Description
The Strategic Partnership and Alliances unit at Excelsior cultivates, builds, and maintains relationships with corporations, government agencies, NGOs, and other organizations. The primary goal of these relationships is to build enrollment pipelines while honing Excelsior programs and curricula to provide employers with skilled and prepared workers. The Executive Director of Strategic Partnerships oversees this broad and expansive relationship process. They build and maintain strong relationships inside and outside of Excelsior and act as a lead proponent of the benefits of a college degree through Excelsior University.

This Executive Director reports to the Chief of Staff and works closely with the Provost, the Vice President for Enrollment Management & Marketing, deans, and other academic and administrative leaders. The Executive Director is responsible for planning and implementing strategic engagements with key partners to generate student enrollments at Excelsior University and to build mutually beneficial relationships. Although the bottom-line metric for the success of this position is enrollment and revenue generation, the quality and durability of Excelsior-employer partnerships is also critical. Hence, the Executive Director must pay careful attention to service, engagement, and other relational virtues.

Excelsior University enrolls thousands of active and veteran members of the armed services. The executive director supervises approximately fourteen individuals, including Excelsior military outreach staff, manages Directors, and other Strategic Partnerships staff.

While there is preference for this full-time position to be based in the university’s Albany, NY main offices, a remote arrangement with at least initial bi-weekly travel to Albany will also be considered. This role also requires extensive overnight travel throughout the country to visit sites with concentrations of students, staff and current and potential partners.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES includes the following:

Establish, build, and maintain relationships with employers, paying particular attention to the healthcare, business, and IT sectors.

Forge deep relationships with key decision makers at large employers and develop a high-level understanding of the professional development and workforce needs in those organizations.

Be accountable to the bottom line to ensure that monthly, quarterly, and annual enrollment and revenue targets are met.

Build positive, collegial relationships with Excelsior academic leaders and faculty to jointly address the workforce needs of external partners.

Work with other university leaders to maximize effective use of shared resources

Maintain appropriate prospecting and outreach activity reports; maintain up-to-date and accurate client/prospect database

Other duties may be assigned

QUALIFICATIONS:

Bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited institution is required. Master’s degree is preferred

At least seven years’ experience in one of the following areas: sales, marketing, admissions, recruiting, or business development

Minimum two years’ experience working with or in Higher Education

Experience and proven success in creating and negotiating formal partnership agreements (MOU/MOA) and building strong, productive relationships with partners

Demonstrated familiarity with national corporations and associations or those in targeted geographic areas

Understanding of the unique needs of active military students, veterans, and their families

Experience in working with military tuition assistance and within the requirements of the Department of Defense programs

Demonstrated ability to work with multiple, diverse stakeholders across complex organizations and different populations and recognize opportunities for growth

Ability to coach/lead staff to grow skills and achieve KPIs

Excellent project management skills and the ability to manage multiple tasks and priorities effectively

Demonstrate creativity, enthusiasm, and openness to innovation

Ability to master a wide body of knowledge and information to accurately represent Excelsior University

Strong analytical, decision making and problem-solving skills

Must be self-motivated, work well under pressure and be eager to succeed in a competitive, results-oriented environment

Strong organizational and interpersonal communication skills, including effective large group presentations

Excellent people skills, including emotional intelligence, ease of communication, and a good sense of humor are essential

Knowledge and experience using Salesforce a plus

Experience managing remote staff a plus