Title: Business and Industry Engagement Partner
Department: US Policy & Practice
Reporting to: Lead, Strategic Influence and Engagement
Location: Remote - USA
Compensation: $86K – $110K USD
Who We Are:
World Education Services (WES) is a non-profit social enterprise that supports the educational, economic, and social inclusion of immigrants, refugees, and international students. For 50 years, WES has set the standard for international academic credential evaluation, supporting millions of people as they seek to achieve their academic and professional goals. Through decades of experience as a leader in global education, WES has developed a wide range of tools to pursue social impact at scale. From evaluating academic credentials to shaping policy, designing programs, and providing philanthropic funding, we partner with a diverse set of organizations, leaders, and networks to uplift individuals and drive systems change. Together with its partners, WES enables people to learn, work, and thrive in new places. For more information about WES, please visit our website at www.WES.org.
About the Opportunity:
The Business & Industry Engagement Partner advances WES’s ideas, frameworks, and policy priorities within employer, industry, and sector ecosystems. This role builds and stewards relationships with business leaders, employer coalitions, sector associations, chambers of commerce, workforce intermediaries, and industry partnerships.
The Business & Industry Engagement Partner does not set policy direction. Instead, this role executes engagement strategies aligned with priorities established by the Lead and in coordination with Policy & Practice Architecture and relevant systems change teams (e.g., Career Pathways, Skills). This position, under the guidance of the Lead, will work very closely with Policy and Practice Architecture colleagues, other peers and leaders in the systems change teams, including Skills and Career Pathways.
This role requires the ability to translate immigration and workforce systems change into language that resonates with employer needs, sector competitiveness, and economic inclusion priorities — while reinforcing WES’s long-term narrative and policy goals.
What You'll Do:
Business & Industry Relationship Development (30%)
- Build and maintain trusted relationships with: employer groups and major employers; industry and sector associations; chambers of commerce; workforce intermediaries and apprenticeship sponsors; and employer-led coalitions focused on talent development
- Execute engagement strategies in partnership with the Lead and priorities set by and in service of Career Pathways and Skills
- Identify business champions and early adopters aligned with WES priorities.
- Maintain continuity and institutional memory across industry engagements.
Strategic Socialization (30%)
- Translate WES narrative, policy, and practice work into engagement-ready conversations tailored to business and industry audiences.
- Apply research-informed narrative frameworks in ways that resonate with employer values such as talent competitiveness, economic growth, and workforce sustainability.
- Position immigrant inclusion as aligned with sector and economic strategy without diluting systems-level goals.
- Support senior leadership in employer briefings, sector roundtables, and industry convenings.
- Ensure coherent representation of WES’s work across industry conversations.
Engagement Planning & Execution (30%)
- Coordinate and support employer roundtables, industry briefings, site visits, and sector convenings aligned with team priorities.
- Ensure industry-facing engagements reflect research-informed narrative positioning and WES goals.
- Ensure availability and usage of background materials and talking points in collaboration with team members and Communications.
- Track commitments, follow-ups, and next steps across business engagements.
- Surface engagement outcomes and recommended next steps to the Lead.
- Track commitments, follow-ups, and next steps across business and industry engagements.
- Surface engagement outcomes and recommended next steps to the Lead.
Contextual Intelligence & Feedback (10%)
- Surface insights from employers and sector leaders about workforce barriers, implementation challenges, and institutional incentives.
- Develop and disseminate key intelligence to colleagues, Leads, Department Head, and other Departments and teams across WES that inform their decision- making and ability to seize opportunities and contribute to refining positioning based on employer resonance and adoption patterns.
- Identify how business leaders frame immigration, skills recognition, and workforce inclusion.
- Provide regular feedback to the Lead to inform strategy and sequencing.
Requirements:
Required
- Bachelor’s degree or equivalent experience.
- 8-10 years of experience in workforce development, employer engagement, economic development, business associations, or related fields.
- Demonstrated experience representing an organization under senior leadership guidance as well as working with employers, chambers, or sector partnerships.
- Ability to translate systems change and policy concepts into employer-relevant language.
- Excellent relationship-building skills in cross-sector environments.
- Demonstrated capability of operating at the intersection of business and public policy.
