Tilson, Roux Institute launch work-graduate degree opportunities

Tilson, a Portland-based IT and professional services firm, is joining forces with Northeastern University’s Roux Institute to launch a joint work-graduate degree program in three high-demand disciplines. 

The initiative announced Thursday would create five new work-graduate study positions in analytics, computer science and project management. 

The partnership aims to drive innovation, talent development, and economic opportunity in Maine, and candidates will be co-selected to pursue a fully funded master’s degree program at the Roux Institute in Portland while working part-time at Tilson. 

The launch of the program comes as Tilson seeks to fill its talent pipeline. The company currently is seeking 75 people for 42 roles, but CEO Joshua Broder notes that the partnership with Roux is about the longer term.

“These positions with Roux are net new jobs,” he told Mainebiz, “so while this may have the unintended consequence of bring in some new applicants that may find a better fit with other positions, these are really about looking two to three years ahead to our future needs, and making the investments in those people now.”

Broder was honored as a Mainebiz Business Leader of the Year in 2018.

As part-time employees and full-time students, participants will learn the facets of a high-growth, national telecommunications company and work on real-time, client-facing projects.

They will also be able to immediately apply the professional and technical skills acquired at the Roux Institute in a real-world business setting.

“This initiative demonstrates the way that the Roux Institute works with its partners to identify and execute new and innovative ways to bring much-needed tech talent to Maine,” said Chris Mallett, chief administrative officer of the Roux Institute. “We’re excited to collaborate with Tilson to create this opportunity for learners to pursue a graduate degree while simultaneously deepening and refining their skills by working at a future-focused company.”

The initiative comes more than a year after Northeastern established the Roux Institute with the goal of turning the greater Portland area into an “innovation hub” focused on technology and life sciences. The Institute, headquartered in the city’s East End about a block from Tilson’s headquarters, is also launching an accelerator for technology startups.

More information

Find out more about the new work-graduate degree program and apply online here.