Early Career & Professional Development Program Lead

Description

We are a global leader in food & beverage ingredients. Pioneers at heart, we operate at the forefront of consumer trends to provide food & beverage manufacturers with products and ingredients that will delight their consumers. Making a positive impact on people and planet is all part of the delight. With a deep-rooted presence in the countries where our ingredients are grown, we are closer to farmers, enabling better quality, and more reliable, traceable and transparent supply. Supplying products and ingredients at scale is just the start. We add value through our unique, complementary portfolio of natural, delicious and nutritious products. With our fresh thinking, we help our customers unleash the sensory and functional attributes of cocoa, coffee, dairy, nuts and spices so they can create naturally good food & beverage products that meet consumer expectations. And whoever we’re with, whatever we’re doing, we always make it real .

Position Summary :

The Early Career & Professional Development Program Lead will be based in our newly established NA HQ in Chicago, Illinois and play a pivotal contributing role in making early career talent acquisition and development real at ofi . The Program Lead is an individual contributor member of the HR team who will be responsible for building, implementing, and sustaining a robust university relations program across North America (US and Canada), with a strong focus on establishing and growing relationships with academic institutions, students, and early-career talent. This position offers high visibility to senior leadership and requires executive stakeholder management skills.

Responsibilities :

• Program Execution & Measurement :
• Lead end-to-end program operations including recruitment, onboarding, performance tracking, and offboarding
• Manage internships, co-op programs, and entry-level hiring initiatives in the context of the overall early career talent framework.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams to ensure seamless integration of university relations efforts with other talent, diversity, and company brand-building initiatives.
• Develop and manage program dashboards, KPIs, and feedback loops to measure impact and continuously improve
• Ensure compliance with employment regulations and internal policies
• Relationship Building :
• Cultivate strong partnerships with universities, colleges, and other educational institutions.
• Represent ofi at targeted campus recruiting events, career fairs, and conferences.
• Engage with faculty, career services, and student and recent alum organizations to promote our company brand and opportunities.
• Function as UR program point of contact for students during their ofi internships and co-ops
• Plan and coordinate institution-level engagements (e.g., ofi Leaders as guest lecturers and adjunct faculty, school program sponsorships, philanthropic contributions, etc.) between ofi and targeted universities.
• Talent Sourcing and Screening :
• Curate top-tier early career talent pools from targeted universities.
• Screen and assess candidates for internships, co-ops, and full-time positions.
• Maintain ongoing communication with candidates throughout the hiring process.
• Executive Stakeholder Management :
• Present program goals, progress, and results to senior leadership.
• Collaborate with executives to align university relations efforts with organizational priorities.
• Budget Management :
• Develop and manage the university relations program budget.
• Allocate resources effectively to maximize impact.
• Metrics and Reporting :
• Track program metrics (e.g., conversion rates, time-to-fill) and provide regular updates.
• Use data-driven insights to optimize program effectiveness.

Qualifications :

ofi  provides employees with a comprehensive & competitive benefits package that is designed to support your career, health, and future. A Rewarding Career Awaits!

The pay for this role ranges from $84,000 – $112,000 annually and is based on the position responsibilities and geographic location. Actual pay within this range may be determined based on the candidate's experience, qualifications, and / or other determining factors.

Performance-based Bonuses :  Discretionary bonus rewarding company performance as well as your contributions and impact,  for eligible roles.

Comprehensive & Affordable Benefits :   Coverage for you  (and your eligible dependents)  with plans designed for peace of mind and savings for the future.

A Culture of Well-being :   Paid Volunteer time off, access to   events, resources, and learning opportunities that inspire a physical, social, emotional, and financial well-being for you and your family.

Family Support :   Paid parental leave,   Fertility benefits and lactation support, including milk shipping for traveling employees.

Additional Perks That Make a Difference :

At  ofi ,  we don’t just offer jobs—we provide careers built on  impact, inclusion, and innovation .  Come grow with us!

Note :  This job description is not intended to be all-inclusive. Employee may perform other related duties as negotiated to meet the ongoing needs of the organization.

ofi   provides equality of opportunity for all persons with respect to hiring without discrimination on the grounds of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, pregnancy, age, disability, veteran status, or sexual orientation. All employment will be decided on the basis of qualifications, merit and business need. If you need assistance or an accommodation due to a disability, you may contact us for support at :   US-Talent.Acquisition@ofi.com

At ofi, we celebrate our diversity. Olam Americas LLC is proud to be an equal opportunity workplace.