Chief of Strategic Workforce Partnerships

The Chief of Strategic Workforce Partnerships serves as the universitys chief strategist for external engagement workforce development innovation partnerships and career pathways. Reporting directly to the President the Chief of Strategic Workforce Partnerships and develops and strengthens strategic partnerships with industry employers workforce organizations and economic development partners to advance student success accelerate innovation and drive economic growth for the state.

The position provides executive leadership for the Career Design Center and leads a coordinated university-wide strategy to expand internships apprenticeships experiential learning and employment opportunities for students. Working collaboratively across academic affairs student success research extension government relations advancement and statewide campuses the Chief of Strategic Workforce Partnerships strengthens partnerships with employers industry and workforce organizations to connect the universitys students talent research and expertise with the needs of Utahs workforce while ensuring every student has access to meaningful career-connected learning and employment opportunities before graduation.

• Serve as the universitys primary cabinet level liaison with employers industry associations chambers of commerce and workforce organizations.
• Lead the development of innovative employer-sponsored education models that connect students with paid employment tuition assistance internships apprenticeships and career pathways while helping employers meet current and future workforce needs.
• Build strategic partnerships that expand internships apprenticeships co-ops clinical placements and employment opportunities for students and graduates.
• Supervise the USU Career Design Center.
• Provide strategic leadership for a university-wide network of career services leaders to align institutional priorities coordinate employer engagement and enhance the delivery of career development services while respecting the unique needs of academic disciplines.
• Monitor workforce labor market and industry trends and advise university leadership on emerging workforce needs and opportunities.
• Partner with academic leadership to align academic programs credentials and experiential learning opportunities with workforce demand.
• Develop strategic partnerships that connect employers with the universitys talent research innovation workforce development and outreach capabilities.
• Develop initiatives that ensure every student has access to meaningful career exploration
  professional development and work-based learning opportunities prior to graduation.
• Foster collaboration among industry advisory councils and employer partners to identify opportunities share best practices and strengthen workforce engagement across the university.
• Collaborate with Advancement and Alumni Relations to engage alumni and industry leaders in mentoring recruiting and career development initiatives.
• Represent the university in statewide workforce economic development and industry partnership initiatives.
• Develop metrics and accountability measures related to employer engagement student employment outcomes internships and workforce partnerships.
• Develop and implement a university-wide employer and industry engagement strategy that coordinates partnerships across colleges statewide campuses Extension research innovation and administrative units reducing duplication and providing a coordinated experience for external partners.
• Advance the universitys land-grant mission by strengthening connections between education workforce development industry and communities across Utah.
• Establish a university-wide innovation governance framework including advisory and
  venture boards that bring external perspectives into institutional decision-making and build a corporate partner ecosystem across the university.
• Lead university-industry innovation hub development connecting students faculty
  researchers and companies around shared challenges and opportunities.
• Advise technology transfer and commercialization functions ensuring university discoveries reach the marketplace efficiently and generate sustained reinvestment in institutional priorities.
• Position the university as a regional and national anchor for innovation-led economic development attracting investment talent and high-growth companies.
• Advance an entrepreneurial culture across all levels of the institution - students faculty staff and administration - through programming incentives maker spaces accelerators and communities of practice.
• Lead institution-wide innovation initiatives that optimize operational resources eliminate
  structural inefficiencies and improve organizational agility across administrative and academic units.

Goals:

• Every student who wants an internship and/or work experience can obtain one.
• Every graduate receives career coaching before graduation.
• Every college has strategic employer partners.
• Every region served by USU has a network of employers engaged with the university.
• USU becomes the preferred talent pipeline for Utah employers.

