Assistant Dean, Stakeholder Engagement and External Partnerships

Assistant Dean, Stakeholder Engagement and External Partnerships

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Posting Details

 I. JOB OVERVIEW 

Job Description Summary:  | The Milken Institute School of Public Health seeks a senior leader to serve as Assistant Dean for Stakeholder Engagement and External Partnerships, a pivotal role responsible for shaping and executing the School’s enterprise-wide strategy for external engagement across sectors.

This leader will serve as the School’s primary architect of institutional partnerships, responsible for building and sustaining high-impact relationships with corporate partners, health systems, government agencies, foundations, and strategic organizations. The role is central to advancing the School’s mission through research collaboration, workforce development, executive education, innovation initiatives, and sponsored partnerships that expand both impact and institutional capacity.

Reporting directly to the Dean and working in close coordination with University Advancement and senior academic leadership, the Assistant Dean will play a critical role in aligning the School’s intellectual assets with external opportunities that enhance visibility, revenue generation, and societal impact.

This is a highly visible, externally facing leadership role requiring exceptional judgment, diplomatic acumen, and the ability to operate effectively across academia, industry, government, and philanthropy.

Key Responsibilities

Enterprise Partnership Strategy and Leadership
The Assistant Dean will design and lead a comprehensive strategy for external engagement that positions the School as a leading partner of choice for organizations seeking to collaborate in public health innovation, research, and workforce development. Shape and execute a School-wide external engagement and partnership strategy aligned with institutional priorities and growth objectives Serve as a senior representative of the School in high-level engagements with industry, government, foundations, and global partners Build and sustain long-term strategic relationships with executive leaders across sectors to advance shared goals in research, education, and impact Position the School as a thought leader and trusted partner in addressing complex public health challenges 

Strategic Partnership Development and Activation
The Assistant Dean will lead the identification, cultivation, and activation of transformative partnerships that advance the School’s academic and research enterprise. Originate and develop high-value institutional partnerships across corporate, philanthropic, and public sector stakeholders Translate institutional strengths into compelling partnership opportunities spanning research, innovation, workforce development, and applied practice Establish and oversee partnership structures, governance models, and advisory frameworks that ensure long-term success Guide the development and execution of partnership agreements in collaboration with University leadership and legal counsel Expand and deepen existing relationships to maximize institutional impact and value creation

Internal Alignment and Institutional Integration
A key dimension of this role is the ability to connect external opportunity with internal excellence. Serve as the central integrator between external partners and the School’s faculty, research centers, and academic programs Develop systems and approaches that enable seamless alignment between partner needs and institutional capabilities Foster cross-disciplinary collaboration to support complex, multi-stakeholder initiatives Maintain deep fluency in the School’s research and academic portfolio to effectively position capabilities in the external marketplace

Advancement and Enterprise Resource Development
In partnership with University Advancement, the Assistant Dean will help align external engagement with broader institutional development and funding strategies. Collaborate with Advancement to identify and shape philanthropic and sponsored funding opportunities arising from partnerships Support cultivation and stewardship of key institutional partners and donors Contribute to enterprise-level strategies for corporate and foundation engagement Provide insight into external funding landscapes, market trends, and strategic opportunities

Institutional Positioning and External Visibility
The Assistant Dean will play a key role in elevating the School’s visibility and influence across external audiences. Represent the School in convenings, conferences, and strategic forums Support leadership in the development of high-impact briefing materials and external communications Contribute to positioning the School as a leading voice in public health innovation and impact

Performance, Impact, and Organizational Leadership
The Assistant Dean will establish mechanisms to ensure accountability, learning, and continuous improvement across the partnership portfolio. Define metrics and frameworks to assess partnership performance, impact, and institutional return Provide regular strategic updates to the Dean and senior leadership on portfolio performance and opportunities Lead or oversee staff supporting external engagement functions Advise senior leadership on risks, opportunities, and strategic external developments
Performs other duties as assigned. The omission of specific duties does not preclude the supervisor from assigning duties that are logically related to the position.

This is a defining leadership opportunity for an executive who can bridge academia and external sectors to build transformative partnerships that expand the School’s reach, resources, and impact. The Assistant Dean will play a central role in shaping how the Milken Institute School of Public Health engages with the world.

Minimum Qualifications:  | Qualified candidates will hold a Bachelor’s degree in an appropriate area of specialization plus 7 years of relevant professional experience, or, a Master’s degree or higher in a relevant area of study plus 5 years of relevant professional experience. Degree must be conferred by the start date of the position. Degree requirements may be substituted with an equivalent combination of education, training and experience.

Additional Required Licenses/Certifications/Posting Specific Minimum Qualifications:   
Preferred Qualifications:  | The ideal candidate is a seasoned executive leader with a demonstrated track record of building complex, multi-sector partnerships and driving institutional growth through external engagement. They bring strong strategic judgment, exceptional relationship-building capabilities, and the ability to operate credibly at the highest levels across sectors.

They are equally comfortable engaging CEOs, government officials, academic leaders, and philanthropic stakeholders, and bring a deep appreciation for the role of academic institutions in advancing societal impact.

Our desired qualifications include: Advanced degree in public health, public policy, business, international affairs, or a related field; doctoral degree preferred 10+ years of progressively senior leadership experience in external relations, partnerships, government affairs, corporate relations, development, or related fields Proven success building and managing high-value institutional partnerships across sectors Experience negotiating complex agreements and leading multi-stakeholder collaborations Strong familiarity with academic, health systems, or research-intensive environments Exceptional communication, diplomacy, and executive presence Experience in academic health sciences or public health institutions Background working with federal agencies, global health organizations, health systems, or foundations Exposure to corporate relations, innovation partnerships, or sponsored research development Experience leading teams and building organizational capability 

Hiring Range  | $142,545.11 - $239,389.10
GW Staff Approach to Pay  | How is pay for new employees determined at GW?

 Healthcare Benefits
GW offers a comprehensive benefit package that includes medical, dental, vision, life & disability insurance, time off & leave, retirement savings, tuition, well-being and various voluntary benefits. For program details and eligibility, please visit https://hr.gwu.edu/benefits-programs.

 II. JOB DETAILS 

Campus Location:  | Foggy Bottom, Washington, D.C.
College/School/Department:  | Milken Institute School of Public Health (SPH)
Family  | Academic Affairs
Sub-Family  | Academic Administration - School
Stream  | Individual Contributor
Level  | Level 4
Full-Time/Part-Time:  | Full-Time
Hours Per Week:  | 40+
Work Schedule:  | Mon-Fri 8am-5pm
Will this job require the employee to work on site?  | Yes
Employee Onsite Status  | Hybrid
Telework:  | Yes
Required Background Check:  | Criminal History Screening, Education/Degree/Certifications Verification, Social Security Number Trace, and Sex Offender Registry Search
Special Instructions to Applicants:  | Employer will not sponsor for employment Visa status
Internal Applicants Only?  | No
Posting Number:  | S014215
Job Open Date:  | 06/01/2026
Job Close Date:  |
If temporary, grant funded, Sponsored Project funded or limited term appointment, position funded until:  |
Background Screening  | Successful Completion of a Background Screening will be required as a condition of hire.
EEO Statement:  | The university is an Equal Employment Opportunity employer that does not unlawfully discriminate in any of its programs or activities on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or on any other basis prohibited by applicable law.

Posting Specific Questions

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Phone: 202-994-8500
Fax: 202-994-9680
Email: askhrmd@gwu.edu
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