Program Manager - University Recruiting

About the role:

Are you a strategic, data-driven professional with a passion for building robust talent pipelines? We're looking for a Program Manager - University Sales Recruiting to design and manage our entry-level sales talent acquisition and development initiatives. This crucial role reports directly to the sales organization, emphasizing the direct link between our talent strategy and business outcomes.

You will report to the Emerging Talent Recruiting Manager and own our university recruiting strategy. This includes designing our campus portfolio, managing a six-figure budget, nurturing relationships with top collegiate sales programs, and ensuring an exceptional candidate experience from first interaction to Day 1.

This role is open to candidates residing in the US except the San Francisco Bay Metro Area, NYC Metro Area, and Washington, D.C. Metro Area. This position requires travel up to 30% of the time and proximity to an international airport.

You should apply if:

• You want to impact the industries that run our world: Your efforts will result in real-world impact – helping to keep the lights on, get food into grocery stores, reduce emissions, and most importantly, ensure workers return home safely.
• You are the architect of your own career: If you put in the work, this role won’t be your last at Samsara. We set up our employees for success and have built a culture that encourages rapid career development, countless opportunities to experiment and master your craft in a hyper growth environment.
• You’re energized by our opportunity: The vision we have to digitize large sectors of the global economy requires your full focus and best efforts to bring forth creative, ambitious ideas for our customers.
• You want to be with the best: At Samsara, we win together, celebrate together and support each other. You will be surrounded by a high-calibre team that will encourage you to do your best.

In this role, you will:

• Program Strategy & Budget: Build and scale the annual campus strategy, including school selection, defining sponsorship tiers, setting ROI targets, and managing the event calendar within a six-figure budget.
• Relationship Management: Serve as the primary contact for approximately 15 partner universities, as well as the NCSC and ICSC, to negotiate contracts, secure résumé-book access, and manage on-campus branding.
• Event Execution: Plan and run various campus events like career fairs, classroom talks, case competitions, and interview days. This includes coordinating your own travel (around 30%) and that of employee volunteers.
• Data-Driven Hiring: Track key metrics in Greenhouse, Gem, and Tableau to monitor funnel health and provide weekly dashboards to Sales leadership.
• Process Improvement: Lead post-event retrospectives, iterate on collateral, and continuously enhance the candidate experience.
• Early-Career Programs: Manage all early-career sales programs, including the Sales Internship Program and a mentorship program for new hires.
• Cross-Functional Collaboration: Serve as the strategic lead, collaborating with cross-functional teams to ensure program alignment and success.
• Continuous Improvement: Stay informed of industry best practices to bring innovative ideas to the team.
• Champion, role model, and embed Samsara’s cultural principles (Focus on Customer Success, Build for the Long Term, Adopt a Growth Mindset, Be Inclusive, Win as a Team) as we scale globally and across new offices

Minimum requirements for the role:

• 4+ years of experience in talent acquisition program management, university recruiting, or talent development. Experience supporting sales organizations is a plus.
• 2+ years of program management experience.
• Proven track record of designing and scaling successful talent programs with a focus on operational excellence.
• Strong understanding of entry-level sales roles and the sales development lifecycle.
• Experience designing and managing mentorship or development programs from a strategic and operational perspective.
• Exceptional written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to create clear program documentation and compelling presentations.
• Highly organized with strong project management skills and meticulous attention to detail.
• Data-driven mindset with the ability to analyze complex metrics, identify trends, and derive actionable insights.
• Self-starter who can work both independently and collaboratively in a fast-paced environment.
• Proficiency in applicant tracking systems (ATS) and recruitment software.
• Ability and willingness to travel up to 30% during peak seasons (September-November and February-April).

An ideal candidate also has:

• Experience recruiting ADR/SDR talent or partnering with an Account Development organization is a strong preference.
• Familiarity with collegiate sales competitions and Sales Education Foundation (SEF)-listed programs.
• Proficiency with event-management platforms (e.g., Airtable, Splash, Asana).