Application Guide

How to Apply for Manager, Solutions Lab

at Business-Higher Education Forum

🏢 About Business-Higher Education Forum

BHEF uniquely bridges business and higher education to create systemic change in workforce development. As a national nonprofit, it convenes Fortune 500 companies and top universities to design scalable solutions for work-integrated learning. Working here means contributing to a mission that directly impacts how millions of students transition from education to meaningful careers.

About This Role

This role leads BHEF's Solutions Lab, driving the design and delivery of communities of practice and technical assistance for institutions implementing work-integrated learning (WIL) models. You'll manage a portfolio of institutional partners, facilitate peer learning, and build evidence to scale effective practices. The impact is tangible: helping students gain career experience while shaping national workforce strategies.

💡 A Day in the Life

A typical day might start with a virtual check-in with an institutional partner to troubleshoot their WIL pilot, followed by designing an agenda for an upcoming community of practice call. Afternoon could involve synthesizing partner feedback into a case study draft, then meeting with the team to refine a toolkit based on emerging best practices. The role blends strategic thinking with direct support, requiring adaptability across facilitation, relationship management, and content development.

🚀 Application Tools

Generate Cover Letter

AI-powered, tailored for Business-Higher Education Forum

Interview Prep

Practice questions for this role

🎯 Who Business-Higher Education Forum Is Looking For

  • You have 5+ years managing cross-sector partnerships, ideally with higher education institutions and employers, and can navigate the complexities of both worlds.
  • You are a skilled facilitator who can design and lead virtual and in-person convenings that foster peer learning and drive action among diverse stakeholders.
  • You have experience creating toolkits, case studies, or resources that translate complex ideas into actionable guidance for institutional change.
  • You are relationship-driven, able to build trust with institutional leaders and employers while maintaining momentum on multiple workstreams.

📝 Tips for Applying to Business-Higher Education Forum

1

Highlight specific examples of facilitating communities of practice or technical assistance for higher education, not just general program management.

2

Show how you've developed resources (toolkits, frameworks) that helped organizations adopt new models—mention any WIL or experiential learning experience.

3

Tailor your resume to emphasize partnership building with employers and institutions, using language like 'cross-sector collaboration' and 'systems change'.

4

In your cover letter, name a specific BHEF initiative or report (e.g., their National WIL Task Force) and connect it to your experience.

5

Apply early and mention your availability for remote work with occasional travel for in-person convenings.

✉️ What to Emphasize in Your Cover Letter

['Your passion for bridging education and workforce development, specifically through work-integrated learning.', 'Concrete examples of designing and facilitating peer learning communities or consultative technical assistance.', 'Your ability to manage multiple institutional relationships while tracking outcomes and synthesizing insights.', "Alignment with BHEF's mission and your understanding of the business-higher education partnership landscape."]

Generate Cover Letter →

🔍 Research Before Applying

To stand out, make sure you've researched:

  • → Review BHEF's recent publications, especially the 'National WIL Task Force' report and any case studies on institutional WIL implementation.
  • → Familiarize yourself with their partner network—which universities and employers are currently involved?
  • → Understand the landscape of work-integrated learning models (co-ops, internships, apprenticeships) and current challenges in scaling them.
  • → Look at BHEF's blog or news section for recent convenings or initiatives to reference in your application.
Visit Business-Higher Education Forum's Website →

💬 Prepare for These Interview Topics

Based on this role, you may be asked about:

1 Describe how you would design a community of practice for institutions new to WIL—what structure, frequency, and resources would you use?
2 Tell us about a time you helped an organization move from planning to implementation of a new model; what challenges did you address?
3 How do you build trust and maintain engagement with diverse partners (e.g., university presidents, faculty, employer HR leaders)?
4 What metrics would you use to track progress and impact across a portfolio of institutional partners?
5 How would you approach creating a toolkit that is both evidence-based and practical for busy faculty and administrators?
Practice Interview Questions →

⚠️ Common Mistakes to Avoid

  • Don't focus solely on academic or corporate experience without showing how you bridge both sectors.
  • Avoid generic statements about 'passion for education' without linking to specific WIL or partnership work.
  • Don't overlook the technical assistance aspect—this role is hands-on with institutions, not just high-level strategy.

📅 Application Timeline

This position is open until filled. However, we recommend applying as soon as possible as roles at mission-driven organizations tend to fill quickly.

Typical hiring timeline:

1

Application Review

1-2 weeks

2

Initial Screening

Phone call or written assessment

3

Interviews

1-2 rounds, usually virtual

✓

Offer

Congratulations!

Ready to Apply?

Good luck with your application to Business-Higher Education Forum!

← Back to Job Listing Apply Now →