Middle East Employer Partnerships Director, Talent & Careers (Riyadh)

IE University; Riyadh; On-site; SAR 60,000 - 100,000; Full time

Job summary

Join a transformative educational institution as the Middle East Employer Partnerships Director. In this strategic role, you will build impactful corporate partnerships with leading employers across the Middle East, enhancing career opportunities for students and alumni. Your efforts will directly contribute to the region's economic development and IE University's reputation. This full-time position in Riyadh offers a chance to engage with top industry leaders, drive change, and foster a vibrant professional ecosystem. If you're passionate about education and innovation, this is the opportunity for you!

Qualifications

• 5+ years in business development or corporate relations, ideally in higher education.
• Strong understanding of the Middle Eastern labor market and sectors aligned with IE's offerings.

Responsibilities

• Develop and maintain partnerships with top employers in the Middle East.
• Collaborate with leadership to align employer engagement with institutional strategies.

Skills

Business Development

Corporate Relations

Negotiation Skills

Leadership Skills

Communication Skills

Market Research

Education

Bachelor's Degree in Business Administration

Master's Degree

Job description

Overview

Are you interested in joining a dynamic and international team of professionals to transform education? IE University Talent & Careers department is looking for a Middle East Employer Partnerships Director to join its team!

The Middle East Employer Partnerships Director is a strategic role focused on establishing and managing strategic relationships between IE University and leading employers across the Middle East, particularly in key hubs like Riyadh, Dubai, and Abu Dhabi.

The primary goal is to create impactful corporate partnerships that provide outstanding career opportunities for IE University students and alumni, enhancing IE’s regional and global reputation.

Success will be measured by tangible metrics such as increased student placements, enhanced employer partnerships, and greater brand visibility in key sectors.

This individual will work to attract top companies operating in the Middle East and enter into preferential employer partnership agreements. The role plays a critical part in advancing the career prospects of IE students and alumni by building strong corporate relationships that align with IE’s long-term strategic goals.

The director will directly contribute to enhancing the institution’s brand visibility and facilitate high-impact employment outcomes for our graduates.

This position reports to the Director of Employer Partnerships at IE University and will work closely with the leadership team at the Center for Leadership in Riyadh to ensure alignment with broader institutional goals.

Why IE University?

With 50 years of experience and founded by and for entrepreneurs, IE University has turned business education on its head through disruptive teaching. We count on high-level faculty who bring real-world experience into the classroom and foster a hands-on approach to learning.

Our Purpose

At IE University, we foster positive change through education, research, and innovation.

As a transformative educational institution, we empower students to make their mark on the world. We provide them with the skills, knowledge and environment needed to make a difference, and they join a supportive and international community that lasts a lifetime.

Our spirit of innovation and entrepreneurship has allowed us to drive change and constantly stay at the cutting edge of higher education. And through diversity, we have harnessed the power of people while also understanding and embracing the importance of humanities.

Our People

At IE we are:

• People-driven
• Change Builders
• Autonomy Enthusiasts
• Communication Enthusiasts
• Knowledge Champions

We are looking for a person to join a full-time position in Riyadh.

Responsibilities

Your role as Middle East Employer Partnerships Director, Talent & Careers will involve:

Strategic Partnership Development:

• Identify, develop, and maintain partnerships with top employers in the Middle East, particularly in sectors such as finance, consulting, energy, construction, and technology.
• Leverage existing IE relationships and cultivate new opportunities, negotiating agreements that enhance career outcomes for students and meet employer needs.
• Act as a primary employer partnerships representative of IE University in the Middle East, engaging with business leaders, industry associations, and corporate partners to foster impactful relationships.
• Host and coordinate the participation of Middle Eastern employer partners in regional Employer Partnership Forums and C-suite level visits to the IE Tower in Madrid.

Leadership & Institutional Collaboration:

• Collaborate with the Center for Leadership in Riyadh to align regional employer engagement efforts with broader institutional strategies.
• Contribute to strategic planning for the Center for Leadership, ensuring employer partnerships and career-related initiatives are integrated into long-term plans.
• Oversee Careers related collaboration with our Alumni & Careers colleague in Dubai, ensuring their work on business development in the Middle East aligns with the overall regional employer partnerships strategy.

Alumni Engagement & Employer Collaboration:

• Work closely with the Global Alumni Relations team and IEU Alumni & Career Services in the Middle East to leverage the regional alumni network for employer engagement and partnership development.
• Develop initiatives that connect alumni with potential employers, fostering a vibrant professional ecosystem.
• Thought Leadership and Industry Engagement:
• Actively participate and lead industry panels, recruitment events, and professional forums, positioning IE University as a thought leader in talent development within the Middle East.

Regulatory Compliance & Reporting:

• Ensure that all career services-related activities are compliant with relevant legal, institutional, and ethical standards.
• Collaborate on the preparation of reports that include data on partnership performance, employment outcomes, and other key indicators.
• Track, analyze, and report on employer partnership initiatives to ensure alignment with KPIs around employment, engagement, and impact.

Market Research & Industry Trends:

• Conduct ongoing research into labor market and industry trends across the Middle East, identifying opportunities and challenges relevant to IEU’s offering.
• Translate insights into actionable strategies that support employer engagement and ensure IE University remains responsive to regional economic developments.

Qualifications

To thrive in this role, you should have:

• Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration, or a related field.
• Master's degree.
• Minimum of 5 years of professional experience in business development, corporate relations, and / or career services, ideally within higher education or a similar context.
• Proven experience developing strategic partnerships and managing external relationships with corporate partners and employers.
• Strong understanding of the Middle Eastern labor market, particularly in sectors aligned with IE University’s academic offerings and student needs.
• Excellent communication, negotiation, and leadership skills, with experience collaborating across multiple internal and external stakeholders.
• Familiarity with visa processes and regulatory requirements related to international talent mobility is a plus.
• Demonstrated ability to successfully navigate multicultural business environments, reflecting the diversity of Middle Eastern markets.
• Strong strategic and tactical planning abilities, with a demonstrated track record of designing and implementing impactful partnership programs.
• A well-established network of industry contacts across the Middle East in sectors relevant to IEU graduates.
• Experience with regulatory compliance and partnership reporting.
• Prior affiliation with IE University or deep familiarity with its mission, values, and academic programs is highly desirable.
• Entrepreneurial mindset, showing initiative and creativity in developing partnership opportunities.

It’s time to bring your best and make your mark.Now the choice is yours!

If you want to be part of this educational revolution,we invite you to apply and be part of our amazing team at IE University.