Workforce Partnerships & Community Engagement Lead

Alabama-A; Normal (AL); On-site; USD 65,000 - 85,000; Full time

Job summary

Alabama A&M University in Normal, AL, seeks an Assistant Director of Workforce Development, Employer Relations & Community Engagement to design and expand career-readiness and employer engagement initiatives aligned with the university’s mission and regional economic development.

The role builds corporate partnerships, expands experiential learning like internships and co-ops, coordinates with local agencies, and supports student career readiness through panels, site visits, mock interviews.

Qualifications

• Master’s degree required in a related field.
• 3–5 years in career services, workforce development, or employer relations.
• Ability to build partnerships with employers and community stakeholders.
• Strong communication and organizational skills.
• Experience with industry cluster strategies or sector-based workforce models.
• Familiarity with equity-centered workforce initiatives.
• Data-informed decision-making and program assessment experience.

Responsibilities

• Identify, cultivate, and manage relationships with corporate partners across targeted industry clusters.
• Assist in developing new employer partnerships for internships, externships, co-op programs, and full-time employment pipelines.
• Maintain an active portfolio of employers and track engagement outcomes (recruitment, placements, partnerships).
• Pursue grant opportunities related to workforce development and employer engagement.
• Pursue grant writing opportunities.
• Support work-based learning programs, including internships, co-ops, apprenticeships, and micro-internships.
• Coordinate employer-driven opportunities aligned with academic programs and workforce needs.
• Maintain databases of student placements and employer partnerships.
• Collaborate with local, regional, and state workforce agencies, chambers of commerce, and community organizations.
• Represent the AAMU department at workforce development initiatives, career fairs, and industry events.
• Assist in aligning programs with state and regional labor market trends and workforce needs.
• Support employer-led programming (panels, site visits, mock interviews).
• Provide career coaching and advising to students.
• Track and report data on internships, employment outcomes, and employer engagement.
• Assist with career fairs, recruitment events, and employer visits.
• Support grant initiatives and workforce development programming as assigned.

Skills

Strong communication

Relationship-building

Organizational skills

Data-informed decision-making

Education

Master’s degree in Higher Education, Business, Workforce Development, or related field

Tools

Handshake

Symplicity

Job description

Alabama A&M University in Normal, AL, seeks an Assistant Director of Workforce Development, Employer Relations & Community Engagement to design and expand career-readiness and employer engagement initiatives aligned with the university’s mission and regional economic development.

The role builds corporate partnerships, expands experiential learning like internships and co-ops, coordinates with local agencies, and supports student career readiness through panels, site visits, mock interviews.