Lead the development, implementation, and continuous
improvement of a comprehensive institutional framework for
internships and work-based learning.
Ensure internship and work-based education strategy is aligned
with institutional priorities related to student success, access,
academic quality, and post-graduate outcomes.
Partner with the Director, Industry Relations to align employer
pipelines and internship opportunities with institutional,
academic, operational, and policy priorities.
Serve as the institutional strategic lead for internship policy
and shared practices. Lead the development, communication, and
implementation of guidance related to academic credit and learning
outcomes, compensation and labor compliance (e.g., FLSA
considerations), risk management and liability, and international
internships and regulatory considerations. Ensure clear, accessible
guidance for students, faculty, staff, and employers.
Co-chair the cross-college internship committee, setting
agendas and priorities and bringing together stakeholders from
academic departments, academic affairs, legal, risk management,
career services, and other relevant areas to advance institutional
strategy and resolve cross-functional issues.
Lead cross-functional coordination to ensure internship
programs and practices align with legal, ethical, institutional,
and accreditation standards.
Partner with faculty and academic units to advance and expand
high-impact embedded work-based learning opportunities, including
credit-bearing internships, capstone and project-based courses, and
industry-sponsored courses or studios.
Provide strategic consultation and resources to faculty and
academic units related to learning outcomes, assessment frameworks,
and reflective components for experiential learning.
Lead the development, piloting, evaluation, and scaling of new
work-based learning models in partnership with faculty, academic
leaders, and external partners.
Expand access to experiences through micro-internships and
short-term projects, on-campus and campus-affiliated experiential
roles, and alumni and industry-sponsored projects.
Ensure institutional work-based learning models reflect the
realities of freelance, gig-based, entrepreneurial, and
portfolio-driven careers common in arts and media industries.
Set priorities and lead initiatives that address barriers to
participation, including funding, location constraints, and unpaid
work.
Advance broad access to high-quality internships and work-based
learning by identifying systemic barriers and leading
cross-institutional strategies to reduce them.
Partner with institutional and industry stakeholders to expand
paid internship opportunities, financial supports such as stipends
or micro-grants, and employer practices that support fair,
transparent, and skills-based recruitment.
Establish and monitor institutional measures of participation,
quality, and outcomes; identify trends, risks, and opportunities to
strengthen access and student success.
Provide strategic leadership and oversight for the EMTERN
program, including program direction, operations, assessment, and
continuous improvement.
Lead the development and management of systems to track
internship participation, credit vs. non-credit experiences,
employer engagement in experiential learning, and internship
conversion outcomes.
Use data, assessment, benchmarking, and stakeholder feedback to
set priorities, guide resource decisions, and drive continuous
improvement.
Develop executive-level reports and recommendations for
institutional leadership on impact, emerging trends, risks, and
opportunities for growth.
Benchmark institutional practices and outcomes against peer
institutions, national standards, and emerging best practices
(e.g., NACE), and recommend strategic changes as appropriate.
Provide strategic oversight of the end-to-end student
experience in internships and work-based learning, working across
teams to ensure coherence from preparation through experience and
reflection.
QUALIFICATIONS - Qualifications are deemed required or
preferred and represent what is needed to effectively perform
job.
- A Master's degree in Counseling, Higher Education, Human
Resources, or a related field required.
- 7-10 years of progressively responsible experience in
experiential learning, internships, academic program development,
career services, and/or related higher education leadership
required.
- Demonstrated expertise and leadership in internship and
work-based learning strategy, program design, policy development,
and compliance required.
- Demonstrated success building trusted partnerships with
faculty, academic leadership, and senior institutional stakeholders
required.
- Demonstrated success leading complex, cross-functional
initiatives, governance structures, and institution-wide change
required.
- Demonstrated experience using data, assessment, and
benchmarking to inform institutional strategy and executive-level
decision-making required.
- Experience in arts, media, communications, or creative
industries preferred.
- Experience designing programs for nonlinear, freelance, or
portfolio-based career pathways preferred.
- Experience with experiential learning technologies and
platforms preferred.
KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES - May be representative,
but not all-inclusive, of those knowledge, skills, and abilities
commonly associated with the job.
- Expert knowledge of work-based learning models, including
internships, project-based learning, and co-op frameworks
- Exceptional communication, facilitation, and executive-level
influencing skills across diverse stakeholder groups
- Familiarity with labor laws and regulations related to
internships (U.S. and/or international).
- Exceptional relationship-building, consultation, and
influencing skills
- Advanced knowledge of systems thinking, organizational change,
and program design
- Advanced knowledge of policy development, governance, and
cross-functional implementation
- Expert knowledge of market and industry trends and emerging
opportunities
- Strong understanding of academic governance and demonstrated
ability to partner effectively with faculty and academic
leaders
- Ability to translate complex data and institutional priorities
into strategic decisions and actionable recommendations
- Knowledge of fairness-oriented approaches to access and
opportunity
- Demonstrated ability to lead innovation and scale experiential
learning programs across an institution
- Advanced data analysis, assessment, and program evaluation
skills
PHYSICAL ABILITIES - Activities commonly associated with the
performance of the functions of this job. The physical demands
described below are representative of those that must be met by an
employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this
job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals
with disabilities to perform essential functions.
- Position is generally sedentary, requiring movement throughout
the area as needed.
- Ability to sit and concentrate for long periods of time.
- Continuous oral and written communication with co-workers,
students, and supervisors.
WORK ENVIRONMENT - Environmental or atmospheric conditions
commonly associated with the performance of the functions of this
job.
- General office conditions
- Exposed to moderate noise levels
Interested applicants, please submit a cover letter and resume.
Candidates who don't submit a resume and cover letter will be
declined.
Compensation: $82,150.00 - $102,650.00 annually, commensurate with
experience.
Grade of Position: 23-10E
Employment Category: Regular
.
Scheduled Weekly Hours: 36.25
In addition to a competitive salary, Emerson College is committed
to the health and well-being of our employees and family members.
We offer a generous benefits package to regular staff scheduled to
work 20+ hours per week.
Emerson Employment
Categories influence work schedules, benefits eligibility,
and time off policies. Benefits include outstanding health plans
with limited out-of-pocket expenses, dental plans, generous
time-off programs, and a 403(b) retirement benefit with a 9%
employer contribution once eligible. Additional benefits, such as
life and disability coverage and commuter offerings, are
available.
Please refer to our
benefits
website for a full list of benefits and eligibility
requirements.
To apply, please visit: https://emerson.wd5.myworkdayjobs.com/en-US/Emerson_College_Staff/job/Boston-Campus/Director--Internships-and-Work-Based-Education_JR009214
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