University Talent Acquisition Specialist

About this role

Here at Appian, our values of Intensity and Excellence define who we are. We set high standards and live up to them, ensuring that everything we do is done with care and quality. We approach every challenge with ambition and commitment, holding ourselves and each other accountable to achieve the best results. When you join Appian, you’ll be part of a passionate team dedicated to accomplishing hard things, together.

The Appian Talent Acquisition team is on a mission to discover, attract, and hire the brilliant minds that fuel our industry-leading AI Automation Platform. University talent is a foundational cornerstone of Appian’s growth strategy, and our team focuses on building deep, impactful relationships with top-tier academic institutions. We operate in a fast-paced, high-performing, and deeply collaborative environment where we celebrate shared successes and shape the future culture of Appian.

As a University Talent Acquisition Specialist, you will have a direct hand in shaping the next generation of Appian innovators. This isn't just about filling slots; it’s about supporting a full-lifecycle university recruiting program and serving as the face of Appian to students, faculty, and career centers. If you are passionate about event management, building elite talent pipelines, and acting as a strategic partner, this role offers a high-impact platform to elevate your career and scale our brand across top universities.

This role is based at our Chennai office in Brigade World Trade Center Chennai. Appian was built on a culture of in-person collaboration, which we believe is a key driver of our mission to be the best. Employees hired for this position are expected to be in the office 5 days a week to foster that culture and ensure we continue to thrive through shared ideas and teamwork. We believe being in the office provides more opportunities to come together and celebrate working with the exceptional people across Appian.

What You’ll Do

• Own the end-to-end candidate recruiting lifecycle, from creative sourcing and screening to negotiating and successfully closing top university talent.

• Cultivate and maintain strategic relationships with university departments, career centers, student organizations, and faculty members to build a strong campus presence.

• Design and execute innovative campus hiring events, presentations, and diversity sourcing initiatives that elevate Appian's employer brand.

• Partner with internal hiring managers and senior stakeholders across departments as a trusted advisor to understand evolving business needs and align campus talent.

• Support the planning and execution of campus recruiting events, career fairs, interview days, and hiring initiatives, including event logistics, interviewer coordination, candidate communications, scheduling, and on-site support to ensure a seamless experience for candidates and stakeholders.

• Manage high-volume logistics, including interview scheduling, candidate pipelining, job postings, and applicant tracking system (ATS) data maintenance.

• Travel up to 20% during peak university recruiting seasons to engage with candidates on the ground.

Required Qualifications

• Education: Bachelor’s degree or equivalent professional experience.

• Experience: 1+ years of proven success in university/graduate recruiting or talent acquisition.

• Communication: Exceptional public speaking and presentation skills, with the ability to engage both large student audiences and internal executives.

• Technical Aptitude: Proficiency with Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) and presentation tools like Google Slides, PowerPoint, or Canva.

Preferred Qualifications

• Prior experience specifically within technical recruiting or hiring for software engineering and technology teams.

• Strong data-driven mindset with experience using recruitment metrics to optimize campus hiring funnels.

• Prior experience specifically working with Greenhouse and Workday.

Tools and Resources

• Training and Development: During onboarding, we focus on equipping new hires with the skills and knowledge for success through department-specific training. Continuous learning is a central focus at Appian, with dedicated mentorship and the First-Friend program being widely utilized resources for new hires.

• Growth Opportunities: Appian provides a diverse array of growth and development opportunities, including our leadership program tailored for new and aspiring managers, a comprehensive library of specialized department training through Appian University, skills based training, and tuition reimbursement for those aiming to advance their education. This commitment ensures that employees have access to a holistic range of development opportunities.

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