Business Engagement Specialist

Northampton Community College; Bethlehem (Northampton County); On-site; USD 65,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

Northampton Community College in Bethlehem, PA, is seeking a Business Engagement Specialist to connect NCC with external stakeholders and foster partnerships that support workforce development and regional economic growth.

The role leads outreach, markets college offerings (education programs, corporate training, facility rentals, childcare), and provides consultative support to align programs with industry needs within an assigned territory. Bachelor's degree required; 3–5 years’ experience.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree required in Business Administration, Marketing, Communications, Public Relations, Workforce Development, Education, or closely related field.
• 3–5 years of progressive experience in business development, client relationship management, sales, workforce development, or similar role.
• Experience marketing programs and services to external stakeholders, preferably in education or training.

Responsibilities

• Build and maintain positive relationships with internal College departments and external business and industry partners.
• Promote and market partnership opportunities, including educational programs, corporate training, facility rentals, and childcare services.
• Maintain existing partnerships and actively identify and secure new business and industry collaborations.
• Represent the College at regional and national events, conferences, and networking opportunities.
• Provide consultative support to companies to assess workforce development needs and propose relevant college offerings.
• Coordinate and support business advisory boards to identify workforce skill gaps and engagement opportunities.

Skills

Relationship mgmt

Strategic comms

Sales & marketing

Project & territory mgmt

Analytical thinking

Collaboration

Attention to detail

Customer service

Time management

Tech proficiency

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration/related field

Master’s degree preferred (organizational development/ higher ed/ business)

Tools

CRM/relationship management software

Microsoft Office

Job description

The staff and faculty of Northampton Community College share a single goal: to help students transform their lives through education. It’s a goal that reaps rewards thousands of times over the course of a career. Employees at Northampton receive competitive compensation and an array of benefits while working on campuses located in a region with a very high quality of life.

NCC is strongly committed to increasing the diversity of the college community and the curriculum. Candidates who can contribute to that goal are encouraged to identify their strengths or experiences in this area.

Business Engagement Specialist

Please note that this position will remain open until filled.

The Business Engagement Specialist serves as a key connector between Northampton Community College and its external stakeholders, fostering strategic relationships that advance the College’s mission and regional economic growth. This role is responsible for cultivating and managing partnerships with public and private sector organizations across local, regional, and national levels. The incumbent will actively promote and market a wide range of college offerings-including facility rentals, childcare services, academic and workforce development programs, and customized corporate training.

Operating within an assigned territory, the Specialist will lead outreach efforts to maintain existing partnerships and secure new opportunities that align with workforce needs and industry trends. Additionally, this position provides direct sales support for the Center for Business & Industry (CBI). The role also supports program advisory boards by identifying new members and providing relevant industry information to the Chair. Success in this position is measured by partnership growth, engagement outcomes, and progress toward goals set by departmental leadership and the College’s Senior Leadership Team.

Key Responsibilities

• Build and maintain positive working relationships with internal College departments and external business and industry partners.
• Promote and market the College’s partnership opportunities, including educational programs, corporate training, facility rentals, and childcare services.
• Maintain existing partnerships and actively identify and secure new business and industry collaborations.
• Represent the College at regional and national events, conferences, and networking opportunities to expand visibility and connections.
• Provide consultative support to companies to assess workforce development needs and propose relevant college offerings.
• Coordinate and support business advisory boards to help identify and address workforce skill gaps.
• Support the Center for Business & Industry (CBI) by providing sales support for leadership development and customized training programs.
• Meet or exceed partnership development goals within the assigned geographic territory as defined by the department director and College leadership.
• Ensure timely and accurate submission of reports, including:
  • Travel reimbursement documentation
  • Record activity and engagements within the relationship management system
  • Provide Monthly partnership progress updates
  • Maintain organized records of partner communications, contracts, and engagement outcomes.
• Collaborate with internal departments to ensure successful program delivery and follow-up with business partners.
• Maintain up-to-date knowledge of partnership opportunities, college programs, workforce trends, and regional economic developments.

Qualifications

Educational Requirements

Bachelor’s degree required in Business Administration, Marketing, Communications, Public Relations, Workforce Development, Education, or a closely related field. Master’s degree is preferred in a relevant discipline (e.g., Organizational Development, Higher Education, or Business Administration).

