Head of Business Partnerships

BioSTL's Manager of Industry Workforce Partnerships is a key implementation role within the Education to Workforce team, responsible for advancing industry partnerships by designing and building employer-led programs and pathways that connect employers to skilled talent pipelines. Working across the regional bioscience workforce ecosystem, this position helps employer and partner organizations develop the infrastructure, relationships, and commitments needed to sustain those programs long-term. This position works closely with bioscience and related industry employers ready to develop hiring pipelines, work-and-learn programs, apprenticeships, and other earn-and-learn pathways, moving from expressed need to concrete program activity.

Success in this role looks like turning employer interest into action — building scalable, sustainable solutions that create real opportunities for people to enter, advance, and succeed in quality bioscience jobs. This is fundamentally a partnership role: the strongest candidates will have a track record of working shoulder-to-shoulder with employers to co-design talent pipelines, launch apprenticeships, and build pathways that serve both business needs and community opportunity. The best fit for this position knows how to meet employers where they are, help them see the return on investing in talent development, and move a willing partner from conversation to commitment.

Reporting to the Senior Manager of Strategic Workforce Initiatives, this role requires strong relationship management skills, comfort translating employer need into actionable program design, and the ability to manage multiple active partner projects simultaneously. This is a hands‑on role that requires follow‑through, organized project management, and a clear focus on moving partner activities from planning to outcomes.

Serve as the day‑to‑day lead for industry partnerships, working directly with employer HR leads, hiring managers, and site contacts to design and build workforce programs (e.g., apprenticeship pipelines, internship programs, customized hiring funnels) that are owned and sustained by the employer or partner organization.

Manage multiple employer relationships and active projects simultaneously, ensuring each has a clear plan, timeline, and defined next steps.

hiring events, apprenticeship cohort launches, work‑site orientations) and ensure logistics are executed smoothly.

Work with employer partners to translate identified workforce needs into program designs, including developing program structures, defining candidate profiles, and setting milestone‑based timelines.

Collaborate with the Manager of Training Partnerships to align employer skill requirements with available training capacity and curriculum, ensuring programs produce work‑ready candidates.

Collaborate with the Manager of Community Partnerships to ensure talent recruitment efforts reach the right populations and that candidates are supported through program entry.

Support the launch of new employer‑sponsored program models, building on existing frameworks (registered apprenticeship, customized training) while adapting to employer‑specific needs.

Maintain trusted, consistent relationships with employer contacts across active partnerships, ensuring partners remain engaged and program momentum is sustained.

Recruit employer partners to participate actively in the broader bioscience workforce ecosystem — including mentorship, talent coaching, site visits, industry panels, and career exploration events — helping them see the value of contribution beyond their own hiring needs.

Gather and document employer feedback to support continuous improvement of program models and report on outcomes.

Work closely with the Senior Manager of Strategic Workforce Initiatives to keep active employer projects on track within the team’s project management systems and milestone tracking.

4+ years of experience in employer engagement, business development, partnership management, workforce development, or a related field — with demonstrated success building programs or initiatives that required sustained employer commitment.

Proven track record of working directly with employers — including HR leaders, hiring managers, or site leadership — to design and launch programs that meet both industry workforce needs and talent advancement goals. apprenticeship) is strongly preferred; Strong organizational and project management skills, including experience tracking multiple active workstreams and meeting deadlines.

Employer‑facing relationship and partnership skills: comfortable working at all levels of an organization to build trust, communicate value, and drive commitment.

Ability to translate employer needs into structured, actionable program plans

Results orientation: motivated by employment outcomes (how many people move into or advance in quality jobs) not just program activity or relationship maintenance.

Organized, detail‑oriented, and effective at managing multiple active projects.

Collaborative team player with ability to coordinate across partner types (employer, training, community).

The chance to make meaningful impact on regional workforce equity and bioscience innovation.