Strategic Industry Partnerships Lead

Northeast Iowa Community College; Dubuque (IA); On-site; USD 48,000 - 58,000; Full time

Job summary

Northeast Iowa Community College in Dubuque is seeking a Strategic Partner Specialist to serve as the primary account manager, connecting regional business leaders with NICC’s trades, credit, and short-term training pipelines.

You will drive strategic regional workforce alignment by securing formal commitments from employer partners and ensuring they engage year-round, directly contributing to curriculum improvements.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration, Communications, Workforce Development, Education, or related field.
• 3+ years professional experience in business development, consultative B2B sales, high-stakes stakeholder facilitation, or workforce development.
• Proven track record of influencing executive decision-makers and achieving target outcomes.
• Must possess a valid driver’s license.
• Willingness to travel to employer sites, NICC locations, and community events within the district.

Responsibilities

• Conduct consultative business calls with executive decision-makers to assess workforce needs and secure partnerships.
• Design, negotiate, implement, and manage apprenticeship programs and work-based learning in collaboration with employer leadership and faculty.
• Facilitate regional industry boards to align workforce needs and influence curriculum.
• Oversee grants, track KPIs, secure employer matching commitments, and ensure compliance with grants and benchmarks.
• Maintain relationships with regional employers, coordinate classroom and experiential activities, and refer connections to NICC departments.

Skills

Business development

Consultative sales

Stakeholder facilitation

Relationship building

Strategic thinking

Education

Bachelor's degree

Job description

Northeast Iowa Community College in Dubuque is seeking a Strategic Partner Specialist to serve as the primary account manager, connecting regional business leaders with NICC’s trades, credit, and short-term training pipelines.

You will drive strategic regional workforce alignment by securing formal commitments from employer partners and ensuring they engage year-round, directly contributing to curriculum improvements.