Director, Internships and Work-Based Education

Emerson College; United States; On-site; USD 82,000 - 103,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health plans

403(b) retirement plan

Commuter benefits

Job summary

Emerson College in Boston seeks a highly experienced Director, Internships and Work-Based Education to provide institution-wide strategic leadership for experiential learning. You will shape policy, programs, and infrastructure, coordinating with faculty, industry partners, and administrators to ensure high-quality, accessible internships and credit-bearing experiences.

Reporting to the AVP of Career Development, you will lead governance, program evaluation, and compensation considerations,

Qualifications

• Master’s degree in Counseling, Higher Education, Human Resources, or related field.
• 7–10 years in experiential learning, internships, or career services.
• Experience with policy development, governance, and program design.

Responsibilities

• Provide institution-wide strategic leadership for internships and work-based education.
• Develop and implement a comprehensive framework for internships and work-based learning.
• Ensure strategy aligns with student success, access, academic quality, and outcomes.
• Co-chair internship committee and coordinate cross-functional stakeholders.
• Lead compliance, risk management, and international internship considerations.

Skills

Strategic leadership

Stakeholder management

Policy development

Governance

Data-driven decision making

Education partnerships

Program evaluation

Change management

Education

Master's degree in Counseling/Higher Education/HR or related field

Job description

Join our community and experience Emerson College! The Director, Internships and Work-Based Education provides institution-wide strategic leadership for internships and work-based learning at Emerson College. Reporting to the Assistant Vice President, Career Development, the Director leads the development and implementation of a cohesive, high-quality ecosystem of experiential learning opportunities—both credit-bearing and non-credit that is aligned with academic priorities, responsive to industry trends, and accessible to all students. Working in close partnership with faculty, academic leadership, and industry relations, the Director sets strategy and provides institutional leadership for the infrastructure, policies, systems, and practices that support internships and work-based learning. The Director advances consistency, compliance, quality, and student success across programs while respecting the central role of faculty and academic leadership in shaping curriculum, academic content, and learning outcomes. As the College’s senior strategic lead for internships and work-based education, the Director convenes and influences stakeholders across academic and administrative units, translates institutional priorities into scalable practices, and advances innovation in experiential learning. The Director co-leads relevant governance structures, identifies emerging opportunities and risks, and ensures that students have access to meaningful, well-supported experiences that contribute to their academic and professional development.

ESSENTIAL JOB DUTIES

Provide institution-wide strategic leadership for internships and work-based education, establishing shared vision, priorities, strategy, and guiding practices in collaboration with academic and institutional partners. Lead the development, implementation, and continuous improvement of a comprehensive institutional framework for internships and work-based learning. Ensure internship and work-based education strategy is aligned with institutional priorities related to student success, access, academic quality, and post-graduate outcomes. Partner with the Director, Industry Relations to align employer pipelines and internship opportunities with institutional, academic, operational, and policy priorities. Serve as the institutional strategic lead for internship policy and shared practices. Lead the development, communication, and implementation of guidance related to academic credit and learning outcomes, compensation and labor compliance (e.g., FLSA considerations), risk management and liability, and international internships and regulatory considerations. Ensure clear, accessible guidance for students, faculty, staff, and employers. Co-chair the cross-college internship committee, setting agendas and priorities and bringing together stakeholders from academic departments, academic affairs, legal, risk management, career services, and other relevant areas to advance institutional strategy and resolve cross-functional issues. Lead cross-functional coordination to ensure internship programs and practices align with legal, ethical, institutional, and accreditation standards. Partner with faculty and academic units to advance and expand high-impact embedded work-based learning opportunities, including credit-bearing internships, capstone and project-based courses, and industry-sponsored courses or studios. Provide strategic consultation and resources to faculty and academic units related to learning outcomes, assessment frameworks, and reflective components for experiential learning. Lead the development, piloting, evaluation, and scaling of new work-based learning models in partnership with faculty, academic leaders, and external partners. Expand access to experiences through micro-internships and short-term projects, on-campus and campus-affiliated experiential roles, and alumni and industry-sponsored projects. Ensure institutional work-based learning models reflect the realities of freelance, gig-based, entrepreneurial, and portfolio-driven careers common in arts and media industries. Set priorities and lead initiatives that address barriers to participation, including funding, location constraints, and unpaid work. Advance broad access to high-quality internships and work-based learning by identifying systemic barriers and leading cross-institutional strategies to reduce them. Partner with institutional and industry stakeholders to expand paid internship opportunities, financial supports such as stipends or micro-grants, and employer practices that support fair, transparent, and skills-based recruitment. Establish and monitor institutional measures of participation, quality, and outcomes; identify trends, risks, and opportunities to strengthen access and student success. Provide strategic leadership and oversight for the EMTERN program, including program direction, operations, assessment, and continuous improvement. Lead the development and management of systems to track internship participation, credit vs. non-credit experiences, employer engagement in experiential learning, and internship conversion outcomes. Use data, assessment, benchmarking, and stakeholder feedback to set priorities, guide resource decisions, and drive continuous improvement. Develop executive-level reports and recommendations for institutional leadership on impact, emerging trends, risks, and opportunities for growth. Benchmark institutional practices and outcomes against peer institutions, national standards, and emerging best practices (e.g., NACE), and recommend strategic changes as appropriate. Provide strategic oversight of the end-to-end student experience in internships and work-based learning, working across teams to ensure coherence from preparation through experience and reflection.

