Director of Public Sector Internships

Research Foundation of The City University of New York•New York, NY

5d•$115,000 - $120,000•Hybrid

About The Position

The City University of New York (CUNY) is the nation’s largest urban public university. The CUNY Office of Careers & Industry Partnerships (OCIP) is responsible for mobilizing the university’s resources to fuel inclusive economic prosperity and is dedicated to connecting academic pursuits with career competitiveness. OCIP works closely with industry to understand the skills required for the most in-demand jobs and trains CUNY students in those skills to prepare them for early and sustained career success. The Office of Career and Internship Programs seeks a collaborative and results-driven professional to lead and expand CUNY’s public sector internship initiatives. Reporting to the Senior Director of Career Development and Internships, the Director will lead the development and growth of university-wide internship programs in partnership with New York City and State agencies. This role will focus on scaling employer partnerships, expanding paid internship opportunities for CUNY students, and strengthening pathways to public sector careers. The Director will work closely with campuses, government partners, and other stakeholders to align programs with workforce needs and increase access to high-quality, career-connected learning experiences.

Requirements

Minimum five (5) years of experience in a managerial or supervisory role
Ability to think strategically, problem-solve, and develop programs and plans to achieve organizational goals
Cultural competency and commitment to promoting opportunity and equity in higher education and conducting workshops, webinars, and other career readiness activities and events for students.
Proactive, diplomatic and collaborative work style with strong supervisory, interpersonal communication, group facilitation, relationship building and presentation skills to work effectively with stakeholders.
Dependable with effective organizational, time management and priority setting skills to manage multiple assignments and projects and meet deadlines
Demonstrated computer skills and experience with standard desktop tools (e.g., MS Word, Excel, PowerPoint; Zoom)
Ability to travel to multiple sites throughout NYC
Bachelor's degree required

Nice To Haves

Familiarity with CUNY, RF CUNY, CRM platforms, or student recruitment platforms (e.g, AirTable and Handshake)
Knowledge of career development education policy issues, especially those related to college & career readiness and a deep understanding of access and equity issues

Responsibilities

Lead the design, expansion, and evaluation of innovative paid work-based learning initiatives aligned with institutional priorities, labor market trends, employer workforce needs, and student success goals.
Establish program goals, performance metrics, operational standards, and annual work plans to measure program effectiveness and ensure continuous improvement.
Provide leadership, supervision, coaching, and professional development to program managers and staff, establishing performance expectations, monitoring progress toward departmental goals, and fostering a collaborative, inclusive, and student-centered work environment.
Develop, cultivate, and sustain strategic partnerships with government agencies, employers, academic departments, career services, faculty, campus leadership, and university administrators to integrate internships and experiential learning into academic pathways and increase student participation.
Increase the number of employer partners through new partnerships and funding opportunities that support program growth and sustainability.
Direct the day-to-day administration of multiple internship and experiential learning programs, ensuring effective program delivery, operational excellence, regulatory compliance, and high-quality student experiences.
Create and manage program budgets, fiscal planning, contracts, and financial reporting, coordinating with university and external fiscal partners to ensure compliance, and adherence to grant and funding agency requirements.
Lead the collection, analysis, and develop reporting of program data to evaluate performance, measure student and employer outcomes, assess return on investment, and identify opportunities for operational and programmatic improvement.
Represent senior leadership in internal and external meetings as assigned, providing leadership continuity and strategic support during leadership absences.
Perform other related duties and special projects as needed.