Director of Industry and Employer Relations (MSAI)

• Job Type: Officer of Administration
• Bargaining Unit:
• Regular/Temporary: Regular
• End Date if Temporary:
• Hours Per Week: 35
• Standard Work Schedule:
• Building: Morningside
• Salary Range: $100,000 - $110,000

Position Summary

The Director of Industry and Employer Relations oversees the sourcing of academic projects, internships, and full-time opportunities for students in the Columbia Engineering MS in Artificial Intelligence program and related fields. The Director drives industry engagement with students, faculty, and research in Artificial Intelligence and other AI-driven/technical fields. The Director is a senior member of Columbia Engineering’s Graduate Career Placement team within Engineering Student Affairs, working to broaden and deepen employer relationships and to develop outreach strategies that advance the School’s objectives. Additional responsibilities include collecting and analyzing partnership and engagement data and generating related reports for the program and the school.

Responsibilities

(50%)

• Lead the sourcing of employers and projects in AI as well as AI-engaged fields. Build and manage a pipeline of industry partners that (1) propose and sponsor real-world AI projects for the MS in Artificial Intelligence Capstone and (2) hire Columbia Engineering students for internships and full-time roles in artificial intelligence and related disciplines.
• Source, cultivate, and secure employer partners in AI and related industries.
• Scope and intake MSAI Capstone projects with employers; assess fit, feasibility, and data/intellectual-property considerations, and coordinate agreements with the appropriate University offices.
• Serve as the primary relationship manager for capstone employer partners throughout the project lifecycle, managing expectations and ensuring a high-quality experience that drives repeat engagement.
• Develop, deepen, and maintain relationships with employers, alumni, and industry partners across the artificial intelligence and technology landscape.
• Develop and execute outreach and marketing strategies to grow and diversify the technical industry partner network.
• Plan and manage employer, alumni, and student engagement events and initiatives.
• Represent Columbia Engineering and the MSAI program professionally at industry events, conferences, and partner meetings.
• Track partner engagement and generate reports on pipeline, partnerships, and outcomes.

(25%)

• Manage School-Level Employer and Hiring Alumni Relationships Focused on AI and Tech
• Cultivate relationships with and develop school-level hiring strategies for employers looking to recruit within the industries of Tech and AI.
• Develop and expand relationships with alumni to facilitate the hiring of graduate students.
• Organize signature recruitment events with employers, including career fairs, on-campus interviews, and exclusive employer hiring partnerships.
• Source employers and industry experts to serve as instructors for the PDL course.
• Collaborate with Career Placement Officers on relevant placement initiatives.

(10%)

• Drive engagement between the industry and MSAI research and faculty.
• Engage MSAI faculty and researchers to align industry-sponsored projects with faculty research interests and program learning objectives.
• Connect industry partners with faculty for research collaborations, sponsored research, and other engagement opportunities.
• Facilitate introductions and ongoing communication between industry partners and faculty and research teams, liaising with the appropriate research and partnership offices.

(10%)

• Lead  the execution of the MSAI program and the work of Engineering Student Affairs
• Manage the execution of our Professional Development and Leadership (PDL) course.
• Manage signature student affairs activities, including Welcome Day, Graduate Engineers Connect, graduation ceremonies, and other school-wide initiatives for engineering students.
• Manages student onboarding activities, including admissions yield, orientation, and advising.

(5%)

Performs related duties and responsibilities as assigned/requested.

Minimum Qualifications

A bachelor’s degree is required; graduate-level work is preferred. Minimum of 4-6  years of related experience required.

Familiar with career paths, employers, and the industry landscape related to artificial intelligence, machine learning, computer science, and data science.

Previous experience in employer relations, partnerships, business development, recruitment, marketing, career counseling, or program administration.

Demonstrated ability to source, build, and steward relationships with external partners, and to manage a pipeline of opportunities to measurable outcomes.

Possess excellent interpersonal and administrative skills, as well as strong skills in written and oral expression.

Understand career development and industry-engagement issues affecting the constituents and the associated professions, and be able to identify and analyze trends in the artificial intelligence field.

Computer literacy/proficiency required: an understanding and appreciation of career services and relationship-management database software and online resources, and the willingness to respond to the needs of students, faculty, and employers in an increasingly technologically oriented society.

Positive, mission-oriented, forward-thinking attitude and a sense of humor a must.

Equal Opportunity Employer / Disability / Veteran

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