Director of Partnership Relations & Strategic Initiatives

About the role

The Director of Partnership Relations & Strategic Initiatives leads a team that builds, manages, and expands high‑impact relationships with industry partners across Northeastern’s global university system to support the AI Innovation Lab. This senior role oversees partnership development, student experiential learning opportunities, and strategic events.

Key responsibilities

• Develop and attract new partners across corporate, government, and community sectors, focusing on AI‑related growth and experiential learning.
• Lead a partnership development manager and team, managing budgets, negotiating agreements, and ensuring program sustainability.
• Coordinate with college and central leadership, co‑op directors, alumni, and marketing teams to align partnership initiatives with campus goals.
• Utilize Salesforce and other data systems to track partner activity, report insights, and provide benchmarking data.

Required profile

• Bachelor’s degree with at least 10 years of experience in the private sector or higher education.
• Proven track record in business development, fundraising, strategic relationship management, and negotiation.
• Strong understanding of industry growth trends, workforce development needs, and a motivation to make education more accessible.
• Experience supervising teams and managing budgets.

Required skills

• Salesforce

What we offer

• Comprehensive benefits package including medical, vision, dental, PTO, tuition assistance, wellness, retirement, and commuting support.
• Competitive salary range based on experience and qualifications.