Manager - Industry Partnerships

Job Context

The Office for Experiential Learning (Learning through Action in Business) at the ISB (hereon referred to as The LAB) aims to revolutionize business education by integrating hands-on, real-world experiences into the curriculum.

The LAB’s vision is to empower students with the practical skills, innovative mindset, and strategic acumen through immersive, real-world experiences preparing them to lead with purpose in a rapidly evolving global business landscape.

Job Purpose

Establish and nurture strategic partnerships with industry leaders to create a robust pipeline of experiential learning (EL) opportunities for students. Cultivate mutually beneficial relationships that enhance student learning, career development, and industry engagement. Partner with the Program Management team to successfully drive successful outcomes for the industry partners.

Job Outline

The Industry Liaison Manager is a key driver of The LAB’s success, responsible for forging and maintaining strong connections with industry partners. This role involves identifying potential collaborators, sourcing experiential learning projects, developing project proposals, and ensuring seamless execution of EL initiatives. The Industry Liaison Manager acts as a bridge between academia and industry, facilitating meaningful interactions that enrich the learning experience for students and provide valuable insights for industry partners. The effectiveness of the Industry Liaison Manager will be measured by the number and quality of industry partnerships, the diversity of EL opportunities available to students, and the positive impact on student outcomes and career trajectories.

Key Responsibilities and % Time Spent

Partnership Development and Management

• Design a holistic project sourcing strategy and implement the same.
• Develop and maintain a comprehensive database of industry contacts and potential collaborators
• Initiate and lead discussions with industry representatives to explore potential EL projects and partnerships
• Identify and engage with potential stakeholders / industry partners across various sectors to establish network, arrange meetings and support in customer outreach for identifying engagement possibilities – Lead generation and customer outreach
• Negotiate and finalize partnership agreements with external partners, ensuring alignment with program objectives and learning outcomes
• Cultivate long-term relationships with industry and execution partners through regular communication, engagement, and feedback mechanisms – including for engagements like field immersions - 50%

Project Scoping and Proposal Development

• Collaborate with faculty members and industry partners to define project scope, objectives, and deliverables for experiential courses, immersions
• Develop detailed project proposals outlining the outcomes, timelines, resource requirements, and execution methodology
• Present project proposals to industry partners and secure their commitment and support
• Ensure project proposals align with the strategic goals of The LAB and the overall educational mission of the institution - 30%

Industry Engagement and Outreach

• Organize and participate in industry events, conferences, workshops, and networking opportunities to promote the Office of Experiential Learning and its programs
• Represent the institution at industry forums and contribute to discussions on experiential learning trends and best practices
• Develop and deliver presentations, workshops, and training sessions to industry partners on the benefits and value of collaborating with the institution
• Communicate effectively with stakeholders on all their Program Management and business development related queries. Facilitate discussions with the client to elaborate on the areas of proposed improvements
• Stay abreast of industry trends, challenges, and emerging technologies to identify new opportunities for collaboration and innovation - 20%

Required Qualifications

Knowledge / Education/ Experience

• Master's degree in business administration, marketing, communications, or a related field
• 7+ years of experience in business development, sales, partnership management, or a similar role
• Experience in the education sector or working with academic institutions is a plus
• Strong understanding of industry trends, challenges, and emerging technologies
• Excellent networking and relationship-building skills

Additional Qualifications and Skills

• Exceptional communication and interpersonal skills, both written and verbal
• Ability to influence and persuade stakeholders at all levels
• Strong negotiation and problem-solving skills
• Proficiency in CRM tools and other relevant software
• Ability to work independently and as part of a team
• Self-motivated and results-oriented with a passion for fostering industry-academia collaborations.

Job Interface/Relationships:

Internal

• Director, Office of Experiential Learning
• Faculty members
• Students
• Program Managers
• Career Advancement Services
• Alumni Engagement Office

External

• Industry partners
• Corporate executives
• Government agencies
• External vendors and service providers