Director, Business Development & Employer Engagement

Position Summary

Reporting to the Assistant Dean, Strategic Partnerships, and serving as a member of the Strategic Partnerships and Engagement team, the Director, Business Development & Employer Engagement leads the School’s business development strategy and employer engagement efforts for the School, in support of approximately 2,500 current students (MBA, Executive MBA, MS) and 50,000+ global alumni. The Director is responsible for designing and implementing industry-specific business development strategies, identifying and measuring appropriate team KPIs, assessing and reporting on impact and trends, and coordinating employer and student-facing programming, messaging, and other engagement activities in collaboration with colleagues across Columbia Business School (CBS) to build and enhance relationships with US-based and global employers. 

ABOUT CBS

For over a century, Columbia Business School (CBS) has helped develop leaders and builders of enterprises who drive value for their stakeholders and society at large through our MBA, MS, PhD, and Executive Education programs. We are equally committed to cultivating new scholars and teachers, and to creating and disseminating pathbreaking knowledge, concepts, and tools which advance the understanding and practice of management through our faculty research and PhD programs.

Our vision is simple: to develop ideas and leaders that transform the world—from the very center of business. Our ever-evolving curriculum - featuring pioneering courses, STEM certification, and immersive experiential learning - prepares students to excel in key areas such as digital transformation, entrepreneurship, and innovation, twenty-first century finance, the intersection of business and society, and climate and sustainability. The CBS administration enables CBS’ educational and scholarly mission through strategic and operational guidance and support, optimizing School resources through well-designed, transparent processes with a culture of respect for all.

Responsibilities

Business Development & Strategic Planning:

• Designs and implements informed and dynamic business development strategies and assessment efforts in support of all CBS student populations, and oversees efforts to develop, maintain, and further relationships with employers in sectors of interest to the students and alumni, and in alignment with the School’s vision for the future of business.

• Collaborates with colleagues across CBS to ensure employer relationships are fully leveraged. Crafts and shares creative outreach initiatives, oversees CMC-wide employer databases and supports School-wide initiatives to align, liaises with assigned Centers & Programs, and represents CBS and CMC on select University-wide careers-focused committees.

• Strategically develops and executes engagement plans to help employers build their sustainable talent pipelines via job postings, campus/club events, thought leadership, educational programming and other activities. Actively maintains recruiting partnerships by providing high-level consultation to employers seeking to maximize recruiting efforts. Synthesizes and shares employer feedback with career advisors, students, faculty, and other internal stakeholders.

• Serves as sector lead and strategic advisor for employers and alumni in high impact sectors, as aligned with institutional priorities (i.e., PE, global, small/midsized firms).

Team Leadership:

• Oversees the selection, hiring, development, and management of the Business Development team. 

• Actively collaborates with the Sr. Associate Director, Recruitment & Employer Relations, Executive Director of Career Education and Advising, and Executive Director of Working Professionals to ensure employer relationships and engagement strategies appropriately support all CMC stakeholders across industries.

Data-Driven Strategy & Analysis:

• Analyzes employer engagement metrics against industry-specific KPIs to assess outcomes, inform strategy, and demonstrate impact.

• Partners with Assistant Dean to ensure appropriate allocation of resources to meet evolving demands.

Event Planning & Execution:

• Drives high-impact recruiting and educational events with meticulous attention to detail

• Engages employers in target industries as event speakers and panelists

Student Career Support:

• Serves as a liaison with assigned student clubs and industry-aligned Centers & Programs to develop industry insights, inform CMC engagement efforts, and guide student career exploration

• Educates students on employer and industry trends, recruitment opportunities and sector-specific best practices.

External Representation:

• Represents CMC at select professional and peer school meetings, recruiter meetings, media/press interactions, etc and acts in place of Assistant Dean, as needed and appropriate. 

• Works with Assistant Dean, CMC, and the School’s Marketing and Communications team to develop content for website, social media, and other external facing channels. Responsible for production of the School’s bi-monthly Employer Newsletters, and employer-facing website.

Other Responsibilities:

• Performs additional responsibilities as assigned or necessary.

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree required. 5-7 years of experience required, preferably with management and business experience.

• Demonstrated deep commitment to customer service, with the ability to multitask, meet deadlines, and excel in a fast-paced, high-volume environment.

• Ability to balance independent delivery of work with collaborative orientation. 

• Outstanding interpersonal and relationship management skills, and superior writing, verbal, interactive facilitation, and presentation skills for a variety of constituents, including corporate employers, students, faculty, staff, and alumni.

• Superior business and political acumen, demonstrated leadership, organizational, and project management skills, and demonstrated initiative to influence and drive change. 

• Proven track record in prioritizing competing priorities and collaboration skills, including the ability to integrate and act upon diverse perspectives.

• In-depth understanding of MBA jobs in at least one MBA target industry; an understanding of, and appreciation for, needs and concerns of a diverse MBA student body. 

• Significant knowledge of, and experience using, technology and tools, including MS Excel and PowerPoint; familiarity with CRM tools a plus. Advanced data analytics capability. 

• Ability to work flexible, long hours (early mornings/late evenings anticipated seasonally) and represent Career Management Center, on behalf of Associate Dean. Ability to travel as needed.

Preferred Qualifications

• MBA or other Master’s degree, with 7+ years industry experience in technology, financial services, and/or consulting sectors

•  Strong understanding of MBA recruiting processes and nuances. 

• Demonstrated advising experience in either a corporate or academic setting a plus.

Equal Opportunity Employer / Disability / Veteran

Columbia University is committed to the hiring of qualified local residents.