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

Who We Are

Building on our 150‑plus‑year legacy as one of the nation’s preeminent engineering colleges, the Cornell Duffield College of Engineering is a purpose‑driven, inclusive community committed to developing the knowledge, capabilities, and people needed to forge a better future. Comprising more than 10 schools and departments, we are rooted in Ithaca, New York, with a growing presence in New York City and a global network of alumni and collaborators. Guided by our core values, our faculty and staff regularly engage across disciplines and intentionally bring together a range of perspectives as they lead and support ambitious efforts to tackle societal challenges, develop the next generation of leaders, and make a meaningful difference in the world.

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

• Assisting in developing and implementing strategies to engage corporate partners with Cornell Duffield Engineering.
• Coordinating and supporting meetings between faculty and external corporate contacts.
• Researching and tracking corporate trends, interests, and opportunities aligned with faculty strengths.
• Maintaining CRM records and preparing 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

• This position is located in Ithaca, New York. The position will typically allow for the flexibility to work remotely 2 days per week at a location of employee’s choosing within the United States. The New York Convenience of employer guidelines require New York State individual tax reporting and withholdings for this position. Additional individual state income tax filings may also be required if working temporarily outside New York State.
• Cornell receives national recognition as an award‑winning workplace for our health, wellbeing, sustainability, and diversity initiatives. 
• Our benefits programs include comprehensive health care options, generous retirement contributions, access to wellness programs, and employee discounts with local and national retail brands. More information: Understand Your Benefits | Working at Cornell. 
• Leave provisions include three weeks of vacation and 13 holidays (Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, Memorial Day, Juneteenth, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving and the day after, and an end‑of‑the‑year winter break from December 25‑January 1). Two additional floating holidays are offered for greater flexibility. More details: Holiday and Accrued Time Off | Working at Cornell.
• Educational benefits include tuition‑free Extramural Study and Employee Degree Program, tuition aid for external education, and Cornell Children’s Tuition Assistance Program: Education Benefits | Working at Cornell.
• Learn more about the Total Rewards of Working at Cornell: Total Rewards.

Job Details

• University Job Title: External Relations Officer III
• Job Family: Administration
• Level: F
• Pay Rate Type: Salary
• Pay Range: $78,474.00 – $91,199.00
• Remote Option Availability: Hybrid
• Company: Endowed
• Contact Name: Daniel Hyland
• Contact Email: dbh226@cornell.edu

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

• To learn more about Cornell’s non‑union staff job titles and pay ranges, see Career Navigator.

Union Positions

• The hiring rate of pay for the successful candidate will be determined in accordance with the rates in the respective collective bargaining agreement.
• To learn more about Cornell’s union wages, see Union Pay Rates.

Application Process

• Online Submission Guidelines: Most positions at Cornell will require you to apply online and submit both a resume/CV and cover letter. You can upload documents either by “dragging and dropping” them into the dropbox or by using the “upload” icon on the application page. For more detailed instructions, visit How We Hire on the HR website.

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