Strategic Director, Experiential Learning & Internships

Emerson College; Boston (MA); On-site; USD 82,000 - 103,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health plans

Dental plans

401(k) retirement plan

Job summary

Emerson College in Boston seeks a Director, Internships and Work-Based Education to provide institution-wide strategic leadership for internships and experiential learning across credit-bearing and non-credit programs. You will align with academic priorities, work with faculty and industry partners, and shape policies, systems, and practices.

The role emphasizes accessibility, quality, and student outcomes, leads governance, expands paid opportunities, and ensures compliance with labor laws.

Qualifications

• Master's degree required in Counseling, Higher Education, Human Resources, or related field.
• 7-10 years of progressively responsible experience in experiential learning, internships, academic program development, career services, and/or related higher education leadership.
• Expertise and leadership in internship and work-based learning strategy, program design, policy development, and compliance.
• Demonstrated success building trusted partnerships with faculty, academic leadership, and senior institutional stakeholders.
• Experience leading complex, cross-functional initiatives, governance structures, and institution-wide change.
• Experience using data, assessment, and benchmarking to inform institutional strategy and executive decision-making.

Responsibilities

• Provide institution-wide strategic leadership for internships and work-based education, establishing shared vision, priorities, strategy, and guiding practices.
• Lead the development, implementation, and continuous improvement of a comprehensive institutional framework for internships and work-based learning.
• Ensure internship and work-based learning strategy is aligned with student success, access, academic quality, and post-graduate outcomes.
• Partner with the Director, Industry Relations to align employer pipelines and internship opportunities with institutional priorities.
• Co-chair the cross-college internship committee, setting agendas and priorities with academic departments, academic affairs, legal, risk management, career services.

Skills

Work-based learning

Executive-level influencing

Data analysis

Policy development

Stakeholder engagement

Education

Master's degree in Counseling, Higher Education, Human Resources, or related field

Job description

Emerson College in Boston seeks a Director, Internships and Work-Based Education to provide institution-wide strategic leadership for internships and experiential learning across credit-bearing and non-credit programs. You will align with academic priorities, work with faculty and industry partners, and shape policies, systems, and practices.

The role emphasizes accessibility, quality, and student outcomes, leads governance, expands paid opportunities, and ensures compliance with labor laws.