Associate Director of Stakeholder Engagement

About the Opportunity

Additional Information:

This is a fixed term appointment, with the possibility of renewal based off of continuing external funding.

Requirement:

US Citizenship is a requirement per Federal funding agency

JOB SUMMARY

The Defense Industrial Base Institute (DIBI) at Northeastern University seeks an experienced Associate Director of Stakeholder Engagement to build and maintain strategic relationships with partners across the public, private and higher education sectors. Working closely with the Senior Director for Public Outreach, this individual will develop and execute comprehensive and dynamic stakeholder engagement strategies and other public outreach initiatives in support of DIBI’s mission to transform our nation’s defense industrial base.

This multifaceted role combines strategic relationship management, communications strategy, and operational excellence. The Associate Director will lead the implementation and ongoing management of the Salesforce CRM system across DIBI, working collaboratively with the University’s IT team to ensure effective stakeholder relationship management and data-driven engagement tracking. Additionally, this position involves coordinating high-impact events with senior executives in the government and industry, managing complex projects from conception to execution, and ensuring seamless delivery of both digital and in-person engagement experiences that support DIBI's strategic priorities and research initiatives.

The role requires expertise in project management and event planning, with responsibility for executing conferences, workshops, webinars and other stakeholder convenings with industry, government and higher education audiences. The Associate Director will develop strategic communication plans, create messaging frameworks for different stakeholder segments, and measure the effectiveness of outreach efforts to continuously improve engagement outcomes.

Reporting to the Senior Director for Public Outreach, this position involves direct supervision of an Operations Manager who supports CRM management, event coordination, and office operations.

The Associate Director will collaborate closely with Northeastern University's External Affairs and Marketing teams to ensure alignment with university policies and protocols. The ideal candidate is a strategic thinker who can balance relationship building, communications strategy, project management, and tactical execution in a fast-paced, mission-critical environment.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

• A Bachelor's degree is required, preferably in communications, marketing, public relations, or related field, with 7+ years of experience in stakeholder engagement, communications, and/or marketing.

• Experience in research, government, or agency sectors is a plus.

• Experience planning, managing, and executing events and stakeholder engagement activities for audiences in academia, industry and government.

• Strong project management experience and outstanding organizational skills, with demonstrated ability to manage multiple complex projects simultaneously from initiation to completion.

• Excellent writing and communications skills, strong knowledge of English grammar, and an ability to work collaboratively across the institute, colleges and academic partners, industry and government, while supporting multiple projects.

• The candidate must be a self-starter with demonstrated ability to handle projects from start to finish and strong collaborative skills.

• Experience supporting marketing and communications functions including digital strategy, content development, stakeholder relationship management, event planning and execution, and project management.

• Ability to manage stakeholder expectations and build lasting relationships is critical.

• Ability to supervise and mentor staff.

• Attention to detail is a must.

• Candidate should be comfortable working in a fast-paced, dynamic, and "startup-like" environment.
  We are searching for a flexible, creative thinker who is open to new ideas and has the ability to quickly adapt to changing priorities as circumstances require.

• An ideal candidate will have the ability to manage stakeholder expectations (internal and external to the University), possess strong communication skills, and the ability to think and act both analytically and strategically.

• Ability to travel 10% of the time across the nation may be needed.

• U.S. citizenship is required due to federal contract obligations.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES & ACCOUNTABILITIES

Stakeholder Engagement and CRM Management 40%

• Lead the implementation and ongoing management of Salesforce Government Cloud CRM system across DIBI, working closely with ITS team to ensure effective deployment and user adoption.

• Develop and maintain comprehensive stakeholder databases and engagement tracking systems within the CRM platform.

• Support the Senior Director in developing stakeholder engagement strategies to optimize relationship building and communication with partners across academia, industry and government.

• Assist in creating and maintaining relationships with key stakeholders, including government officials, industry leaders, and academic partners.

• Track and analyze stakeholder engagement metrics and provide regular reporting to the Senior Director and DIBI Executive Director.

• Coordinate stakeholder communication campaigns and outreach initiatives in support of DIBI objectives.

• Ensure CRM system compliance with university policies and federal requirements for government-facing platforms.

Project Management and Event Planning & Execution 25%

• Lead project management for DIBI stakeholder engagement initiatives, ensuring projects are delivered on time, within scope, and on budget.

• Plan, coordinate, and execute high-profile events including conferences, workshops, symposiums, and stakeholder meetings for academia, industry, and government audiences.

• Manage all aspects of event logistics including venue selection, catering, audiovisual requirements, registration systems, speaker coordination, and on-site execution.

• Develop comprehensive project plans, timelines, and budgets for stakeholder engagement initiatives and events.

• Coordinate with internal teams, external vendors, and stakeholders to ensure seamless project delivery and event execution.

• Conduct post-event evaluations and implement improvements for future initiatives.

• Manage event registration systems and attendee communications through CRM platform.

• Oversee hybrid and virtual event technology platforms and user experience.

Communication, Administrative Support and Strategy 25%

• Support the Senior Director in developing and implementing communication strategies and managing stakeholder engagement operations.

• Assist in creating strategic communication plans that align with DIBI objectives and stakeholder needs.

• Assist in developing content that highlights DIBI's work and engages key stakeholder audiences.

• Support the development of messaging frameworks and communication materials for different stakeholder segments.

• Collaborate with the Senior Director on stakeholder communication materials and presentations.

• Assist in managing relationships with external vendors and consultants supporting stakeholder engagement efforts.

• Support strategic planning processes and provide analytical support for decision-making.

• Help ensure alignment with Northeastern University branding guidelines and communication protocols.

Team Leadership & Special Projects 10%

• Directly supervise and mentor the Operations Manager, providing guidance on CRM management, event coordination, and office operations.

• Execute various stakeholder engagement projects and initiatives in accordance with DIBI needs and direction from the Senior Director.

• Support cross-functional collaboration across the institute and with university partners.

• Identify opportunities to enhance stakeholder engagement through emerging technologies and best practices.

• Perform other duties as assigned by the Senior Director and Executive Director.

Position Type

Marketing and Communications

Additional Information

Northeastern University considers factors such as candidate work experience, education and skills when extending an offer.  

All qualified applicants are encouraged to apply and will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, religion, color, national origin, age, sex, sexual orientation, disability status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable law.

Compensation Grade/Pay Type:

111S

Expected Hiring Range:

$86,490.00 - $122,163.75

With the pay range(s) shown above, the starting salary will depend on several factors, which may include your education, experience, location, knowledge and expertise, and skills as well as a pay comparison to similarly-situated employees already in the role. Salary ranges are reviewed regularly and are subject to change.