Assistant Director, Applied Learning

Syracuse University is interested in candidates who have the communication skills and cross-cultural abilities to maximize their effectiveness with diverse groups of colleagues, students and community members. Women, military veterans, individuals with disabilities, and members of other traditionally underrepresented groups are encouraged to apply. Syracuse University is an equal opportunity employer, as well as a federal contractor required to take affirmative action on behalf of protected veterans.

The Assistant Director of Applied Learning advances Whitman's strategic commitment to experiential and applied learning by building partnerships that create authentic opportunities for students both inside and outside the classroom. This position serves as the primary architect of applied learning experiences in and out of the classroom, with an emphasis on consulting projects, microinternships, job shadowing, and the Whitman Challenge Residency Program. The Assistant Director cultivates relationships with companies to source relevant and meaningful projects for courses across all programs and supports existing and emerging signature programs within the Whitman Experiential Center. Doing this effectively requires coordination with other leaders at Whitman and Syracuse University. This role requires exceptional relationship-building skills, the capacity to navigate complex organizational dynamics, a strong drive and ability to think entrepreneurially, and talent for translating business needs into meaningful learning experiences that prepare students for career success.

Education and Experience: Bachelor's degree with five (5+) plus years of progressive professional experience in corporate partnerships, business development, consulting, experiential education, or related field.

Skills and Knowledge: Self-directed with ability to set priorities, manage workload independently, and take ownership of program execution. Proven ability to collaborate across organizational units while maintaining a driven, entrepreneurial approach to building new programs. Understanding of business fundamentals across multiple disciplines sufficient to scope project opportunities for students at varying experience levels and engage with industry partners. Understanding of pedagogical principles for experiential and applied learning is highly desirable. Experience building and maintaining relationships with corporate stakeholders and external partners. Project management experience with ability to manage multiple complex initiatives simultaneously under tight deadlines. Experience developing and launching new programs with demonstrated ability to innovate and iterate. Strong analytical skills including ability to collect and analyze data, assess program outcomes, and prepare stakeholder reports. Proficiency in CRM systems and Microsoft Office Suite, particularly Excel for data tracking and reporting. Outstanding interpersonal and communication skills with ability to work effectively with diverse constituencies including executives, faculty, students, and administrators.

Responsibilities: Partnership Development: Identify, cultivate, and maintain relationships with external organizations for curricular and co-curricular learning opportunities, with emphasis on the types of employers Whitman graduates pursue, including Fortune 500, global professional firms, and other highly respected firms across industries. This includes developing a tiered engagement model that offers multiple entry points, conducting strategic outreach to potential partners, scoping/sourcing projects for classroom integration and the Whitman Challenge Residency Program, building a sustainable pipeline of diverse opportunities across industries and functional areas, and maintaining detailed records in Whitman's CRM system. It will be essential to understand and match the needs of the companies with the abilities of the students, and therefore business acumen in capturing the right level and skillset of the students is key to successfully delivering on corporate projects. Program Development: Design, launch, and manage co-curricular programs that immerse students in real-world business challenges through structured partnerships with external organizations. This includes building and executing a microinternship and job shadowing program, managing a student consulting initiative, and supporting existing and emerging signature programs within the Whitman Experiential Center. Responsibilities include program design, student recruitment and selection, client relationship management, project oversight, and administrative coordination. Project Integration: Collaborate with the director of the Experiential Center, program leaders and faculty across all Whitman programs (undergraduate, MBA, masters) to identify opportunities for integrating industry-sponsored projects into existing courses and co-develop new applied learning components. This includes conducting outreach to understand pedagogical goals and course structures, identifying skills and abilities to be developed, providing resources and guidance on project design and implementation, co-designing project briefs that balance educational objectives with business value, and coordinating timelines with academic calendars. The Assistant Director serves as a bridge between programmatic requirements and business needs, helping faculty translate business problems into structured learning experiences with clear outcomes. Proactively coordinate with other Whitman leader to ensure seamless partner experiences, avoid duplicate outreach, and share information with relevant colleagues. Assessment, Communication, and Continuous Improvement: Track and assess the effectiveness of applied learning initiatives through systematic data collection, surveys, and analysis of participation trends. Prepare reports for internal stakeholders demonstrating program impact and use assessment findings to continuously refine program design. Collaborate with Whitman's marketing and communications team to showcase success stories and contribute to accreditation reporting. Other duties as assigned.