Director of Economic Development
Director of Economic Development
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$ 130000 - 180000
1 Vacancy
Job Description
All fulltime university staff are eligible for VCUs robust benefits package that includes: comprehensive health benefits paid annual and holiday leave granted up front generous tuition benefit retirement planning and savings options taxdeferred annuity and cash match programs employee discounts wellbeing resources abundant opportunities for career development and advancement and more. Learn more about VCUs benefits here.
About VCU:
Welcome to VCU ... a world unlike any other.
We combine learning research creativity service and discovery with a commitment to excellence. Ranked by U.S. News as one of the most innovative public universities in the country VCU is a premier urban public research university home to multiple nationally ranked programs. Here your success is supported and your career can thrive. VCU offers a generous leave package career paths for advancement competitive pay and missiondriven work. We advance a conscientious drive to support a climate where excellence and success for all people are valued and differences are celebrated. Together we can be unstoppable.
Unit Description:
We design strategic partnerships and researchdriven training programs that bridge higher education and industry enhancing student experiential learning and internship experiences developing leaders who can bring about transformative change and driving sustainable economic impact. Done well our work raises the visibility of VCU and its students with potential partners and employers empowers academic units to
accelerate and improve their experiential learning offerings and develops award winning leadership and economic development models and programs adopted by other institutions.
We explore the future of work through multiple perspectives and disciplines. We design opportunities for creators entrepreneurs and lifelong learners to create value and sustainable impact. From internships and experiential learning opportunities to upskilling and new paradigms for creatives and creators we believe the future of work is dynamic and ever evolving. We empower clients to anticipate and thrive in the future by designing strategic partnerships that educate inspire innovation and drive realworld testingall with the goal of achieving sustainable economic growth and transformative societal impact.
Position Primary Purpose:
The Director of Economic Development supports the Vice Provost for Innovation and Strategic Design in advancing economic development regional collaboration and other initiatives that require broad institutional participation in support of student experiential learning opportunities internships and entrepreneurial activities. The Director is responsible for planning developing implementing and directing programs that engage public and private sectors in transformative learning experiences at VCU enhancing the universitys image in the community and at large and enlisting local state and federal legislative and private support for VCUs innovation and strategic partnerships.
Responsibilities
Builds and fosters relationships with key government figures philanthropic entities leaders of business and industry partners and community leaders to obtain their support of the universitys transformative learning programs and crossdisciplinary innovation and entrepreneurship offerings.
Develops and implements programs to increase the universitys voice and visibility in regional and national economic development settings.
Serves as a liaison and external face and conduit for initiatives related to economic development regional collaboration and other initiatives that require broad institutional participation.
Provides centralized leadership in an effort to collaborate and coordinate economic pathways for students with existing VCU centers and other units (i.e Career Services DAR and CPE)
Facilitates connections between the universitys entrepreneurial programs and the business community.
Identifies and cultivates relationships with corporate partners to create mutually beneficial opportunities.
Negotiates and manages agreements with corporate partners ensuring compliance with university policies and objectives.
Represents the university in corporate and community settings to enhance its reputation and visibility.
Engages with local national and international organizations to expand the universitys network and influence.
Minimum qualifications:
Significant knowledge of regional and national economic development trends and landscapes.
Experience recruiting and stewarding corporations non profits and other external partners in a higher education setting.
Demonstrated experience building programs and pathways that connect higher education students to employers (e.g capstone projects VIPs internships and full time employment).
Demonstrated experience working in and fostering an environment of
respect professionalism and civility with a population of faculty staff and
students from various backgrounds and experiences or a commitment to
do so as a staff member at VCU.
Must have an advanced degree or training and work experience at a level that equates to an advanced degree.
Preferred qualifications:
The successful candidate should possess a masters degree in educational leadership public administration or communications.
Familiarity with higher education governance in Virginia.
Experience engaging employers in capstone sponsored projects internships and other experiential learning and student employment opportunities.
Knowledge of workforce development ecosystems and support mechanisms.
Experience with postsecondary career services.
Demonstrated leadership on multiyear agreements or programs involving Fortune 500 companies
Ability to work collaboratively with various stakeholders including students faculty and corporate partners.
Rebekah Jewers
Required Experience:
Director
Employment Type
Full Time
