Associate Director, Employer Relations

Job Description

Job Description

Position Title : Associate Director, Employer Relations

Reports to : Chief Growth & Strategy Officer

Department : Employer Relations

Last Revised : October 2025

Salary Range : $84,000 - $92,000

Position Description :

The Washington Center (TWC) is a nonprofit organization that partners with hundreds of universities in the U.S. and abroad to provide a credit-bearing Academic Internship Program in Washington, D.C. In this role, you will lead a results-driven team of Employer Relations Managers focused on partnership acquisition, retention and portfolio optimization across our network of 600+ employer partners spanning 14 industries. Building on our high retention rate, you will oversee the full employer engagement lifecycle while serving as a trusted advisor helping organizations navigate evolving workforce trends and Gen Z talent management. The ideal candidate will bring strategic account management expertise, strong consultative skills, and the ability to position TWC as an essential partner that not only provides quality interns but also equips employers with the tools and insights they need to succeed with emerging talent. You will ensure our portfolio meets the academic and professional development needs of hundreds of students participating in fall / spring and summer terms.

The Washington Center is a remote / hybrid organization with many employees working on average one day per week in TWC’s Residential and Academic Facility, conveniently located near Union Station and public transportation in the NoMa neighborhood of Washington, DC. Given our organizational mission focus on skills, workforce development and collaboration, there are times where cross-collaboration among teams and departments will require more than one day per week in the office. Further, some programs at TWC do require program staff to work nights and / or weekends. The individual in this role is expected to reside in the greater Washington, DC metropolitan area.

JOB FUNCTION

IMPORTANCE (%)

PORTFOLIO MANAGEMENT AND QUALITY ASSURANCE

• Managing a team of Employer Relations Managers, expand the portfolio from current 550+ internship provider organizations, maintaining high retention while achieving net growth targets.
• Analyze and segment partner portfolio by industry, internship quality, stipend levels and student demand.
• Conduct supply / demand planning to support ~600 students in internships annually.
• Develop strategies to maintain competitive advantage in D.C.'s saturated summer internship market
• Balance portfolio between sectors like Political Science, Advocacy, Business, International Affairs and emerging fields such as Cybersecurity.
• Optimize mix of compensated and quality unpaid opportunities to serve students from all socioeconomic backgrounds.
• Establish and oversee employer vetting protocols to ensure partner alignment with organizational values and student safety requirements
• Conduct strategic site visits (virtual, hybrid, and in-person) for new partner evaluation and existing partner quality assurance
• Oversee collaboration between Employer Partnerships and Program Advisors to ensure effective cross-department communication, facilitate successful student-employer matches, and triage issues as needed.
• Serve as the Employer Relations representative on the Student Cases Committee, facilitating information flow and ensuring appropriate resolution of student / internship cases.
• Conduct regular check-ins to provide ongoing support and gather insights on student performance trends

45%

BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT

25%

DATA MANAGEMENT, METRICS & REPORTING

15%

TEAM MANAGEMENT & COLLABORATION

15%

Required Education / Experience :

Preferred Education / Qualifications and Experience :

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities which are critical to the successful performance of the job. These may be representative but not all inclusive of those commonly associated with the position :

Understanding of liability considerations in partnership contexts.

Supervisory Responsibility

This position has supervisory responsibilities.

Competencies required to perform the job successfully (management)

The Washington Center’s Values guide our mission work in every regard–internally and externally.

Equipment Used to Perform the Job which may be representative but not all inclusive of those commonly associated with this position :

Physical Abilities are commonly associated with the performance of the functions of this job. Reasonable accommodation can be provided to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of this job described. These physical demands are representative of the physical requirements necessary for an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job.

This job description no way states or implies that these are the only duties performed by the employee occupying this position. Employees may be required to follow other job-related instructions and to perform other job-related duties as requested, subject to all applicable state and federal laws. Certain job functions described herein may be subjected to possible modification in accordance with applicable state and federal laws.

The Washington Center is an Equal Opportunity Employer. It is the policy of The Washington Center to provide equal employment opportunities without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, marital status, veteran status, sexual orientation, genetic information or any other protected characteristic under applicable law. Provisions in applicable laws providing for bona fide occupational qualifications, business necessity or age limitations will be adhered to by the organization where appropriate.