Job description
The Executive Director of Career and Workforce Engagement provides strategic leadership and vision for Saint Leo University in advancing a comprehensive and innovative model of career development, experiential learning, and workforce readiness. This role leads the development of an integrated ecosystem that supports all students, including traditional, adult, online, domestic, and international learners, from entry through post-graduation.
Working collaboratively across academic affairs, student affairs, enrollment management, advancement, and external partners, the Executive Director embeds career readiness throughout the student experience, strengthens employer and community partnerships, and ensures services remain responsive to evolving regional, national, and global workforce trends. The role also oversees assessment and outcomes reporting for internal and external stakeholders to drive continuous improvement in student success and post-graduate outcomes.
A successful candidate will demonstrate substantial, longitudinal experience engaging a wide range of corporate, industry, and workforce stakeholders, with a proven and demonstrable record of independently leading complex partnerships. This includes meaningful engagement with employers, workforce development agencies, economic development organizations, business incubators, and professional associations to align academic programs with current and emerging labor market needs.
Job Description
Duties & Tasks
- Provide strategic leadership and execution for a comprehensive career and workforce engagement strategies that aligns with Saint Leo University’s mission, academic programs, and the evolving needs of today’s workforce across University Campus and Worldwide populations.
- Integrate artificial intelligence tools and emerging technologies into career development and workforce readiness initiatives to enhance student preparation, employer engagement, and global service delivery.
- Develop, negotiate, and steward memoranda of understanding (MOUs) with corporate, nonprofit, government, and community partners that create mutually beneficial pipelines for internships, externships, applied learning experiences, employment, and workforce-aligned academic programming.
- Serve as the University’s primary external-facing leader for career and workforce partnerships, maintaining an active presence in local and regional chambers of commerce, employer coalitions, workforce boards, and industry associations.
- Lead the creation, implementation, and ongoing support of degree-specific employer advisory boards in collaboration with academic leadership to ensure curricula align with industry expectations, skills demand, and workforce trends.
- Establish and chair a Workforce Engagement Advisory Board composed of industry leaders, alumni, faculty, and community partners to inform strategy, expand employer engagement, and guide workforce-aligned initiatives.
- Build and sustain a comprehensive employer engagement strategy that increases the quality, diversity, and accessibility of internships, experiential learning opportunities, and post-graduate employment pathways for students and alumni.
- Collaborate closely with faculty, deans, and department chairs to embed career readiness, experiential learning, and employer engagement into academic programs and the co-curricular experience.
- Lead a robust alumni engagement strategy focused on career mentoring, employer partnerships, experiential learning opportunities, and workforce outcomes in collaboration with Advancement and Alumni Relations.
- Oversee and continuously enhance on-campus, virtual, and global recruitment initiatives, including employer engagement events, career fairs, interviews, and networking opportunities.
- Utilize data analytics, assessment, and outcomes reporting to evaluate workforce initiatives, employer partnerships, student engagement, and post-graduation career results, including required career and employment outcomes compliance reporting (e.g., accreditation, federal, and institutional), and use insights to inform strategy and demonstrate impact for Saint Leo University.
- Provide leadership, supervision, and professional development for Career and Workforce Engagement staff, fostering a culture of innovation, accountability, collaboration, and student-centered service.
- Manage fiscal planning, budgeting, staffing, and operational oversight for the Career and Workforce Engagement unit in alignment with divisional and university priorities.
- Leverage technology and digital platforms to enhance employer engagement, alumni connectivity, student access, and global career services delivery.
- Maintain strong communication and coordination with Worldwide staff to ensure equitable and high-quality career and workforce services for all Saint Leo students regardless of location or modality.
- Represent Saint Leo University through professional associations, community organizations, and industry groups to advance institutional visibility, partnerships, and workforce relevance.
- Serve as an active and engaged member of the Division of Student Affairs leadership team and contribute to university-wide initiatives as assigned.
- Uphold and actively promote Saint Leo University’s core values of Personal Development, Responsible Stewardship, Integrity, Community, Excellence, and Respect in all aspects of leadership and engagement.
