Executive Director, Employer Relations and Experiential Learning (10008193)

Job Description

Vanderbilt University seeks a strategic, visionary, and
results-oriented leader to serve as the Executive Director for Employer Relations and Experiential Learning. This role will lead the
university’s efforts to build a national model for industry engagement and scale high-impact experiential learning opportunities for
students across all disciplines.

Reporting to the Vice Provost for Career Advancement and Engagement, this position will be
responsible for designing and implementing a comprehensive employer strategy that deepens Vanderbilt’s connections with leading
organizations, expands internship and job opportunities, and integrates real world experiences into the undergraduate and graduate academic
journey.

The Executive Director for Employer Relations and Experiential Learning will work across academic departments, advancement
teams, and external industry partners to ensure students are prepared for – and connected to – meaningful work in a rapidly evolving global
economy.

Reporting to this position are the Employer Relations team, the Internship Placement Program, and all Experiential Learning
initiatives.

Career Advancement & Engagement at Vanderbilt University is building a pathway-based career ecosystem that aligns
academic experience, experiential learning, and employer engagement to improve student outcomes at scale. Through advising, internships,
industry partnerships, and AI-enabled tools, CAE helps students explore, prepare for, and launch into meaningful careers across a broad
range of industries.

This model expands access to opportunities, strengthens employer relationships, and positions Vanderbilt as a
leading source of talent in a rapidly evolving workforce.

Duties and Responsibilities

Strategic Employer
Engagement

Lead the university-wide strategy for employer engagement, ensuring access to opportunities across industries, roles, and
geographic markets.
Build and maintain a national network of employer partners across the private, public, and nonprofit sectors,
with a focus on equity and opportunity.
Expand Vanderbilt’s visibility as a top source of talent by developing programs that
showcase student readiness and institutional strengths.
Collaborate with the Alumni Relations and Development teams to identify
alumni and donors who can help expand talent pipelines and internships.

Experiential Learning Integration

Partner with
academic deans and faculty to integrate for and not for-credit, career-related experiential learning into the curriculum – including
internships, research, design projects, community-based learning, treks, and innovation labs.
Align experiential learning offerings
with departmental goals and Immersion Vanderbilt requirements.
Support academic units in designing high-quality, scalable, and
equitable experiential learning opportunities tailored to disciplinary pathways.

Cross-Campus Collaboration

Serve as a
connector across departments, helping translate employer and workforce needs into learning experiences aligned with students’
majors.
Partner with Vanderbilt’s Immersion and Civic Engagement offices to ensure career relevant experiential learning is embedded
in institutional initiatives.
Align with advancement teams on fundraising priorities related to student support, internship
stipends, and experiential program development.

Organizational Leadership and Operations

Oversee the teams responsible for
employer relations, experiential learning, and internship coordination.
Ensure Vanderbilt’s systems and platforms (e.g., CRM, job
boards, project portals) support streamlined employer engagement and student access.
Develop outcome metrics and KPIs related to
employer engagement, experiential learning participation, and student placement pipelines.

Innovation and Impact

Stay
abreast of future-of-work trends, labor market shifts, and technology platforms that support scalable industry partnerships.
Pilot
new models of employer engagement including micro-internships, project-based learning, and cross-institutional partnerships.
Drive
Vanderbilt’s aspiration to become the #1 university for employers to recruit talent across
disciplines.

Qualifications

Master’s degree necessary; advanced degree in higher education, business,
workforce development, or related field preferred.
Minimum 10 years of progressive leadership experience in employer engagement,
experiential learning, corporate partnerships, or university relations is necessary.
Minimum three years of work experience in
investment banking, consulting, or Fortune 500 company administration is necessary.
Demonstrated success in designing and scaling
cross-sector partnerships that produce measurable outcomes is necessary.
Deep understanding of experiential learning models and
their application in liberal arts, STEM, and professional education is necessary.
Strong relationship-building, communication, and
negotiation skills across diverse stakeholders (faculty, alumni, corporate executives, staff, students).
Proven ability to lead
teams, manage budgets, and implement data-informed strategies is necessary.
Passion for the role of higher education in preparing
students for purposeful work is preferred.
Familiarity with advancement and fundraising strategies tied to student success is
preferred.
Experience working with or in large research universities or mission-driven institutions is preferred.
Ability to
think both strategically and operationally, and to build new systems from the ground up is preferred.

About
Us

At Vanderbilt University , our work -
regardless of title or role – is in service to an important and noble mission in which every member of our community serves in advancing
knowledge and transforming lives on a daily basis. Located in Nashville, Tennessee, on a 330+ acre campus and arboretum dating back to 1873, Vanderbilt is proud to have been named as one of “America’s Best Large Employers” as well
as a top employer in Tennessee and the Nashville metropolitan area by Forbes for several years running. We welcome those who are interested
in learning and growing professionally with an employer that strives to create, foster and sustain opportunities as an employer of choice.

We understand you have a choice when choosing where to work and pursue a career. We understand you are unique and have a story. We
want to hear it. We encourage you to apply today so that you might become a part of our story.

Vanderbilt University is an
equal-opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex,
sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, or status as a protected veteran, or any other characteristic protected by
law.

Job Info