Director of Finance Industry Engagement

Vanderbilt University•New York, NY

12d•$127,341 - $155,639•Onsite

About The Position

Vanderbilt University seeks an accomplished finance professional and business-development leader to serve as Director of Finance Industry Engagement. Based in New York City, the Director will be Vanderbilt's senior on-the-ground connector to the financial community, building relationships with employers, alumni, parents, and industry leaders and converting those relationships into opportunities for students, faculty, and the University. The Director will work in close partnership with the Undergraduate Center for Finance, with a dotted-line reporting relationship to its Executive Director. The role focuses on corporate relations, industry partnerships, and network development across investment banking, private equity, investment and asset management, financial services, fintech, corporate finance, and related sectors. It requires an externally oriented leader who can open doors, understand business and talent needs, create mutually valuable partnerships, and strengthen Vanderbilt's visibility and influence in the New York financial community. The Director will develop and steward senior relationships with financial institutions, executives, recruiters, alumni, parents, and other partners; expand partnerships beyond recruiting; identify organizations and sectors for new opportunities; and share employer and market intelligence with Vanderbilt teams and faculty. The role will build a connected New York finance network, activate industry leaders as connectors and mentors, and create engagement opportunities that increase Vanderbilt's relationships and visibility. The Director will convert industry relationships into internships, full-time opportunities, projects, shadowing, mentoring, visits, and other experiential learning. The position also provides practitioner-informed coaching to students and connects them with professionals who can explain firms, sectors, recruiting expectations, and career paths. The Director connects the Undergraduate Center for Finance, faculty, and academic programs with practitioners, companies, industry questions, and potential collaborators, and works across Vanderbilt to steward New York employer and alumni relationships. The position is based in New York City. The stated annual salary range is $127,341–$155,639, depending on experience, education, special skills, and other factors.

Requirements

Bachelor's degree.
At least 10 years of relevant professional experience in finance, corporate relations, business development, or a closely related field.
Strong knowledge of the financial industry and New York market.
Demonstrated success developing senior-level relationships, partnerships, networks, or business opportunities.
Executive presence and exceptional communication skills, with the ability to represent Vanderbilt credibly with senior business leaders.
Entrepreneurial and externally oriented, and comfortable spending significant time in the market building relationships.
Ability to translate relationships into tangible outcomes and collaborate effectively across organizational boundaries.

Nice To Haves

Relevant advanced degree.
Deep understanding of the inner workings, organizational structures, and major business units of complex investment banks, financial institutions, and related firms, including how talent and recruiting decisions are made across those organizations.
Interest in developing undergraduate talent; experience recruiting, mentoring, or coaching early-career professionals is valued.

Responsibilities

Develop and steward senior relationships with priority financial institutions, executives, recruiters, alumni, parents, and other influential partners.
Expand Vanderbilt relationships beyond recruiting to include internships, full-time hiring, mentoring, employer projects, treks, classroom engagement, research, and other strategic partnerships.
Identify organizations and sectors where Vanderbilt can strengthen its market position and create opportunities for students and academic programs.
Bring employer and market intelligence to Career Advancement & Engagement, the Undergraduate Center for Finance, and faculty partners to inform student preparation, programming, and partnership strategy.
Build a connected New York finance community of alumni, parents, employers, and friends who support Vanderbilt and one another.
Activate senior industry leaders as connectors, mentors, recruiters, advisers, speakers, and champions.
Create selective convenings and engagement opportunities that deepen Vanderbilt relationships and visibility in the market.
Convert industry relationships into internships, full-time opportunities, projects, shadowing, mentoring, visits, and other experiential learning.
Provide targeted practitioner-informed coaching and connect students with alumni and professionals who can help them understand firms, sectors, recruiting expectations, and career paths.
Connect the Undergraduate Center for Finance, faculty, and academic programs with practitioners, companies, industry questions, and potential collaborators.
Partner across Vanderbilt to steward New York employer and alumni relationships as institutional assets and extend their value beyond finance when appropriate.