Director of Industry Partnerships & Employer Engagement
A Director of Industry Partnerships and Employer Engagement bridges higher education with workforce development, cultivating the partnerships that turn academic programs into career outcomes. This is a sample job description from Excelon Associates, drawn from a retained search, that you can adapt as a template for your own hire.
What does a Director of Industry Partnerships and Employer Engagement do?
This pivotal role bridges higher education with workforce development by cultivating partnerships that translate academic excellence into career success. The Director leads efforts to strengthen employer engagement, expand experiential learning, and align institutional programs with regional and national industry needs.
The role establishes and maintains strategic partnerships across the corporate, nonprofit, and government sectors, serving as a primary liaison between the institution and its external stakeholders. The Director works with academic leadership, faculty, and career services to develop internship pipelines, employer advisory boards, and workforce initiatives that improve student outcomes and institutional visibility.
Employer engagement is the work of building relationships between an institution and the employers who hire its graduates. Experiential learning covers hands-on placements such as internships and co-ops, and an employer advisory board is a group of industry leaders who guide a program on curriculum and hiring needs.
Who does this role connect?
What are the key responsibilities?
- Develop and execute a comprehensive strategy for employer engagement and industry partnerships that supports institutional goals.
- Collaborate with deans, faculty, and program directors so academic offerings align with emerging workforce trends and employer expectations.
- Secure partnership funding and sponsorships to support experiential learning and workforce development initiatives.
- Build and maintain relationships with key employers to create internship, co-op, and job placement opportunities for students and graduates.
- Lead employer advisory boards and convene roundtables to strengthen communication between industry and the institution.
- Represent the institution at industry events, conferences, and workforce consortiums to advance visibility and strategic alignment.
- Track, analyze, and report on partnership performance metrics, providing insights that inform institutional planning and decision-making.
What qualifications are required?
- Master’s degree in business, higher education administration, workforce development, or a related field required; doctorate preferred.
- Minimum of 7 years of progressive experience in employer relations, partnership development, or workforce engagement.
- Proven ability to build and sustain high-impact partnerships with diverse industry sectors.
- Strong communication, negotiation, and presentation skills.
- Experience managing cross-functional teams and complex initiatives.
Why is this role important?
The Director of Industry Partnerships and Employer Engagement connects classroom learning with real-world application. By cultivating strategic alliances, the role makes sure students are career-ready, employers have access to top-tier talent, and the institution stays responsive to the evolving needs of the workforce.
Through innovation, collaboration, and strategic outreach, the Director helps position the institution as a leader in applied education and employer partnership excellence.
A hiring note from Excelon
This is a role where a strong network is the product. The candidates who stand out arrive with employer relationships they can activate quickly and a track record of turning conversations into signed internship and co-op agreements. We weigh demonstrated placement and sponsorship outcomes over polished strategy decks, because the institution is buying access and follow-through, not a plan.
The value of this role is measured in signed agreements and placed graduates, not in the number of meetings that fill the calendar.
Frequently asked questions
What does a Director of Industry Partnerships and Employer Engagement do?
The Director develops and executes the strategy for employer engagement and industry partnerships, building relationships across corporate, nonprofit, and government sectors to create internships, co-ops, and job placements while aligning academic programs with workforce needs.
What qualifications are required?
This sample role requires a master’s degree in business, higher education administration, workforce development, or a related field, with a doctorate preferred, plus a minimum of seven years of progressive experience in employer relations, partnership development, or workforce engagement.
What is an employer advisory board?
An employer advisory board is a group of industry leaders who advise an institution or program on curriculum, hiring needs, and emerging skills. The Director leads these boards and convenes roundtables to strengthen communication between industry and the institution.
What sectors does this role partner across?
The Director establishes and maintains strategic partnerships across the corporate, nonprofit, and government sectors, serving as the primary liaison between the institution and its external stakeholders.
Why is this role important?
The role connects classroom learning with real-world application. By cultivating strategic alliances, it helps students become career-ready, gives employers access to talent, and keeps the institution responsive to the evolving needs of the workforce.
Need to hire a Director of Industry Partnerships & Employer Engagement?
Excelon Associates recruits workforce-focused leaders for colleges and universities nationwide, connecting institutions with professionals skilled in partnership development, employer engagement, and program innovation. Retained executive search since 2007, headquartered in Asheville, NC.
More Sample Job Descriptions
Templates you can adapt for your own roles.