Assistant Director for Corporate and Employer Engagement- Cornell Duffield Engineering Office of External Collaboration and Innovation

Who We Are

The Cornell Duffield Engineering Office of External Collaboration and Innovation empowers students to explore and pursue meaningful career paths by connecting them with real-world opportunities in industry, research, entrepreneurship, and public impact. Through a broad network of employer, alumni, and campus partnerships, we support inclusive and strategic talent development pipelines. Corporate and employer engagement is a cornerstone of our work--we collaborate closely with colleagues across Cornell to help industry partners identify, recruit, and invest in the exceptional talent and research collaboration opportunities within Cornell Duffield Engineering.

Corporate Engagement within the Office of External Collaboration and Innovation serves as a vital bridge between Cornell Duffield Engineering and industry, cultivating strategic partnerships that include collaborative research, sponsored projects, experiential learning, recruitment and innovation sponsorships. Through proactive outreach, account management, alignment with faculty, advancement, and student programs, the corporate engagement team ensures companies have meaningful and sustained access to Cornell's intellectual capital, research and talent.

What You Will Do

The Assistant Director for Corporate and Employer Engagement plays a key role in advancing Cornell Duffield Engineering's external engagement strategy by supporting and expanding relationships with corporate partners. Reporting to the Senior Associate Director for Corporate and Employer Engagement within the Office of External Collaboration and Innovation, the Assistant Director helps align industry partnerships with the college's research, education, and talent development priorities.

This position focuses on identifying and cultivating opportunities for faculty collaboration across a range of engagement models, including research sponsorships, recruitment pipelines, innovation partnerships, and co-curricular programming. The Assistant Director coordinates closely with faculty, alumni affairs and development, and university partners to ensure a streamlined and inclusive experience for external stakeholders.

As a member of a dynamic and cross-functional team, the Assistant Director contributes to relationship management, proposal development, corporate outreach, and tracking of engagement metrics. This role supports the operational and strategic needs of the corporate engagement function and helps ensure that companies experience the full breadth of opportunities to invest in and partner with Cornell Duffield Engineering.

Responsibilities of the role include:

• Assisting in developing and implementing strategies to engage corporate partners with Cornell Duffield Engineering.
• Coordinating and support meetings between faculty and external corporate contacts.
• Researching and track corporate trends, interests, and opportunities aligned with faculty strengths.
• Maintaining CRM records and prepare background materials, briefings, and presentations for partner meetings.
• Supporting cross-functional partnerships across research, innovation, and career functions.
• Collaborating with university units including University Foundation Relations and Corporate Philanthropy in Alumni Affairs and Development, Vice Provost for Research, Vice President for Innovation and External Engagement Strategy, and University Career Development.
• Helping manage events, campus visits, and communications that showcase engagement opportunities.

What We Need

• Bachelor's degree and 3-5 years of experience or equivalent experience in business development, corporate outreach, public relations, or similar area.
• Strong group facilitation, organization, and project management skills.
• Prior experience in proactively developing corporate/university partnerships highly desirable. Ability to understand and communicate technical, scientific, and educational activities essential.
• Proven effective written and verbal communication skills, including the proven ability to conceive, develop, and write proposals that result in action.
• Must be team-oriented, self-directed, and able to effectively manage priorities and projects.

It would be a bonus if you have any of the following:

• Master's degree preferred. Experience in development, fundraising, public affairs, and/or marketing extremely helpful.

Important Notes about Applying

• A cover letter and resume outlining your interest and how your experience and goals align with the potential for mutual success in the role are required for consideration.
• This role requires occasional weekend and evening work.
• There is no relocation assistance available for this position.
• There is no visa sponsorship available for this position.

Rewards and Benefits

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Non-Union Positions

Noted pay ranges reflect the potential pay opportunity for each job profile. The hiring rate of pay for the successful candidate will be determined considering the following criteria:

• Prior relevant work or industry experience

• Education level to the extent education is relevant to the position

• Unique applicable skills

• Academic Discipline

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Cornell welcomes students, faculty, and staff with diverse backgrounds from across the globe to pursue world-class education and career opportunities, to further the founding principle of "... any person ... any study." No person shall be denied employment on the basis of any legally protected status or subjected to prohibited discrimination involving, but not limited to, such factors as race, ethnic or national origin, citizenship and immigration status, color, sex, pregnancy or pregnancy-related conditions, age, creed, religion, actual or perceived disability (including persons associated with such a person), arrest and/or conviction record, military or veteran status, sexual orientation, gender expression and/or identity, an individual's genetic information, domestic violence victim status, familial status, marital status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state, or local law.

Cornell University embraces diversity in its workforce and seeks job candidates who will contribute to a climate that supports students, faculty, and staff of all identities and backgrounds. We hire based on merit, and encourage people from historically underrepresented and/or marginalized identities to apply. Consistent with federal law, Cornell engages in affirmative action in employment for qualified protected veterans as defined in the Vietnam Era Veterans' Readjustment Assistance Act (VEVRAA) and qualified individuals with disabilities under Section 503 of the Rehabilitation Act. We also recognize a lawful preference in employment practices for Native Americans living on or near Indian reservations in accordance with applicable law.