This is a remote opportunity that is required to work Pacific or Mountain Standard time zone hours.

Business Summary

It is a time of transformation and opportunity across the Pearson Online Learning Services team. Pearson Online Learning Services (POLS) provides mission critical expertise, services and support to higher ed institutions seeking to extend their reach and impact the lives of learners via a broad array of online academic programs. The POLS organization is driven to support the success of our Academic Partners, enabling generational impacts on the lives of learners, and advancing the online learning industry through exceptional talent and innovation.

The Role

The overall responsibility for the Partnership Director is to support the success of our Academic Partners (i.e., public and private universities). This is accomplished through providing strategic direction, operational management, and collaborative leadership with our cross-functional teams to achieve the shared goals with our Academic Partners.

These cross-functional teams operate as an extension of the Partner Success team and are similarly aligned to a portfolio of Academic Partners. In concert with the Partner Success team, they are responsible for providing expert marketing, recruitment, learning design, and retention services for our Academic Partners.

The Partnership Director’s primary responsibility is the success of the relationship with our Academic Partners. This is defined by meeting/exceeding the shared financial targets with our Academic Partners, and through earning outstanding client satisfaction. Success is achieved by creating and executing detailed and rigorous strategic account plans, effectively managing the P&L for the partnership, building and developing broad and deep relationships with key stakeholders across our partner institutions, as well as launching and growing new programs successfully.

General Responsibilities

Leadership

• In partnership with the Business Unit leader, provide leadership and be accountable for strategic initiatives that support the achievement of shared goals with our Academic Partners.
• Create a positive and inclusive cross functional team working atmosphere where people work collaboratively and with enthusiasm to produce strong business results for academic partners.
• Support and guide cross functional teammates/indirect reports for achievement of Academic Partner priorities
• Ensure that each functional area is performing at optimum levels to provide an exceptional learner experience, the highest possible stage to stage conversion rates, and our overall operations are continuously improving.
• Collaborate with a cross-functional team dedicated to the success of our Academic Partners. Together, identify and prioritize initiatives with the greatest potential impact to learner engagement and success. Support implementation and measurement of impact.
• Represent Academic Partner goals, priority initiatives and performance in regular senior leadership meetings. Prepare and present regular executive briefings and executive presentation to POLS executive leadership.

Academic Partner Relationship Management

• Serve as relationship owner for key executive and senior leader stakeholders (e.g. Provosts, Deans, Vice Deans, Assistant Deans, Chairs, and Directors. Develop and execute communication cadences with executive stakeholders.
• Build broad and deep relationships and trust with the key stakeholders across our Academic Partner Institutions. Understand their vision for future growth and our role in helping them achieve that vision.
• In collaboration with cross functional leaders, provide academic partners with consultation to identify key opportunities and solutions around program optimization and program growth. Develop and present executive presentations to academic partners.
• Demonstrate and continuously develop industry expertise to advise Academic Partners on new opportunities in their space and on new practices to improve student success.
• Facilitate regular meetings with the stakeholders across the Academic Partner to ensure that all aspects of the strategic initiatives are functioning successfully.
• Collaborate with the functional leaders to ensure best practices are implemented.
• Manage initiatives and projects that align with key performance outcomes.

Financial Management

• Work with the functional leaders to ensure their individual P&Ls are following the plan.
• Continuously evaluate performance versus the financial plan and identify and monitor KPIs that provide insight into operational performance and opportunities for improvement.
• Identify any impacts on P&L from operational or strategic changes made by the Academic Partner and propose solutions to ensure alignment with P&L.
• Oversee any contractual payments to Academic Partners.
• Work closely with Business Development to expand programs and product offerings
• Support contract renewal processes

New Launches

• Collaborate with our Launch Team to develop detailed launch plans and milestones for new program launches that are aligned to contractual requirements and agreed upon financial models.
• Continuously monitor progress with the Launch Team and Academic Partner to ensure milestones are achieved and programs are launched successfully and with optimized operational processes.
• Facilitate initial launch meetings with Academic Partner and facilitate alignment of the functional leaders with corresponding contacts at the Academic Partner.
• Oversee the implementation of the launch plan to ensure successful launch and Academic Partner satisfaction during launch.
• In concert with the Launch Team, provide bi-weekly results of marketing launch to Academic Partner and ensure application trends are leading to achieving enrollment targets.
• Work with internal leaders to ensure that integration with different departments at the Institution is successfully implemented.

General Qualifications

• 4-year degree from an accredited institution or equivalent education/experience; Master’s Degree preferred.
• Minimum ten (10) years of professional experience, five (5) of which ideally is in strategy, strategy consulting, account management, marketing, or online education.
• Experience in managing P&L.
• Proven track record of using data and analysis to make decisions.
• Excellent leadership, relationship building, negotiation, communication (written and oral), presentation, planning and organizational skills.
• Advanced level skills with MS PowerPoint
• Exceptional time management skills.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills
• Ability to manage multiple tasks and projects.
• Ability to identify and propose new tasks and procedures.
• Demonstrated ability to take the lead and work against resistance to accomplish goals.
• Highly proficient with MS Office
• Ability to perform non-local travel up to 30-40% of the time, therefore proximity to a major US airport is preferred.
• Required to work Pacific or Mountain Standard time zone hours

Compensation at Pearson is influenced by a wide array of factors including but not limited to skill set, level of experience, and specific office location. As required by the Colorado and New York City laws, the pay range for this position is as follows:

Minimum full-time salary range is between $125,000.00 - $135,000.00.

This position is eligible to participate in an annual incentive program, and information on benefits offered is here here.

Benefits available to eligible employees can be seen at: https://pearsonbenefitsus.com/

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Learning is the most powerful force for change in the world. More than 20,000 Pearson employees deliver our products and services in nearly 200 countries, all working towards a common purpose – to help everyone achieve their potential through learning. We do that by providing high quality, digital content and learning experiences, as well as assessments and qualifications that help people build their skills and grow with the world around them. We are the world’s leading learning company. Learn more at pearsonplc.com.

Job: PROJECT/PROGRAMME MANAGEMENT

Organization: Virtual Learning

Schedule: FULL\_TIME

Req ID: 8656

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