Regional Director, Outreach and Partner Engagement (Texas)

Compensation Range:

Position Summary:

Candidate must reside in Houston, TX

The Regional Director, Outreach and Partner Engagement is a key member of the Strategic Partnerships and National Outreach team. Identifies clients’ goals, organizational structures, and communication channels, recognizing potential opportunities to grow the business with both existing and new accounts for Workforce & Community Education (WCE). Engages external partners, including employers and larger organizations, with experience and knowledge in key areas including the following:

• Tuition Assistance
• Customized Education
• Workforce Development
• Hiring Partnerships
• Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Training
• Prior Learning Credit
• Credential Rich Pathways
• Employee Resource Groups

The Director executes major account activation and strategy, as well as serves as a key business development resource in partnership with the VP, Partnership Development and other National University leaders. Leads a team of Outreach Specialists who champion the growth of National University’s educational partnerships and community outreach by growing university enrollments, increasing brand awareness, and addressing current and future workforce education demands in an assigned territory/region. Plans and implements partner engagement and outreach strategies and actions, while representing the University to external constituents (e.g. corporate and healthcare partners, government partners, education agencies, public safety agencies, military installations, professional associations, etc.). Builds and sustains working relationships with WCE’s organizational partners and priority prospective partner organizations to promote the University’s vision, mission, and values. In close alignment with WCE leaders and teams, the Director also plans and leads the outreach team’s presence within the university, the community, across industries, and throughout the community-at-large in multiple assigned territories in assigned region.

Essential Functions:

• Lead the development and execution of strategic industry and community partnerships and channel strategies to drive revenue across multiple lines of business.
• Engage Senior Executives in strategic discussions and decisions related to establishing new partnerships and opportunities.  
• Develop relationships with employers and industry leaders to understand and translate industry and professional needs into relevant course offerings and trainings.
• Lead a team of outreach specialists as they contact B2B prospects (email, telephone, face-to-face, direct mail, and networking events) to schedule meetings and explain/answer questions and conduct presentations on partner benefits to activate partnerships regionally and across industries.
• Coordinate existing and new educational partnerships’ growth opportunities with partners, strategic organizations, and other regional and national accounts.
• Plan, coordinate, and manage recruitment activities such as webinars, education fairs, trade shows, conferences, open house/information sessions, and networking events to develop industry and community contacts.
• Standardize the documentation, tracking, and ROI analysis of outreach efforts on Client Relationship Management (CRM) and other scheduling software (Salesforce and Monday.com) for planning, reporting, and analysis purposes.
• Lead alignment efforts with various departments, faculty, and leadership throughout the university in order to maximize outreach and partnership revenue-focused plans and relationship goals. This is accomplished by working with Academics, Registrar, Enrollment, Student Services, Career Services, WCE PACE, and other departments that increase understanding, acceptance, and support for WCE offerings and programming among all constituents.
• Collect, analyze, create, and interpret reports for senior leadership on a variety of metrics and KPIs.
• Participate in budget planning by providing historical data and projections and developing strategic plans.
• Set clear performance metrics and expectations, monitor progress, and provide feedback to drive continuous improvement. 
• Foster a culture of innovation and continuous improvement by encouraging experimentation and embracing new ideas. 
• Communicate effectively with internal and external stakeholders, foster collaboration across departments, and promote transparency. 
• Identify and cultivate strategic partnerships and alliances to enhance National University’s competitive position and create new opportunities for growth. 
• Lead by example and uphold ethical standards in all aspects of decision making and behavior. 
• Lead and support team members through performance management, goal-setting, and organizational changes and initiatives. 
• Perform special projects as assigned.
• Other duties as assigned.

Supervisory Responsibilities: Supervisor duties to include: Hire, train, and develop 3-10 direct reports.  

