Director of Strategic Partnerships

Company Description:

When Bay Path opened its doors to students in 1897, it had a very clear goal: to provide a practical, affordable, and career-oriented education to prepare students to not only meet the needs of companies, organizations, and communities but to also thrive in their professions, identify and realize their dreams, and make a lasting difference in the world. From the beginning, Bay Path prided itself on being entrepreneurial, constantly pushing the boundaries of the academic experience to fit the student...to start them on the road of success. That spirit and philosophy is best reflected in our shared vision, "At Bay Path, every learner's dreams of a better career, a richer life, and a brighter future will be realized.".

Bay Path University, an independent and not-for-profit institution, was named Among Fastest Growing Baccalaureate Colleges and Graduate Programs by The Chronicle of Higher Education Almanac, and is a member of the Women's College Coalition. With a main campus in Longmeadow, MA, and a satellite location in East Longmeadow, MA, Bay Path offers undergraduate, graduate (for women and men) degrees, and professional certificates.

For 125 years, we have been committed to preparing our students to navigate a constantly changing world. Whether it is one of our innovative academic programs, groundbreaking online learning platform, or We Empower Learners and Leaders initiative, we educate our students in ways that will help them to grow, learn to adapt, and always to flourish. Be part of the change. Be Bay Path.

We invite you to visit our website at www.baypath.edu where you can learn more about Bay Path University.

Job Description:

JOB SUMMARY:

Reporting directly to the VP of Strategic Partnerships, the Director of Strategic Partnerships will prospect, cultivate, and manage strategic non-profit, government and corporate relationships in expanding the Office of Partnership Development's (OPD) portfolio of public/private partnerships and fee-for-service programs. The Director will engage targeted industry partners, affinity groups, academic institutions, and other strategically defined entities; determine their needs and interests; and identify solutions that align with the strategic product development plans of the University. The Director will support the development of these strategic products and manage, or support, their delivery. The Director will serve as the administrative manager for ongoing partnerships and associated activities for the Partnership team and as a key agent in identifying and establishing partnerships in Eastern Massachusetts.

The Director is a strategic thinker, a passionate sales expert and competent relationship manager. They possess proven experience in establishing partnership opportunities, cultivating business development that advances the work aligned with our mission, and the ability to coordinate internal stakeholders in support of OPD initiatives. The Director is a results-oriented professional capable of promoting a portfolio of services and products focused on workforce development and alternative enrollment pipelines. The Director will support collaboration with departments across the institution in service of the OPD's strategic goals.

Additionally, the Director will identify and recommend new markets and products or propose adjustments or customizations to offerings to be increasingly responsive to workforce trends or employer needs. This will include the development of strategies for business-to-business marketing, messaging, and collateral to promote efforts of the department. This role will be responsible for driving revenue through partnerships and is expected to meet or exceed annual growth targets.

The ideal candidate will be an experienced, self-motivated, goal-driven, results-oriented professional with a record of success and growth in a sales environment, and a commitment towards meaningful workforce development in communities served by the institution.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES/RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Driving revenue through partnerships to meet or exceed annual growth targets set by the VP of Strategic Partnerships;
• Conducting research to qualify new business lead opportunities via online, networking sources and industry publications;
• Collaborating with the VP of Strategic Partnerships to expand the University's portfolio of products designed to meet industry/employer skills gaps, training and development needs;
• Participating in the development and implementation of the new portfolio of offerings, as well as in the development and implementation of associated marketing strategies;
• Conducting regular reviews of market conditions to determine customer needs, including conducting meetings with business managers with the goal of learning specific training and/or space needs that the University may address;
• Proactively contacting companies and organizations defined by the VP of Strategic Partnerships with the goal of expanding partnership models, shaping new program offerings and mutually beneficial outcome goals;
• Collaborate with the VP of Strategic Partnerships in developing agreements required to formalize strategic partnerships;
• Monitoring client satisfaction as it pertains to service delivery activities and providing observations, recommendations, and suggestions for improvement to the VP of Strategic Partnership and senior leadership of the University;
• Monitoring the timeliness and accuracy of billing/invoicing services to clients and overall account management of clients;
• Representing the University at trade, industry, business and professional affinity group association meetings and conferences as applicable; and
• Maintaining up-to-date and accurate records of all business development and account management initiatives - project status, events and other significant activities -within CRM database or other means as determined by the VP to ensure consistent and coordinated relationship management of partners;
• Managing administrative duties associated with Early College and Dual Enrollment programs, including but not limited to: tracking and invoicing expenses, as well as developing reports required by the State on the program;
• Serve as primary contact administrator for DESE and other State grants/contracts, working closely with the Finance team to ensure successful management of the appropriated funds;
• Support the creation and management of the OPD budget;
• Other duties as assigned.