Senior Associate Director of Experiential Learning

Brandeis University; Waltham (MA); On-site; USD 120,000 - 160,000; Full time

Job summary

Brandeis University seeks a Senior Associate Director of Experiential Learning to shape a university-wide initiative. You will lead partnerships, standards, and scalable processes to deliver experiential learning across undergraduate and graduate students in all five schools.

The role involves building a platform with IT, coordinating with Career Programs, and developing an outcomes framework in collaboration with the Center’s data team.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree required; Master’s preferred.
• Five to eight years of experience in experiential learning or closely related fields.
• Proven track record of building programs and processes.
• Strong relationship-building across employers, faculty, donors, students, IT, and leadership.

Responsibilities

• Lead program development and external partnerships for experiential learning.
• Design operations and student access platforms and standardize documentation.
• Build assessment frameworks tracking participation and outcomes with data teams.
• Supervise one assistant director and represent the center across the university.

Skills

Relationship-building

Operational judgment

Communication (written & spoken)

Supervisory experience

Cross-stakeholder collaboration

Education

Bachelor’s degree

Master’s degree preferred

Tools

Handshake

Salesforce

Workday

Job description

About the Role

We’re seeking a Senior Associate Director of Experiential Learning to help lead the transformation of experiential learning at Brandeis. This newly created role offers the opportunity to shape a university-wide initiative from the ground up, establishing standards, scalable processes, strategic partnerships, and defining how experiential learning is delivered across the university. The position will serve undergraduate and graduate students across all five schools.

Responsibilities

Program Development and External Partnerships (50%)

Build and grow Brandeis’s portfolio of experiential learning opportunities—internships, research partnerships, fellowships, and community-engaged work—across all five schools. Set the standards for what qualifies as an endorsed experience, including the university’s new second transcript. Partner with Career Programs and Employer Relations to develop employer‑led projects, alumni‑connected experiences, and gift‑funded initiatives.

Operations, Systems, and Student Access (30%)

Design and maintain a student platform for experiential learning opportunities in partnership with University IT. Keep the opportunity catalog accurate and easy for students and advisors to navigate. Standardize how the university documents high‑impact experiences and work with student‑facing teams on the resources students need to find and use them.

Assessment and Data (10%)

Build and maintain a framework for tracking participation, program quality, and outcomes in partnership with the Center’s data team. Use that data to evaluate impact and contribute to university‑level reporting on experiential learning.

Team Leadership (10%)

Supervise and develop one assistant director. Represent the experiential learning function across the university, working with faculty, IT, career counseling staff, deans, and senior leadership.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree required, Master’s preferred.
• Five to eight years of progressively responsible experience in experiential learning, internship programs, career services, or a closely related field.
• A track record of building programs and processes.
• Strong relationship‑building skills across employers, faculty, donors, students, IT colleagues, and senior university leadership, with a record of turning those relationships into active, sustained partnerships.
• Sound operational judgment and the ability to move work forward in a complex, multi‑stakeholder environment.
• At least one year of supervisory experience managing professional staff.
• Clear, direct communication skills, in writing and in person, with the presence to represent the Center credibly across a wide range of audiences.

Nice to Have

• Master’s degree in higher education administration, student affairs, counseling, or a related field.
• Experience navigating a complex, decentralized, multi‑school university environment.
• Experience with Handshake, Salesforce, Workday, or similar platforms.
• Working knowledge of CPT/OPT and international student work authorization.
• Familiarity with experiential learning credentialing frameworks, co‑curricular records, or similar models for documenting student experiences.
• Experience working with donors or development colleagues on endowed programs, named fellowships, or gift‑funded initiatives.

Pay Range Disclosure

The University’s pay ranges represent a good faith estimate of what Brandeis reasonably expects to pay for a position at the time of posting. The pay offered to a selected candidate during hiring will be based on factors such as (but not limited to) the scope and responsibilities of the position, the candidate’s work experience and education/training, internal peer equity, and applicable legal requirements.

Reporting

Reports to: Executive Director of External Engagement. Direct reports: One assistant director.

Why Brandeis?

Brandeis University is making a significant investment in experiential learning as part of its vision for the future of liberal arts education. Students are already participating in exceptional internships, research, community‑engaged learning, and applied projects across the university. The next step is building a coordinated, university‑wide ecosystem that expands access to high‑quality experiential learning, strengthens partnerships across the university, and makes these opportunities a defined and recognized part of every Brandeis student’s education.

Equal Opportunity Statement

Brandeis University is an equal opportunity employer which does not discriminate against any applicant or employee on the basis of race, color, ancestry, religious creed, gender identity and expression, national or ethnic origin, sex, sexual orientation, pregnancy, age, genetic information, disability, caste, military or veteran status or any other category protected by law (also known as membership in a "protected class").