QUALIFICATIONS

Qualifications are deemed required or preferred and represent what is needed to effectively perform job. A Master’s degree in Counseling, Higher Education, Human Resources, or a related field required. 7-10 years of progressively responsible experience in experiential learning, internships, academic program development, career services, and/or related higher education leadership required. Demonstrated expertise and leadership in internship and work-based learning strategy, program design, policy development, and compliance required. Demonstrated success building trusted partnerships with faculty, academic leadership, and senior institutional stakeholders required. Demonstrated success leading complex, cross-functional initiatives, governance structures, and institution-wide change required. Demonstrated experience using data, assessment, and benchmarking to inform institutional strategy and executive-level decision-making required. Experience in arts, media, communications, or creative industries preferred. Experience designing programs for nonlinear, freelance, or portfolio-based career pathways preferred. Experience with experiential learning technologies and platforms preferred.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES

• Expert knowledge of work-based learning models, including internships, project-based learning, and co-op frameworks
• Exceptional communication, facilitation, and executive-level influencing skills across diverse stakeholder groups
• Familiarity with labor laws and regulations related to internships (U.S. and/or international)
• Exceptional relationship-building, consultation, and influencing skills
• Advanced knowledge of systems thinking, organizational change, and program design
• Advanced knowledge of policy development, governance, and cross-functional implementation
• Expert knowledge of market and industry trends and emerging opportunities
• Strong understanding of academic governance and demonstrated ability to partner effectively with faculty and academic leaders
• Ability to translate complex data and institutional priorities into strategic decisions and actionable recommendations
• Knowledge of fairness-oriented approaches to access and opportunity
• Demonstrated ability to lead innovation and scale experiential learning programs across an institution
• Advanced data analysis, assessment, and program evaluation skills

PHYSICAL ABILITIES

• Position is generally sedentary, requiring movement throughout the area as needed.
• Ability to sit and concentrate for long periods of time.
• Continuous oral and written communication with co-workers, students, and supervisors.

WORK ENVIRONMENT

• General office conditions Exposed to moderate noise levels.

Compensation: $82,150.00 - $102,650.00 annually, commensurate with experience.

Grade of Position: 23-10E Employment Category: Regular . Scheduled Weekly Hours: 36.25.

In addition to a competitive salary, Emerson College is committed to the health and well-being of our employees and family members. We offer a generous benefits package to regular staff scheduled to work 20+ hours per week. Emerson Employment Categories influence work schedules, benefits eligibility, and time off policies.

Benefits include outstanding health plans with limited out-of-pocket expenses, dental plans, generous time-off programs, and a 403(b) retirement benefit with a 9% employer contribution once eligible. Additional benefits, such as life and disability coverage and commuter offerings, are available. Please refer to our benefits website for a full list of benefits and eligibility requirements.

About Us

Emerson College is the nation’s only four-year institution dedicated exclusively to majors in communication and the arts in a liberal arts context. It is located in the dynamic multi-cultural city of Boston in close proximity to major arts institutions, performing art venues, and research centers. Emerson College enrolls over 5,800 graduate and undergraduate students from more than 70 countries and all 50 states. Emerson College has campuses in Los Angeles and the Netherlands. At Emerson College, we seek individuals who bring innovation, creativity, and impact to our campuses to increase our depth, breadth, and diversity in our educational offerings. Emerson’s commitment to inclusive excellence is supported by a range of resources. Commitment to Inclusion Emerson College believes the pathway to achieving inclusive excellence is fostering a campus climate where everyone can thrive.

Annual Clery Report

In accordance with the federal Clery and Campus SaVE Acts, Emerson College commits to providing all current and prospective students and employees with access to the annual campus security reports for each of our campuses. This report may be accessed from the Emerson College Police Department website.

The Associate Vice President of Equity, Access & Equal Opportunity/ Title IX Coordinator to respond to inquiries regarding the College's Policy Against Discrimination, Harassment & Sexual Violence. The Associate Vice President of Equity, Access & Equal Opportunity/ Title IX Coordinator is located in the Ansin Building, 180 Tremont Street, Boston, MA 02111, Suite 409, and may be reached by calling [phone] or by emailing [e-mail].