Required

• Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university.
• 1–3 years of experience in recruiting, talent acquisition, staffing, career services, or a closely related field.
• Demonstrated ability to screen and evaluate candidates and manage a structured pipeline.
• Strong interpersonal and written communication skills; comfortable engaging executives and students alike.
• Highly organized, self-directed, and comfortable managing multiple priorities.
• Alignment with the Lincoln Institute’s mission of developing principled, civic-minded student leaders.

Preferred

• Agency or in-house recruiting experience with measurable placement outcomes.
• Experience with ATS or CRM platforms (Airtable experience a plus).
• Existing professional network in Orange County / Southern California business communities.
• Event planning or program coordination experience.

SUCCESS METRICS & PERFORMANCE EXPECTATIONS

Performance Metric

Expectation

Member Pipeline Health

Maintain an active, well-documented pipeline with timely application processing and screening.

Employer Partnerships

Establish and maintain a growing portfolio of employer relationships generating member opportunities.

Placements & Referrals

Drive successful member placements into jobs, internships, and mentorships each program year.

Event Attendance & Quality

Deliver well-attended, professionally executed Institute Connect events with strong member engagement.

BONUS ELIGIBILITY

This position is eligible for an annual performance bonus contingent on the following:

• Successfully placing program students into a target number of internships and job opportunities brought forward through the Lincoln Club network.
• Achieving target attendance levels at Institute Connect program events.

Specific performance metrics and bonus targets will be determined and agreed upon at the time of onboarding.

WHY JOIN THE LINCOLN INSTITUTE

• Competitive salary of $62,000 plus a full benefits package and annual bonus eligibility.
• Own a program end-to-end with direct visibility to executive leadership.
• Build transferable expertise in recruiting, employer relations, and program management.
• Make a tangible difference in the careers of high-potential students across California.

HOW TO APPLY

Qualified candidates are encouraged to submit their résumé and a brief cover letter via email. Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis until the position is filled.

Submit To: Lincoln Institute — Institute Connect Hiring Team

Subject Line: “Talent & Career Partnerships Manager – [Your Name]”

Lincoln Institute | Institute Connect | 2525 Main St, Irvine, CA

Pay: From $62,000.00 per year

Benefits:

• Dental insurance
• Flexible schedule
• Health insurance
• Paid time off

Experience:

• Recruiting: 1 year (Preferred)

Willingness to travel:

• 25% (Required)

Work Location: Hybrid remote in Irvine, CA 92604