Senior Associate Director of Corporate and Employer Engagement- Cornell Engineering Office of Innovation and External Collaboration (Hybrid)

Who We Are

Building on our 150-plus-year legacy as one of the nation's preeminent engineering colleges, Cornell Engineering is forging new paradigms in engineering education, research, and technology translation. Comprising more than 10 schools and departments, we are rooted in Ithaca with a growing presence in New York City. Our global influence is reflected in our diverse and talented community. Guided by our core values, our faculty and staff regularly engage across disciplines and intentionally bring together a range of perspectives as they lead and support ambitious efforts to tackle societal challenges, develop the next generation of leaders, and make a meaningful difference in the world.

The Cornell Engineering Office of Innovationand External Collaboration empowers students to explore and pursue meaningful career paths by connecting them with real-world opportunities in industry, research, entrepreneurship, and public impact. Through a broad network of employer, alumni, and campus partnerships, we support inclusive and strategic talent development pipelines. Corporate and employer engagement is a cornerstone of our work-we collaborate closely with colleagues across Cornell to help industry partners identify, recruit, and invest in the exceptional talent and research collaboration opportunities within Cornell Engineering.

The Corporate and Employer Engagement team within the Office of Innovation and External Collaboration plays a central role in advancing Cornell Engineering's external engagement strategy. The team leads efforts to build and sustain strategic relationships with companies that seek to recruit student talent, collaborate on research, support innovation initiatives, and invest in the future of engineering education.

What You Will Do

As a senior leader in the Cornell Engineering's Office of Innovation and External Collaboration, the Senior Associate Director for Corporate and Employer Engagement lead efforts to align college-level and university-wide priorities in corporate partnership development, talent engagement, and strategic employer outreach. Operating as part of Cornell's university-wide Employer Engagement group and in close collaboration with University Career Development, the Senior Associate Director is responsible for building, sustaining, and expanding integrated partnerships with companies seeking to recruit student talent, support research, and engage in innovation initiatives.

This role involves proactive outreach to companies in engineering-aligned sectors; leadership of coordinated recruiting and engagement strategies; and facilitation of cross-college collaboration to support a unified "One Cornell" approach to employer relations. The Senior Associate Director uses shared CRM and engagement tools to oversee account strategy, monitor activity, and deliver high-impact, data-informed relationship management that serves both employers and internal stakeholders.

The Senior Associate Director works in close partnership with faculty, department leadership, student organizations, alumni, and university advancement colleagues to align employer engagement with curricular, co-curricular, and research priorities. This position plays a critical role in cultivating inclusive access to engineering career pathways and in strengthening Cornell Engineering's position as a top destination for industry partnership and student talent.

Successful candidates will demonstrate:

• Strategic acumen in developing and stewarding complex, multi-dimensional industry relationships.

• Experience leading collaborative initiatives in dynamic, high-expectation environments.

• Exceptional communication, stakeholder management, and partnership-building skills.

• A deep commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging in career development and innovation engagement.

• Strong familiarity with STEM fields, university recruiting, and corporate R&D interests.

• Ability to operate with agility across organizational boundaries and strategic priorities.

• Resilience, adaptability, and the ability to inspire trust and action among diverse constituents.

As a visible representative of the Office of Innovation and External Collaboration as well as a contributor to the university's corporate engagement community, the Senior Associate Director is expected to foster a culture of belonging, shared purpose, and psychological well-being-demonstrating professional integrity, inclusive leadership, and a commitment to advancing opportunity and impact for students, partners, and Cornell as a whole.

What We Need

• Bachelor's degree and 5-7 years of progressive experience in corporate engagement, business development, strategic partnerships, talent acquisition, or a related field.

• Proven ability to build and manage high-value relationships with a wide range of stakeholders, including corporate executives, faculty, alumni, and students.

• Demonstrated success leading cross-functional initiatives in a fast-paced, outcomes-driven environment.

• Exceptional interpersonal and communication skills, with a client-centered, solutions-oriented approach.

• Strong organizational skills, attention to detail, and capacity to manage multiple priorities with professionalism and sound judgment.

• Ability to work independently and collaboratively across a complex institutional landscape.

• Proficiency with CRM systems, data analysis tools, and productivity software (e.g., Microsoft Office, Excel, Zoom, web-based platforms).

• Commitment to inclusiveness and student success in all aspects of partnership development and engagement strategy.

It would be a bonus if you have any of the following:

• Previous experience leading employer or corporate engagement efforts in a higher education environment, or experience as a university recruiter focused on talent pipelines and relationship management.

• Demonstrated familiarity with industries and employers that hire from STEM and engineering disciplines.

• Proven success working across organizational units in a collaborative, matrixed environment to advance shared institutional goals.

• Experience using Salesforce or similar CRM platforms to manage strategic partnerships and engagement data.

• Proficiency with career management and campus recruiting systems such as Handshake or Symplicity.

Important Notes about Applying

• A cover letter and resume outlining your interest and how your experience and goals align with the potential for mutual success in the role are required for consideration.

• This role requires occasional weekend and evening work.

• There is no relocation assistance available for this position.

• There is no visa sponsorship available for this position.

Rewards and Benefits

• This position is located in Ithaca, New York. The position will typically allow for the flexibility to work remotely 2 days per week at a location of employee's choosing within the United States. The New York Convenience of employer guidelines require New York State individual tax reporting and withholdings for this position. Additional individual state income tax filings may also be required if working temporarily outside New York State.

• Cornell receives national recognition as an award-winning workplace for our health, wellbeing, and sustainability.

• Our benefits programs include comprehensive health care options, generous retirement contributions, access to wellness programs, and employee discounts with local and national retail brands. We invite you to follow this link to get more information about our benefits:Understand Your Benefits | Working at Cornell.

• Our leave provisions include three weeks of vacation and 13 holidays: Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, Memorial Day, Juneteenth, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving and the day after, and an end of the year winter break from December 25-January 1. To offer greater flexibility for observing faiths and traditions we also offer two additional floating holidays. Learn more about our generous leave provisions: Holiday and Accrued Time Off | Working at Cornell

• Cornell's impressive educational benefits include tuition-free Extramural Study and Employee Degree Program, tuition aid for external education, and Cornell Children's Tuition Assistance Program: Education Benefits | Working at Cornell.

• Follow this link to learn more about the Total Rewards of Working at Cornell: Total Rewards.

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