Requirements:

Education & Experience:

• Bachelor’s degree in a related field, required. 
• Master’s degree preferred.
• Minimum of ten (10) years of relevant industry experience with demonstrated ability to build partnerships within regional market organizations required.
• Or equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Leadership experience preferred.
• Experience in higher education strongly preferred.
• Experience working in a dynamic, hybrid, technology-driven enterprise preferred.
• All skills, abilities and education will be considered for minimum qualifications. 

Competencies/Technical/Functional Skills:

• Acts as a role model. Anticipates and plans for changes including communicating vision to the team.  Ability to lead, direct and/or influence others to obtain results using a wide degree of creativity and latitude. Working knowledge in building teams.
• Ability to understand, diagnose and plan for business issues, processes, structure, outcomes, and profitability. Understands the implications of decisions and actions, including a deep understanding of overall big picture of the business; able to take an idea from concept to reality.
• Aptitude to drive towards achieving measurable and challenging goals to support organizational success. Demonstrate the ability to focus on achieving results consistent with the organization’s objectives.  As a leader, develops goals based on the organization’s vision, mission and strategic goals and objectives.
• Actively seeks opportunities to influence, build effective relationships and gain alignment with peers, functional partners and/or external partners to accomplish business objectives.
• Ability to hire, train, develop, evaluate, lead and direct work and discipline staff, taking corrective action as necessary on a timely basis and in accordance with company policies and Federal, State, and local regulations.
• Extensive higher-education institutional knowledge, including advanced understanding of National University, its mission, values, and structure.  Working knowledge of academic culture, specifically regarding issues of greatest public interest, such as online educational programs. 
• Ability to be an independent, flexible, creative, critical, and strategic thinker with solid judgement, sensitivity and logical reasoning including self-motivated and results oriented.
• Superior interpersonal skills with the ability to project professional competence, leadership capability and successfully communicate with a wide range of individual of constituencies in a diverse community making a positive impression in public forums.  Ability to interact appropriately with industry leaders, faculty, and staff.
• Exceptional community relations skills with the ability to represent the University and help build public understanding of University’s brand and values.
• Demonstrated ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously, excellent organizational skills with attention to details, good follow-up and follow-through.  Excellent analytical skills in addition to collecting, organizing, and presenting information in a relevant manner.
• Advanced use of computers and Microsoft Office Suite Applications such as Word, Excel, Power Point and Outlook.
• Foster a cooperative spirit within a large and/or small team of diverse cultures across the organization and all levels while working in a fast-paced environment with multiple deadlines and frequently changing priorities.

Location: Remote TX; Candidate must reside in Houston, TX, must be located in major metropolitan area of assigned region.

Travel: Frequent Travel Required; up to 30% for employer/partnership cultivation, team development, and participation in partnership and university-wide events as a representative of National University.

#LI-Remote

Candidate receiving offers will be offered a salary/pay rate commensurate with experience that vary based on a candidate’s qualifications, skills, and competencies.  Absent exceptional circumstances, candidates will be offered a salary within this range for this position. The minimum salary will be offered based on the minimum exemption threshold based on state of residency. Base pay is one component of National University’s total rewards package, as we are dedicated to supporting the needs of the “whole you” with our holistic approach to employee benefits by offering comprehensive well-being benefits for you and your family.  For full details about our benefit plan offerings, please visit benefits.nu.edu. For Part-time benefits, please click here.

National University is committed to maintaining a high-quality workforce representative of the populations we serve. National University employs more than 4,500 faculty and staff and serves over 45,000 students. We are united in our mission to meet the global education demands of the 21st Century and are dedicated to creating a supportive academic and work environment that allows students, faculty and staff to develop their interests and talents while experiencing a sense of community. With programs available both online and at our many campus locations, National University is a leader in creating innovative solutions to education and meeting the needs of our student population, including adult learners and working professionals.

National University (NU) is proud to be an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate against any employee or applicant per applicable federal, state and local laws. At NU, a mix of highly talented, innovative and creative people come together to make the impact of a lifetime for each of our student learners. All qualified applicants will receive equal consideration for employment, education, and admission at National University.