Business Engagement Coordinator

Iowa Central Community College•Fort Dodge, IA

5d•Onsite

About The Position

Serve as the primary liaison between Iowa Central Community College and the business community, building and maintaining employer partnerships that support workforce training, continuing education, and regional economic development. Identify employer workforce needs and skill gaps, promote departmental programs and services, and develop opportunities for customized and contract training. Collaborate with college staff, faculty, and contract trainers to connect businesses with practical training solutions, apprenticeships, internships, and educational pathways that support employee recruitment, retention, and advancement. Manage employer relationships from initial outreach through proposal development, program coordination, and follow-up, supporting revenue growth and long-term partnerships throughout the college’s service area. The position involves frequent employer outreach and travel throughout the college’s service area and beyond as needed. It requires maintaining accurate employer and trainer databases, coordinating training delivery, tracking business opportunities and revenue, and representing the college professionally while meeting established engagement and revenue goals. The work is performed in an office setting and includes extensive communication, computer use, driving, and interaction with employers and college personnel.

Requirements

Associate degree required.
Three years of experience in business development, sales, workforce development, account management, or a related field required.
Demonstrated ability to build and maintain employer relationships.
Strong communication, presentation, negotiation, organizational, and customer service skills.
Valid driver’s license and ability to travel throughout the college’s service area.
Ability to manage competing priorities, meet deadlines, and follow through on commitments.
Ability to maintain discretion when handling confidential employer and college information.
Ability to use college systems and office technology effectively and participate in relevant training.

Nice To Haves

Bachelor’s degree in business, marketing, or a related field preferred.

Responsibilities

Identify, cultivate, and maintain relationships with employers throughout the college’s service area.
Conduct employer outreach and business visits to assess workforce challenges, skill gaps, and training needs.
Promote customized training, contract training, open enrollment courses, and continuing education offerings.
Pursue new business opportunities and expand services for existing clients to increase departmental training revenue.
Maintain accurate employer relationship records in the designated relationship management system, including contact information, outreach, training needs, and follow-up activities.
Maintain a database of contract trainers, subject matter experts, and training partners.
Meet or exceed established annual goals for employer contacts, business visits, proposals, training agreements, and revenue.
Collaborate with departmental staff, faculty, and contract trainers to develop training solutions that meet employer needs.
Prepare and present training proposals and agreements in coordination with appropriate college personnel.
Coordinate contract training implementation, including schedules, trainer availability, delivery logistics, and client communication.
Follow up with employers to evaluate satisfaction, identify additional needs, and encourage repeat business.
Track and report prospective business opportunities, proposals, agreements, training activity, and revenue outcomes.
Support marketing and promotion of workforce training, continuing education, and employee development programs.
Travel throughout the college’s service area and beyond, as needed, to meet with employers and support business engagement and training activities.
Review labor market information and industry trends to identify emerging training needs and business opportunities.
Connect employers with college resources for internships, apprenticeships, student recruitment, and other educational pathways.
Participate in committees, advisory groups, business organizations, and community events as assigned.
Attend relevant professional development activities.
Assist in identifying and recruiting qualified contract trainers and subject matter experts.
Represent the college positively and professionally, provide exceptional customer service and account management, maintain discretion with confidential information, manage competing priorities, meet deadlines, and follow through on commitments.
Perform other duties as assigned.