Early Careers Program Lead - Post Consumer Brands

Headquartered in Lakeville, Minn., Post Consumer Brands, a business unit of Post Holdings, Inc., is dedicated to providing people and their pets with delicious food choices for every taste and budget. The company’s portfolio includes beloved brands such as Honey Bunches of Oats®, PEBBLES®, Grape-Nuts® and Malt-O-Meal® cereal, and Peter Pan® peanut butter, as well as Rachael Ray® Nutrish®, Kibbles ‘n Bits® and 9Lives® dog and cat food. As a company committed to high standards of quality and to our values, we are driven by one idea: To make lives better by making delicious food accessible for all. For more information about our brands, visit www.postconsumerbrands.com and follow us on LinkedIn for the latest news.

Post Consumer Brands recently acquired several iconic pet food brands, venturing into a new market while remaining true to our purpose to provide delicious and accessible food that our consumers love. We’re always searching the center store for the next exciting product to add to our portfolio, and right now, we’re growing and need passionate, driven individuals with diverse perspectives to help us reach greater heights. That’s where you come in. Join a team where your voice is not only heard but valued. Make a real impact on brands enjoyed by millions of people and their pets.

At Post Consumer Brands, we take pride in our longstanding legacy of making one of every five breakfast cereals families eat daily. Today, we’re just as focused on our future as we expand our grocery business with different shelf-stable foods, including snacks and peanut butter. We are committed to providing accessible and delicious food for families, and we’re always searching the center store for the next exciting product to add to our portfolio. As we soar to new heights, we need creative, determined individuals from all walks of life to join our team, where your unique perspective and ideas are acknowledged and valued. Be a part of a company that empowers you to make a difference that’s evident on grocery store shelves and families’ tables across North America.

Post Consumer Brands corporate headquarters in Lakeville, Minn. is about 20 miles south of Minneapolis and St. Paul, Lakeville has all the benefits of smaller town living with access to everything a large metropolitan area has to offer. Join more than 400 team members collaborating on the two-building campus to help put breakfast on the tables of millions of consumers in North America. 

Due to significant growth of early careers programming, Post Consumer Brands (PCB) is seeking a Early Careers Program Lead, who will have a unique opportunity to shape the future workforce of a growing consumer goods company. This role is pivotal in attracting and nurturing top talent from universities and colleges, ensuring a robust pipeline of future leaders. You will have the chance to innovate recruitment strategies, build strong relationships with educational institutions, and create impactful internship and rotational programs. This position not only allows you to make a significant impact on the company’s talent acquisition efforts but also provides a platform for professional growth and development in a dynamic and supportive environment.

Key Performance Objectives:

• Develop and Strengthen University Relationships: Within the first six months, establish and nurture relationships with key universities and colleges to position PCB as an employer of choice. Success will be measured by the number of partnerships formed, the quality of engagement at recruiting events, and positive feedback from university representatives and students.
• Execute Successful Internship and Rotational Programs: By the end of the first year, design and implement comprehensive internship and rotational programs that provide meaningful experiences for participants. This includes organizing orientation sessions, training intern managers, and planning activities that align with the company’s culture. Success will be evaluated based on intern satisfaction surveys, retention rates, and the conversion of interns to full-time employees.
• Enhance Stakeholder Management: Over the first year, streamline and improve the full-cycle recruitment process for entry-level and intern positions. This includes enhancing the use of the Handshake platform, updating recruitment collateral, and ensuring timely and efficient onboarding. Success will be measured by reduced time-to-fill metrics, improved candidate experience, and positive feedback from hiring managers.
• Enhance Diversity in Recruitment: Develop and execute strategies to diversify the candidate pool for early career positions. Leverage various sourcing channels, including direct sourcing, industry networking, and partnerships with professional organizations.

Major Challenges

• Building and Maintaining Relationships: Establishing strong, mutually beneficial relationships with universities and colleges requires consistent effort and effective communication. Balancing these relationships with the demands of recruitment and programming can be challenging.
• Ensuring Program Quality: Designing and delivering high-quality internship and rotational programs that meet the expectations of both interns and the company is crucial. This involves coordinating with various departments and managing logistics effectively. Strong communication is mission critical to meet the challenge.
• Process Optimization: Continuously improving recruitment programs while managing day-to-day recruitment activities requires strong organizational and project management skills.

Work Environment

You will work in a collaborative and dynamic environment at Post Consumer Brands. The role involves close interaction with HR teams, intern managers, university representatives, and senior leaders who are highly invested in this program. The company culture is supportive and focused on continuous improvement, innovation, and inclusivity. Relevant tools and technologies include the Handshake platform, applicant tracking systems (Icims), and various social media and networking tools.

Growth Opportunities

Achieving the KPOs will position you for career advancement within PCB. Success in this role demonstrates strong recruitment and program management skills, making you a valuable asset for higher-level HR positions. Additionally, the experience gained in building and executing early career programs will provide a solid foundation for future leadership roles within the company.

Requirements:

• B.S. degree in Business, Management, Human Resources, or a related field preferred, or commensurate experience.
• 5+ years of professional work experience in talent acquisition or human resources.
• 3+ years of experience supporting early careers programming, preferably in a company with a mature/large intern program.
• Ability to work in a hybrid environment; there will be in-person office days each week in Lakeville
• Stellar communication skills, both written and verbal, with the ability to build relationships quickly with individuals at all levels of the organization.
• Project management capabilities, including detail orientation, stakeholder alignment, and execution against deadlines.