Dir- Strategic Partnerships

• Proven track record developing and closing revenue-generating partnerships and programs, with demonstrated ability to identify employer workforce needs and translate them into scalable, high-value education or training solutions
• Demonstrated success designing, launching, and scaling corporate training, professional development, or upskilling programs across industry verticals, with deep knowledge of STEM-focused employers and workforce development trends in the Toronto region
• Pre-established relationships and presence in Toronto's employer ecosystem, innovation community, and regional partnership landscape; ability to identify market opportunities and build strategic pipelines with employers ranging from startups to large enterprises
• Superior business development and sales acumen combined with exceptional ability to manage complex, multi-stakeholder projects, coordinate concurrent initiatives, and deliver exceptional customer service across internal and external partners
• Proven ability to listen to employer needs and work within the university and broader ecosystem to design mutually valuable solutions that benefit all parties and focus on long-term success
• Exceptional collaborative skills with proven ability to work effectively across a global organization while stewarding and motivating others; strong communication and presentation skills for representing the university at industry events and conferences
• Organizational tact and diplomacy; possesses superb interpersonal skills required to develop close relationships with external partners and key influencers around campus and across the broader university system
• Willingness to maintain a flexible schedule and travel as needed to represent the university at key industry events, conferences, and partner meetings throughout the region and beyond
• Experience and willingness working in a fast-paced, results-oriented, matrixed environment with clear KPIs and accountability metrics; ability to thrive in dynamic settings with multiple competing priorities and ambiguous situations
• Bachelor's degree and minimum 8-10 years of relevant experience in business development, sales, or partnership management within the education, training, or workforce development sector

• Build and nurture strategic relationships with employers across the region to unlock experiential learning, corporate training and upskilling, and other high-impact experiences. Demonstrate superior listening skills to understand employer workforce needs and identify opportunities for mutually beneficial partnerships that create value for students, employers, and the university.
• Drive revenue generation through the design and commercialization of corporate learning products, partnerships, and employer engagement initiatives. Set and achieve ambitious revenue targets, develop pipeline forecasts, and monitor key financial metrics across all partnership and product lines. Identify and close revenue-generating partnerships at scale.
• Lead the design, launch, and scaling of innovative corporate learning and B2B products from conception through deployment, in partnership with Northeastern's B2B team and academic colleges. Own end-to-end responsibility for identifying emerging market opportunities, developing business cases, piloting programs across regional campuses, and scaling proven solutions across the global university system.
• Demonstrate an innovation mindset by continuously identifying new revenue streams and partnership models that advance the university's competitive position in the corporate learning and workforce development markets.
• Develop and grow Toronto's Embedded Partner Hub, a dedicated workspace offering flexible scheduling in exchange for experiential learning opportunities, direct engagement with graduate students, priority access to emerging talent, and secure access to campus facilities and faculty expertise. Drive recruitment of growing employers and innovative startups into the Partner Hub and manage ongoing partner relationships to maximize utilization and partnership value.
• Work closely with the Co-op and Experiential Learning team to pass and refer employer opportunities, ensuring strong pipeline management and seamless placement of students into meaningful roles. Build collaborative solutions with internal partners that benefit all stakeholders.
• Partner with internal university stakeholders—including faculty, academic leadership, and campus teams—to design and implement industry-focused events on and off campus that strengthen employer connections, advance campus priorities, and build regional brand awareness.
• Represent Northeastern at key industry events, conferences, symposiums, and roundtables to deepen employer engagement, build brand awareness, and secure strategic partnerships. Serve as the regional representative for the Dean and CEO at high-level events, source and secure significant speaking engagements for university leaders, and serve as the primary ambassador for the university and regional campus in the employer ecosystem.
• Drive regular, ongoing engagement with employers across industry events and strategic forums to maintain relationships and identify emerging partnership opportunities.

Northeastern University