Industry Engagement Specialist

Position Summary

Located 45 minutes from the Nation’s Capital, nestled in a history-rich community of southern Maryland, The College of Southern Maryland (CSM) is a two-time Aspen Award-winning institution (top 15% of Community Colleges) with academic programs in over 100 disciplines. CSM is among America’s top 100 producers of Minority Associate Degrees in twenty categories, according to Diverse Issues in Higher Education. CSM offers excellent health insurance benefits; State Retirement Pension plan; wellness programs; Code Green early closure Fridays in the summer; college closure for spring break and several major holidays, including the week between Christmas and New Year; and for several days in March for Spring Break. We are an innovative institution committed to student success and well known for our flexibility to meet student and community needs.

The individual in this position is pivotal to advancing the college in its goal of becoming the region’s first choice provider for talent and leadership development and workforce training. The Industry Engagement Specialist serves as an ambassador for the college and must be highly self-sufficient, motivated, focused and ambitious to successfully develop significant client relationships with a core client base. The results from establishing these relationships will enable the incumbent to become a strategic partner with key clients in facilitating the creation of work-based learning opportunities, i.e. internships, apprenticeships, co-ops, clinicals etc., for CSM students.

The College of Southern Maryland conducts background checks in order to ensure the safety and well-being of the College's staff and students. The final candidate for this position will be subject to the following background checks: Criminal History Check and Sex Offender Registry Check.

This position is open until filled. The College of Southern Maryland is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

Specific Duties and Responsibilities

Essential Functions:

• Represent CSM to the tri-county business community as a professional first choice provider of talent and innovative workforce solutions.
• Produce new client leads weekly and maintain a high lead-to-client ratio.
• Develop, nurture and grow CSM’s client database.
• Counsel, advise, and place students in career-related positions.
• Serve as a liaison with companies listing internships and other work-based learning opportunities.
• Promote a positive work experience for students after job placement through follow-up activities with students and employers.
• Monitor quality of placements and conduct site visits.
• Promote work-based learning opportunities to students by making presentations, collaborating with student organizations and assisting in the coordination of special events and projects.
• Ensure the learning experience for students is effective by working closely with program directors, coordinators, faculty and advisers.
• Facilitate employer recruitment of students by identifying, locating and referring eligible students for placement.
• Ensure quality work experiences for students by assisting employers in the development of positions, which complement and enhance students' academic and professional goals.
• Develop client relationships with businesses in high growth high wage industries throughout the region.
• Take responsibility for all aspects of the client relationship and deliverables.
• Build repeat business from high customer satisfaction.
• Resolve customer issues/problems in a manner that exceeds client expectations.
• Participate in community events, trade-shows, and activities associated with clients’ interests.
• Maintain accurate records of activities within the approved database.
• While making contracts throughout the community, the Industry Engagement Specialist will help recruit a prospective instructor pool for open enrollment and gauge business interest in contract training opportunities.

Additional Duties:

• Perform other related work as required.

Minimum Education and Training

• Bachelor’s degree
• 3-5 years business development and/or community outreach experience in a customer-driven environment with a good track record required.

Minimum Qualifications and Standards Required

• Excellent verbal and written communication skills are required.
• Demonstrate excellent work ethic and personal integrity.
• Customer focused.
• Excel in a team environment.
• A good driving record is required as is maintenance of insurability under the college’s vehicle liability insurance program.