Talent Acquisition & University/Industry Outreach

Company Overview
Pepper leads the construction industry with an energy and ambition uncommon today. We pursue innovative methods and technologies that bring our clients’ visions to life, pairing them with a practical approach and 100 years of expertise. This combination delivers the precision, quality, and confidence that comes from partnering with a team dedicated to exceptional performance.
Every building begins with a strong foundation—its people. At Pepper, we develop leaders at every level and build momentum across every market we serve by encouraging new thinking and honoring the values that have shaped our company for generations. Our commitment to leadership is evident in everything we do, from preconstruction strategy to field execution to the long‑standing relationships we nurture and grow.
As a family‑owned and operated company, building is personal to us.

Talent Acquisition & University/Industry Relations Position Overview
Reporting to the Senior Director of Human Resources, the Talent Acquisition & University Relations Specialist will play a critical role in attracting, engaging, and recruiting top talent leading Ohio’s university and early-career recruiting initiatives. This position will partner closely with hiring managers, educational institutions, and community organizations to build strong talent pipelines for current and future hiring needs.
The ideal candidate is a relationship builder who thrives on networking, campus engagement, and talent sourcing. This role will be responsible for developing and executing comprehensive recruiting strategies, with a particular focus on college and university partnerships, internship programs, scholarship initiatives, and early-career talent development. The position requires a proactive, organized professional who enjoys representing the company in educational and community settings while fostering meaningful connections with students, faculty, and industry professionals.
This is the job in a nutshell:
Talent Acquisition

Build and maintain talent pipelines across Ohio for all levels and roles.
Partner with hiring leaders on workforce planning, recruiting strategies, and market insights.
Source, assess, and engage qualified candidates through diverse recruiting channels.
Develop candidate relationships to support current and future hiring needs.
Monitor recruiting metrics, talent trends, and employer branding initiatives to improve hiring outcomes.

University Relations, College Recruiting & Industry Outreach

Lead relationships with local colleges, universities, trade schools, workforce development organizations, and industry partners.
Develop and execute campus, apprenticeship, and early-career recruiting strategies.
Represent the organization at career fairs, trade school events, networking opportunities, and workforce development initiatives.
Build partnerships with educators, career services teams, student organizations, and skilled trades programs to strengthen talent pipelines.
Coordinate student engagement programs, scholarships, internships, apprenticeships, and employer branding activities to attract future talent.

Position Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Human Resources, Business, Communications, or a related field.
5+ years of experience in talent acquisition, recruiting, university relations, campus recruiting, or a related talent function.
Strong relationship-building, networking, and communication skills with the ability to engage effectively with candidates, hiring leaders, educational institutions, and industry partners.
Experience developing talent pipelines, sourcing candidates, and leveraging recruiting technologies, market research, and talent attraction strategies.

Location
This position is based in Ohio and requires regular travel to colleges, universities, career fairs, trade schools, company locations, and recruiting events throughout Ohio and Kentucky. Candidate should reside within a reasonable commuting distance of the Dublin, Ohio office and be able to travel as business needs require.