Dir- Strategic Partnerships

About the Opportunity

This job description is intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by people assigned to this classification. It is not intended to be construed as an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties and skills required of personnel so classified.

JOB SUMMARY

We are seeking an innovative and self motivated business development leader with a strong track record selling education, training, or workforce solutions across various industry verticals, with a focus on STEM. The ideal candidate is deeply embedded in Toronto's partnership and innovation ecosystem, with established relationships across major employers.

This person brings a business development and sales mindset: able to identify workforce needs, translate them into high-value continuing education or training programs, and close revenue-generating partnerships.

Reporting to the Regional Dean, the Director of Strategic Partnerships will serve as a member of the regional campus leadership team, responsible for the strategy and implementation of new and innovative initiatives and partnerships to better connect campus priorities with the employment and entrepreneurship ecosystem in the region.

The Director will build and nurture strong relationships with employers – ranging from small startups to large enterprises - in the region to unlock value added partnerships, and revenue generation opportunities. The Director will partner with various corporate business to business development teams across the global university system to design, launch, and scale of new products and source opportunities as it relates to corporate learning, upskilling and full engagement in the local ecosystem.  

In addition, the director will represent Northeastern at key industry events and conferences with a focus on deepening employer engagement to build brand and secure strategic partnerships.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

• 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

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES & ACCOUNTABILITIES

• 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.

Position Type

Additional Information

Northeastern University considers factors such as candidate work experience, education and skills when extending an offer.  

Northeastern has a comprehensive benefits package for benefit eligible employees. This includes medical, vision, dental, paid time off, tuition assistance, wellness & life, retirement- as well as commuting & transportation. Visit for more information.  

All qualified applicants are encouraged to apply and will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, religion, color, national origin, age, sex, sexual orientation, disability status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable law.

This job is for a current or anticipated job vacancy.

Compensation Grade/Pay Type:

Expected Hiring Range:

With the pay range(s) shown above, the starting salary will depend on several factors, which may include your education, experience, location, knowledge and expertise, and skills as well as a pay comparison to similarly-situated employees already in the role. Salary ranges are reviewed regularly and are subject to change.

Applicant must be legally entitled to work in Canada for the duration of the appointment or employment without employer sponsorship.