Position Summary:
Vanderbilt University seeks an accomplished finance professional and business-development leader to serve as Director, 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 Director will focus 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. Working across the Finance Career Pathway and Undergraduate Center for Finance, the role 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.
Key Functions and Expected Performance:
Corporate Relations & Business Development
- 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 new organizations and sectors where Vanderbilt can strengthen its market position and create opportunities for students and academic programs.
- Bring employer and market intelligence back to Career Advancement & Engagement, the Undergraduate Center for Finance, and faculty partners to inform student preparation, programming, and partnership strategy.
Vanderbilt Finance Network
- Build a connected New York finance community of alumni, parents, employers, and friends who actively 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.
Student & Experiential Opportunities
- Convert industry relationships into high-quality 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.
University & Academic Engagement
- 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.
Qualifications
- Bachelor's degree; relevant advanced degree preferred.
- Minimum 10 years of relevant professional experience in finance, corporate relations, business development, or a closely related field, with strong knowledge of the financial industry and New York market.
- Demonstrated success developing senior-level relationships, partnerships, networks, or business opportunities.
- Preferably, 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.
- Executive presence and exceptional communication skills; ability to represent Vanderbilt credibly with senior business leaders.
- Entrepreneurial, 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.
- Interest in developing undergraduate talent; experience recruiting, mentoring, or coaching early-career professionals is valued.
Measures of Success
- Deeper, more strategic relationships with priority finance employers and senior industry leaders.
- Growth in high-quality internships, full-time roles, experiential opportunities, and employer engagement for Vanderbilt students.
- A stronger, more active Vanderbilt finance network of alumni, parents, employers, and advocates.
- Greater visibility and reputation for Vanderbilt as a source of exceptional finance talent and a valued partner to the New York financial community.
Salary Range: $127,341 - $155,639 annual salary, depending on years of experience, education, special skills, etc.
At Vanderbilt University , our work - regardless of title or role - is in service to an important and noble mission in which every member of our community serves in advancing knowledge and transforming lives on a daily basis. Located in Nashville, Tennessee, on a 330+ acre campus and arboretum dating back to 1873, Vanderbilt is proud to have been named as one of “America’s Best Large Employers” as well as a top employer in Tennessee and the Nashville metropolitan area by Forbes for several years running. We welcome those who are interested in learning and growing professionally with an employer that strives to create, foster and sustain opportunities as an employer of choice.
We understand you have a choice when choosing where to work and pursue a career. We understand you are unique and have a story. We want to hear it. We encourage you to apply today so that you might become a part of our story.
Vanderbilt University is an equal-opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, or status as a protected veteran, or any other characteristic protected by law.
