University Relations Recruiter

Senior University RecruiterTorrance, California, United StatesAt Valar Atomics, we're redefining what's possible in energy. Our mission is to make clean, high-temperature nuclear power scalable—unlocking abundant energy for industry, hydrogen, and next-generation manufacturing. We are a team of builders, engineers, and operators who believe nuclear energy should be fast to deploy, factory-made, and built for the real world. Our first pilot plant in Orangeville, Utah will demonstrate how advanced nuclear systems and fuel fabrication can power the future. Joining Valar Atomics means becoming part of a company where autonomy, ownership, and impact exist at every level.As part of the Business organization, People and Talent attracts, develops, and supports the exceptional individuals who drive Valar's success. The team partners across the company to build a high-performing organization through recruiting, employee development, engagement, and people operations.Valar Atomics is seeking a Senior University Recruiter to build and own our university recruiting program from the ground up. This role will design the full campus recruiting strategy - from target school selection and brand presence through internship and new-grad pipelines - and then run it as a steady-state, scalable function. The ideal candidate has built a university program before, is comfortable operating without a playbook, and can balance long-horizon relationship building with the urgency of near-term technical hiring needs. This is a foundational role for someone who wants to own how Valar shows up on campus, not just execute an existing calendar of events.Key ResponsibilitiesDesign and launch Valar's university recruiting strategy from scratch, including target school selection, campus event calendar, and brand presence at career fairs and info sessionsBuild and own the end-to-end internship and new-grad hiring pipeline, from sourcing and screening through offer and closeEstablish and manage relationships with career services offices, faculty, and student organizations at priority schoolsPartner with hiring managers across engineering, nuclear, and operations teams to forecast intern and new-grad headcount needs and calibrate candidate profilesBuild the systems and processes (Greenhouse and Gem configuration, candidate tracking, conversion reporting) needed to run university recruiting at scaleDevelop a return-offer and conversion strategy to turn interns into full-time hiresTrack and report on program metrics (applications per school, conversion rate, offer-accept rate, cost per hire) and use them to prioritize school investmentRepresent Valar Atomics as an ambassador on campus, communicating the mission and technical work to student audiencesBasic Qualifications5+ years of full-cycle recruiting experience, including demonstrated ownership of a university or early-career recruiting programExperience building a recruiting program or process from the ground up, without an existing playbook to inheritTrack record of developing school and faculty relationships that convert into hiring pipelinesProficiency with an ATS/CRM (Greenhouse, Gem, or similar) and comfort building reporting to track program healthExcellent communication and presentation skills, with experience representing a company to student audiencesWillingness to travel regularly for campus visits and career fairs (approx. 30-40%)Preferred Skills and ExperienceExperience recruiting for engineering-heavy or technical/scientific fields (mechanical, electrical, nuclear, chemical engineering)Familiarity with nuclear engineering or adjacent hard-tech and energy university programsExperience standing up a Talent function within a startup or rapidly scaling companyExperience designing internship conversion or return-offer programsWhat We OfferCompetitive base salaryEquity ownership in a rapidly growing advanced energy companyComprehensive medical benefitsUnlimited PTOFree daily lunch and dinner provided onsiteGenerous PPE stipendHigh-impact startup environment with significant ownership and autonomyOpportunities for rapid career growth and internal advancementDirect collaboration with experienced operators, engineers, and industry leadersThe opportunity to help build and scale transformative energy technology from the ground upEqual Employment Opportunity StatementValar Atomics is an equal opportunity employer. We consider all qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, or any other protected status under applicable law. We are committed to providing a workplace free of discrimination and harassment and will provide reasonable accommodation as required by law. Applicants must be legally authorized to work in the United States as a U.S. citizen or lawful permanent resident (green card holder).Salary$110,000 - $140,000 USD