Director of Career Partnerships

Career Guide

A Director of Career Partnerships builds and grows relationships with employers and community partners to create strong job and internship pipelines for students or program participants. The role blends business development, relationship management, and outcomes leadership to ensure placements, hiring commitments, and long-term partner value.

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Key Responsibilities

Develop a partnership strategy aligned to placement goals and target industries
Secure employer commitments for internships, apprenticeships, and full-time roles
Build and maintain executive relationships with hiring leaders and recruiters
Design partnership offers that are clear, valuable, and easy for employers to adopt
Collaborate with career coaches to match candidates to partner roles
Track hiring outcomes, pipeline health, and partner satisfaction
Lead a partnerships team and set performance goals
Create repeatable outreach and follow-up processes
Represent the organization at employer events and industry forums
Negotiate partnership terms such as hiring targets, timelines, and engagement plans

Top Skills for Success

Relationship Building

Employer Outreach

Partnership Strategy

Negotiation

Stakeholder Management

Program Design

Outcome Reporting

Team Leadership

Pipeline Management

Employer Branding

Career Progression

Can Lead To

Senior Manager of Employer Partnerships

Manager of Career Services

Business Development Manager

University Relations Manager

Workforce Partnerships Manager

Transition Opportunities

Senior Director of Partnerships

Head of Employer Relations

Director of Workforce Development

Director of Career Services Vice President of Partnerships

Common Skill Gaps

Often Missing Skills

Structured Sales ProcessPricing and PackagingData AnalysisEmployer Account PlanningContract ReviewChange ManagementCRM Management

Development SuggestionsBuild a simple partnership funnel with clear stages, learn core reporting metrics tied to placements, and practice writing one page partnership proposals. Ask to co-lead one contract negotiation and own a quarterly employer outcomes report to strengthen commercial and data skills.

Market Intelligence Report

Director of Career Partnerships is part of the Revenue Partnerships category.Explore our market intelligence report to see how AI and hiring demand are shifting for these roles.

See the market intelligence report

Salary & Demand

Median Salary Range

Entry LevelUSD 90,000 to 120,000

Mid LevelUSD 120,000 to 160,000

Senior LevelUSD 160,000 to 220,000

Growth Trend

Steady growth, driven by universities, workforce training providers, and mission-driven organizations expanding employer networks and focusing more on measurable placement outcomes.

Companies Hiring

Major Employers

Universities and collegesCommunity collegesBootcamps and training providersWorkforce development nonprofitsStaffing firmsProfessional associationsEducation technology companiesHealthcare systemsLarge employers with early talent programsGovernment workforce agencies

Industry Sectors

Higher educationWorkforce developmentEducation technologyNonprofitStaffing and recruitingHealthcareTechnologyGovernment

Recommended Next Steps

Create a target employer list by industry, location, and hiring volume

Draft a partnership offer with clear value, timelines, and success measures

Set up a CRM workflow with stages, reminders, and reporting fields

Build a quarterly partner review template focused on hiring outcomes

Collect proof points such as placement rates and candidate quality feedback

Join local employer councils and industry groups to expand warm leads

Practice a short partnership pitch and refine it using employer feedback