Experience Requirements

• 3-5 years of progressive experience in business development, client relationship management, sales, workforce development, or a similar role.
• Demonstrated success in developing and managing partnerships with public/private sector organizations or educational institutions.
• Experience in marketing or promoting programs and services to external stakeholders, preferably within an educational or training environment.
• Prior experience with conducting skills gap analyses is highly desirable.
• Familiarity with corporate training solutions, continuing education, or community college programming is a strong plus.
• Proven ability to work independently in a territory-based role with accountability for meeting goals and deadlines.
• Comfortable working cross-functionally with leadership, faculty, and external partners.

Key Skills

• Relationship Management - Ability to develop, maintain, and strengthen relationships with internal stakeholders and external partners across various sectors.
• Strategic Communication - Strong verbal and written communication skills to effectively present partnership opportunities and represent the College.
• Sales & Marketing Acumen - Knowledge of sales techniques and the ability to promote college programs and services persuasively.
• Project & Territory Management - Skilled in managing multiple projects and responsibilities across an assigned geographic territory.
• Analytical Thinking - Ability to assess business needs, identify workforce skill gaps, and recommend solutions through college offerings.
• Collaboration - Team-oriented approach to working with faculty, leadership, and industry representatives to co-create solutions.
• Attention to Detail - Especially for administrative tasks such as reporting, data entry, and travel reimbursements.
• Customer Service Orientation - Strong commitment to meeting partner and client needs with responsiveness and professionalism.
• Time Management & Organization - Effectively prioritizing workload and managing deadlines in a fast-paced environment.
• Technological Proficiency - Proficient in ERM tools, Microsoft Office, and any systems used for tracking partnerships, communications, and travel expenses.

Performance Measures

Ensure 100% compliance with CRM and reporting protocols by submitting monthly partnership updates, travel reimbursements, and engagement activity records on time and with complete accuracy.

Measurement Criteria

• On-time submission rate of monthly reports and CRM entries (target: 100%)
• Accuracy score on internal audits (target: ≥95%)
• Responsiveness to internal follow-up or documentation requests (target: within 3 business days)

Contribute to the achievement of CBI training revenue goals by generating a minimum of 15 qualified leads annually and supporting at least 5 closed training contracts through consultative outreach.

Measurement Criteria

• Number of qualified CBI leads submitted (target: ≥15/year)
• Number of closed training engagements supported (target: ≥5/year)
• Feedback from CBI team on collaboration effectiveness (target: Meets Expectations or higher)

Execute at least 4 targeted outreach campaigns per quarter promoting college offerings (e.g., training, rentals, childcare), and participate in a minimum of 10 regional or national engagement events annually to expand visibility and connections.

Measurement Criteria

• Number of outreach campaigns completed (target: ≥16/year)
• Number of conferences/events attended (target: ≥10/year)
• Documented leads or follow-up actions generated per event (target: ≥2/event)

Conduct a minimum of 20 direct business engagement activities per quarter (e.g., on-site visits, virtual meetings, presentations, or consultations) with new or existing partners to assess needs, promote college services, and strengthen relationships.

Measurement Criteria

• Number of documented engagement activities (target: ≥80/year)
• % of engagements resulting in a follow-up action or opportunity (target: ≥50%)
• Timely entry of all activities into the CRM system (target: within 5 business days of interaction)

Submit all assigned budget-related documentation (e.g., travel reimbursements, purchasing requests) and monthly performance reports by their designated due dates, with 95% or greater on-time submission rate and minimal corrections needed (≤5%).

Measurement Criteria

• On-time submission rate for all reports and documentation (target: ≥95%)
• % of reports accepted without revision or error (target: ≥95%)
• Confirmation from supervisor or finance office of compliance with reporting cycles

Ensure full adherence to college-wide policies and procedures, including travel, procurement, data privacy, and partner engagement protocols. Maintain 100% compliance with institutional audits and respond to compliance-related requests within 3 business days.

Benefits Snapshot

The College offers a generous benefits package to full-time employees. Just a few highlights of the benefits package include comprehensive medical plan options for you and your family (plus dental and vision), a College retirement contribution of 8% of your salary upon hire, NCC tuition waiver and an abundance of time off – up to 25 days’ vacation/floating, 10 sick days, 4-day workweeks during Summer, Holidays (including a week+ break between Christmas and New Year’s) – among other things! Please visit https://www.northampton.edu/about/working-at-ncc/employee-benefits/index.html for more details on the full array of benefits.