REQUIRED KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES:
Knowledge:
- Master’s degree preferred in Higher Education, Business Administration, or a related field
- Minimum of 10 years of higher education career services experience required. Strong preference for candidates with substantial leadership experience and a proven record of supporting a diverse student population, including on campus, online, and globally distributed learners.
Skills:
- Exceptional oral, written, analytical, and presentation skills across in-person and virtual environments
- Substantial, progressive leadership experience in corporate engagement, business development, workforce partnerships, or industry-facing roles
- Strong marketing skills, including brand management and the effective use of technology
- Demonstrated experience independently leading complex, multi-stakeholder partnerships with corporate leaders, workforce development agencies, economic development organizations, business incubators, and industry associations
- Proven ability to translate workforce trends and employer needs into academic program innovation, experiential learning opportunities, internships, and career pipelines
- Experience collaborating with external stakeholders to design workforce-aligned credentials, certificates, or industry-responsive academic programs
- Record of securing or supporting grants, partnerships, or sponsored initiatives tied to workforce or economic development priorities
- Familiarity with regional and national workforce data and the ability to leverage labor market intelligence to inform academic strategy
- Experience in progressive leadership roles within a complex organization (higher education, healthcare, nonprofit, government, or corporate environment)
- Ability to collaborate with University Advancement and other key partners on shared engagement strategies that strengthen relationships with employers, alumni, donors, and corporate partners
- Provides leadership for the planning and execution of internal and external events involving shared stakeholders (e.g., University Advancement), ensuring coordination that advances partnership development, experiential opportunities, and philanthropic engagement
Abilities:
- Ability to build relationships and partnerships with a wide variety of stakeholders
- Ability to manage interpersonal communication in a team environment
- Ability to balance many tasks and responsibilities simultaneously
- Ability to develop and implement creative and innovative programs and services in a timely way
ENVIRONMENT:
The work environment characteristics described here are a representation of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable qualified individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. The term “qualified individual with a disability” means an individual with a disability who, with or without reasonable accommodation, can perform the essential functions of this position.
While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to communicate professionally in person, over the telephone, through email and other electronic means, move about the office and University, handle various type of media and equipment, and visually or otherwise identify, observe and assess. The employee is occasionally required to lift up to 10 pounds unless otherwise specified in the job description.
NOTICE:
The intent of this job description is to provide a representation of the types of duties and responsibilities that will be required of positions given this title and shall not be construed as a declaration of the total specific duties and responsibilities of any particular position. Employees may be directed to perform job-related tasks other than those specifically presented in this description. Saint Leo University is an Equal Opportunity Employer and embraces diversity as a critical step in ensuring employee, student and graduate success.
Why Work at Saint Leo?
What it’s Like to Work Here: Ask our employees and the one word they’d use to describe working at Saint Leo University is “Community.” Our team members all share the Saint Leo core values, positive attitudes, and problem-solving abilities, enabling them to provide excellent student centered service. Our mission is educating and preparing students for life and leadership in a challenging world. Thank you for your interest in joining the Saint Leo PRIDE!
We are committed to providing our employees with the support they need. At Saint Leo, we offer an array of medical, dental, and vision packages as well as several add-on perks to make your benefits package truly customizable to you and your family needs. Available benefits based on employment status (Full Time vs Part Time).
- FREE Tuition – Employee, Spouse, and Dependents*
- Tuition Exchange Opportunity – Dependent of Employees*
- Generous Paid Leave – Sick, Vacation, and Holidays
- Comprehensive Group Health Plan (Medical, Dental, and Vision)
- Group Medical Plan includes Teledoc, Surgery Plus, Wellness Incentive Program and more!
- 100% Employer-Funded Health Reimbursement Account
- 100% Employer-Paid Short Term Disability Insurance
- 100% Employer-Funded Employee Assistance Program (healthcare and dependent options)
- Employer-provided life insurance
- Discounted On-Campus Dining Meal Plans
- Nationwide Pet Insurance
- Flexible Spending Accounts
- 403b Retirement Plan
- Wellness Center
*Eligibility based on meeting required service period
2025 ICUBA Benefits Guide_St Leo