- Excellent track record of building and maintaining strategic relationships and demonstrated success in leading system change work through partners and stakeholders
- Demonstrated ability working within ambiguous, dynamic and entrepreneurial environments and see each new challenge as an opportunity for change; be comfortable with risk and failure as a natural part of long-term success.
- Exceptional verbal and written communication skills.
- Ability to build strong relationships and work with individuals at all levels of the organization; work collaboratively with people of different backgrounds, experiences, communication styles, and cultures towards collective goals.
- Thrive in an environment that values transparency, collaboration, and a learning orientation.
- Bring a “can-do” attitude and have a willingness to stretch up and down in their role as needs evolve.
- This is a remote working role with requirements for travel members to travel to in-person meetings upon request, usually in the NYC area and usually no less than three times a year. Travel to DC or other locations may be required. Most WES team schedules reflect Eastern Time, and the candidate will need to make themselves available for meetings and collaborative conversations during this time, although the general work schedule may be flexible to accommodate team members in other time zones.
What We Offer:
Joining our team at WES means embarking on a purpose-driven career with a global impact, where you contribute daily to making a tangible difference in the lives of people worldwide. You'll thrive in an employee-centric environment, with access to learning opportunities, pathways for personal and professional development, and recognition of your achievements. Our inclusive, mission-driven culture values employees and focuses on investing in our people through our culture, people framework, and programming while offering the flexibility of remote work options.
- Work-Life Harmony: We believe that success is all about maintaining balance. Enjoy the freedom of remote work and flexible scheduling, paired with generous time-off policies designed to assist you in maintaining a healthy equilibrium between your personal and professional commitments. Our comprehensive wellness programs and work environment are focused on fostering your well-being.
- Rewards and Recognition: Your dedication and achievements are the cornerstone of our success. We recognize the importance of valuing your hard work, which is why we offer competitive compensation, comprehensive benefits, and tangible rewards to celebrate your contributions.
- Professional Growth and Development: We are committed to nurturing growth within our team, recognizing that growth is essential to providing opportunities for career advancement and ongoing professional development. To prioritize your learning and success, we invest in comprehensive training programs and offer tuition reimbursement opportunities. We promote a culture of continuous learning that empowers you to thrive and evolve in your career.
- Innovation and Impact: Engage in work that directly transforms lives and empowers individuals and communities by expanding access to global educational and professional pathways. Join us in fostering a culture that values innovation, embraces new approaches, and leverages transformation to implement and drive impactful change.
- Community and Connection: Our team is made up of individuals from different cultures and backgrounds who have varying perspectives and ideas. Our diverse workforce reflects the global community we serve, and we take pride in it. We are committed to fostering a workplace where everyone feels valued, respected, and included. Experience the power of connection by participating in a range of activities, including employee-led resource groups, town halls, collaborative team events, meaningful volunteer opportunities, and initiatives that promote equity, celebrate diversity, and cultivate a strong sense of belonging within our organization.
Values:
- Opportunity - We open doors so people can build better futures.
- Inclusion - We become stronger, more creative, and more resilient when we embrace diversity.
- Equity - We uphold fairness and justice in our work and actions.
- Enterprising - We are resourceful, inventive, and driven.
Inclusive Recruitment Process:
We welcome all applicants, irrespective of their experience perfectly fitting the job description, as we value diverse and innovative viewpoints. At our organization, individuals who thrive in a culture of continuous learning and inclusive teamwork excel. We are committed to fostering an inclusive and accessible work environment where everyone feels valued, respected, and supported and welcome members of all backgrounds and perspectives to apply.
Our Commitment:
World Education Services is committed to fostering an inclusive workplace that reflects the rich tapestry of our communities, both in the US and Canada. This commitment is underscored by our unwavering dedication to providing equal opportunities to all qualified individuals, regardless of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, veteran status, or genetics. This commitment extends to every aspect of employment, from recruitment and hiring to promotions, training, and benefits. We comply with all applicable federal, state, and local anti-discrimination laws. For us, diversity goes beyond compliance – it's about embracing unique perspectives and cultivating an environment where everyone feels valued and empowered to reach their full potential.
If you require assistance and/or accommodation at any point during the recruitment process, please contact us at hiring@wes.org, we're here to support you. Our Talent Acquisition team is happy to work with you to find solutions that meet your needs.
For more information about WES, please visit our website at www.WES.org
This position is an existing vacancy and is currently open for hire.