Minimum Qualifications:

• Masters degree and thirteen (13) years of related work experience including nine (9) years of leadership experience OR an equivalent combination of education and work experience.
• Proven executive leadership experience driving innovation and transformation in a complex multi-stakeholder institution (higher education government or large enterprise).
• Deep understanding of the evolving role of higher education and of the role of research institutions in the higher education ecosystem.
• Track record of building cross-functional coalitions and leading culture change.
• Exceptional external relationship-building skills with corporate civic government and philanthropic leaders.
• Experience with enterprise nonprofit governance diversified revenue models and/or economic development strategy.
• Proven success structuring and closing complex high-value partnerships.
• Outstanding written and verbal communication skills including experience preparing materials for executive leaders governing boards or public audiences.
• Experience using data and evidence to inform strategic decisions.
• Commitment to collaboration transparency and shared governance within higher education.

Along with the online application please attach:

1. Resume to be uploaded at the beginning of your application in the Candidate Profile under Resume/CV
2. Cover letter to be typed/pasted at the end of your application

**Document size may not exceed 10 MB.**

General Office Work:
Employees work indoors and are protected from weather and/or contaminants but not necessarily occasional temperature changes. The employee is regularly required to sit and often uses repetitive hand motions.

Founded in 1888 Utah State University is Utahs premier land-grant public service university. As an R1 research institution Utah State is dedicated to advancing knowledge and serving the public good through innovative research and scholarly activities that are grounded in reciprocal engagement with local regional and global communities. USU prepares students to be active civically engaged leaders who are prepared to address critical societal challenges. Dedicated to providing a high-quality and affordable education USU remains a leader in research discovery and public impact.

USU enrolls over 29800 students both online and in person atlocations throughout the state.Utah States 30 locations include a main campus in Logan Utah residential campuses in Price and Blanding and six additional statewide campuses along with education centers serving every county. USU educates students from all 50 states and more than 80 countries. For over 100 years USU Extension has served and engaged Utahns serving every county in the state.

Competing at the NCAA Division I level in 16 sports USU is a proud member of the Pac-12 Conference officially joining on July 1 2026. The Aggies capped a historic final season in the Mountain West by capturing nine combined regular-season and tournament titles in 202526 with five teams advancing to postseason play. This tradition of excellence extends to the classroom where 232 student-athletes earned academic honors and to the community where USU ranked second nationally in Division I service hours with nine teams placing in the top 10 for community service.

Utah State is dedicated to fostering a community where all individuals feel respected valued and supported and where diversity of thought and culture are cultivated. We seek to recruit hire and retain people from all walks of life who willchampion excellence in education research discovery outreach and believe that promoting a strong sense of community and belonging empowers and engages all members of USU to thrive and be recognized our commitment to employees when they namedUtah State the best employer in Utahin 2023.Learn moreabout USU.

The university provides aDual Career Assistance Programto support careers for partners who are also seeking is committed to providing access and a reasonable accommodation for individuals with disabilities. To request a reasonable accommodation for a disability contact the universitys ADA Coordinator in the Office of Human Resources at or.

*updated 07/2026

In its programs and activities including in admissions and employment Utah State University does not discriminate or tolerate discrimination including harassment based on race color religion sex national origin age genetic information sexual orientation gender identity disability status as a protected veteran or any other status protected by University policy Title IX or any other federal state or local law.

Utah State University is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate or tolerate discrimination including harassment in employment including in hiring promotion transfer or termination based on race color religion sex national origin age genetic information sexual orientation gender identity disability status as a protected veteran or any other status protected by University policy or any other federal state or local law.

Utah State University does not discriminate in its housing offerings and will treat all persons fairly and equally without regard to race color religion sex familial status disability national origin source of income sexual orientation or gender identity. Additionally the University endeavors to provide reasonable accommodations when necessary and to ensure equal access to qualified persons with disabilities.

In all circumstances Utah State University follows state and federal laws related to sex-segregated spaces.

The following office has been designated to handle inquiries regarding the application of Title IX and its implementing regulations and/or USUs non-discrimination policies:

Civil Rights & Title IX Office

Old Main Room 405

1475 Old Main Hill Logan UT 84322

For further information regarding non-discrimination please visit or contact:

U.S. Department of Education

Denver Regional Office

U.S. Department of Education

Office of Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights

*updated 08/2026