Director of Employer Partnerships and Career Pathways in Worcester, Massachusetts at Assumption University

Candidates must be eligible to work in the U.S.

Assumption University has retained the Executive Search Firm, The Ward Group, to lead the search efforts. Interested applicants should submit a cover letter and resume to: info@wardgroup.com and reference “Assumption” in the subject line.

Assumption University (AU) is a comprehensive, private Catholic liberal arts institution, sponsored by the Augustinians of the Assumption. We awaken in students a sense of wonder, discovery, and purpose, forming graduates known for their intellectual seriousness, thoughtful citizenship, and devotion to the common good. Our curricular and co-curricular programs provide students with an education that shapes their souls, forms them intellectually, and prepares them for meaningful careers. We are a diverse community that welcomes different points of view and embraces all who share our mission. Enlivened by the Catholic affirmation of the harmony of faith and reason and by the pursuit of the truth in the company of friends, an Assumption education transforms the minds and hearts of students.

Situated in the heart of New England in Worcester, Massachusetts, Assumption University is a vibrant community home to 2,000 full-time undergraduate and graduate students. With an average class size of 18, students study under the close mentorship of faculty and staff who are experts in their fields, with over 90 academic programs offered across five schools and colleges. Assumption’s 26 sports teams compete in the Northeast-10 Conference, with our academic and athletic success consistently resulting in the NCAA Division II President’s Award for Academic Excellence. Marked by gritty determination, relentless curiosity, and a lack of entitlement, Assumption graduates are in demand exactly because our understanding of Catholic liberal education knits enduring ideas and professional preparation into a single fabric.

Nondiscrimination Statement

In compliance with the requirements of federal law and/or the laws of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, Assumption University prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, national origin, religion, disability, age, veteran status, marital status, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, and pregnancy, as well as other legally protected status, in admission to, access to, treatment in, or employment in its programs and activities, except where such conditions may constitute bona fide qualifications for the programs or activities in question.

Position

Director of Employer Partnerships and Career Pathways

Reports to

Executive Director for Foundations Forward

Opportunity Proposition

Assumption University presents an exciting opportunity for a highly relational, entrepreneurial, and market-facing leader to help shape the future of student career preparation and experiential learning through Foundations Forward, the University’s comprehensive four-year student development model.

This newly created role will lead the development of strategic partnerships that connect students to career pathways by positioning Assumption as a trusted source of highly capable graduates whose Catholic liberal education equips them with the intellectual agility, character, and professional readiness employers seek. The successful candidate will serve as both a relationship builder and institutional ambassador, expanding Assumption’s visibility and reputation across regional and targeted national markets.

Principal Responsibility

The Director of Employer Partnerships and Career Pathways will lead the development and management of a robust portfolio of employer, organizational, alumni, and institutional partnerships designed to expand access to internships, employment opportunities, experiential learning, and post-graduate pathways for Assumption students.

As a key contributor to the Foundations Forward model, the Director will build scalable and repeatable opportunity pipelines while serving as a visible external representative of the University. This role requires a strategic, relationship-driven professional capable of engaging employers and partners across sectors while effectively articulating the value of Assumption’s Catholic liberal education and student experience.

Specific Duties

• Identify, cultivate, and sustain partnerships with employers, organizations, graduate programs, government agencies, and mission-aligned institutions across a variety of industries.
• Build and maintain sustainable internship, experiential learning, and early-career employment pipelines for Assumption students.
• Develop both repeatable partnership pathways and high-impact individual opportunities that expand student access to meaningful professional experiences.
• Establish Assumption University as a consistent and valued talent partner within key regional and targeted national markets.
• Expand opportunities across New England while supporting the development of selective national pathways aligned with student interests and institutional priorities.

• Serve as a primary external ambassador for Assumption University with employers, organizations, alumni, and professional partners.
• Develop and communicate a compelling narrative that articulates the value of Assumption’s Catholic liberal education and the strengths of Assumption graduates.
• Build and sustain a broad professional network that advances institutional visibility, relationship development, and opportunity creation.
• Engage proactively in networking, outreach, partnership cultivation, and strategic relationship management.
• Represent the University with professionalism, credibility, and persuasive communication in external settings.

• Develop a partnership portfolio that balances breadth of opportunity with intentional focus in areas of institutional strength, workforce demand, and student interest.
• Align partnership development efforts with emerging workforce trends, student career aspirations, and University priorities.
• Identify opportunities for structured academic, experiential, or graduate pathways in collaboration with academic and faculty partners.
• Continuously evaluate partnership effectiveness and refine strategy to strengthen student outcomes and long-term pipeline development.

• Serve as the primary driver of external opportunity generation within the Foundations Forward framework.
• Collaborate closely with Career Coaches and student support teams to ensure students are aware of and prepared for partnership-generated opportunities.
• Ensure employer relationships translate into accessible, well-defined, and student-ready internship and employment pathways.
• Partner with career preparation staff to support student readiness related to interviewing, networking, application strategy, and professional development.

• In coordination with colleagues in Advancement and Alumni and Donor Engagement, engage alumni as strategic partners in internship, mentorship, networking, and employment pathway development.
• Develop scalable alumni engagement strategies that support long-term student and institutional outcomes.
• Balance alumni relationship development with broader employer and market expansion efforts.
• Strengthen connections between Assumption’s alumni network and current student career preparation initiatives.

• Develop and maintain systems for tracking employer relationships, outreach activity, partnership pipelines, and student outcomes.
• Utilize CRM platforms and related tools to manage engagement efforts and monitor partnership effectiveness.
• Analyze data related to internship access, employer engagement, partnership activity, and student placement outcomes.
• Provide reporting, insights, and recommendations that support strategic decision-making and continuous improvement.
• Contribute to institutional goals related to internship attainment, experiential learning participation, and post-graduate outcomes.

Professional and Personal Profile

Assumption University welcomes candidates from a variety of professional backgrounds, including higher education, business development, workforce development, talent acquisition, corporate partnerships, sales, consulting, nonprofit leadership, and mission-driven organizations.

• Significant professional experience in partnership development, business development, employer relations, workforce development, or related external-facing roles that result in measurable outcomes.
• Exceptional interpersonal, networking, relationship-management, and communication skills.
• Comfort engaging with stakeholders across corporate, nonprofit, educational, and governmental sectors.
• Ability to communicate institutional value, mission, and differentiators with clarity and credibility.
• Strategic mindset combined with persistence, initiative, and disciplined follow-through.
• Entrepreneurial orientation with the ability to build new initiatives, navigate ambiguity, and create scalable systems.
• Demonstrated ability to work collaboratively across teams and organizational functions.
• Strong organizational, project management, and pipeline management capabilities, including the ability to use data and CRM tools to manage relationships and inform strategy.
• Heart of an educator, with demonstrated commitment to mentorship, care for the whole person, and the development of young adults.
• Appreciation for the value of Catholic liberal education.
• Bachelor’s degree required; advanced degree preferred.

Candidates must be eligible to work in the U.S.

Assumption University has retained the Executive Search Firm, The Ward Group, to lead the search efforts. Interested applicants should submit a cover letter and resume to: info@wardgroup.com and reference “Assumption” in the subject line.