Strategic Partnerships Executive

Job Description

Job Description

The opportunity:

Join a team shaping the future of leadership development at scale! We’re seeking a Strategic Partnerships Executive to spearhead transformative executive education partnerships with senior executives at some of the world’s most influential organizations. This is a rare opportunity to match cutting-edge leadership solutions with real-world business challenges—delivering impact when and where it matters most to organizations’ strategic goals.

We are seeking an entrepreneurial, consultative, and well-networked relationship builder to nurture and contract for high-quality new business with senior leaders across the Fortune 500 and beyond. This role is focused on identifying, cultivating, and converting opportunities for custom executive education that strengthen internal leadership capacity and drive transformational growth in client organizations. 

As a senior member of our business development team, reporting to the Director of Revenue Strategy, this role will partner closely with senior leadership, Program Directors, faculty, and other stakeholders to engage new clients with impactful solutions for their complex leadership development challenges. They will also work closely with our Director of Revenue Strategy and a highly capable Marketing team to identify and generate leads.

Primary Responsibilities:

• Identify and engage prospective clients with large-scale custom executive learning needs, particularly at the senior executive level (C-suite, CHROs, Chief People Officers, CLOs, L&D leaders). 
• Proactively build a robust pipeline of qualified new client prospects, aligned with our Ideal Customer Profile. 
• Create and execute outbound lead generation strategies in collaboration with the Director of Revenue Strategy and Marketing team to build a pipeline of qualified opportunities. Including sector-specific strategies that generate substantial new qualified opportunities aligned with our Ideal Client Profile. 
• Lead the end-to-end consultative sales process from prospecting and initial needs assessment to proposal development and closing, ensuring a warm hand-off to a Program Director, if deemed a viable business opportunity. 
• Lead the preparation of compelling presentations and supporting documentation, working closely with Program Directors to accurately assess and communicate client needs to build tailored proposals that differentiate our capabilities and clearly articulate our value proposition to prospective clients. 
• Manage pipeline activity and forecasts using Salesforce, ensuring data accuracy and visibility across teams. 
• Consistently meet or exceed annual new-business revenue goals in line with the business plan and growth strategy, in partnership with the assigned Program Director.

Strategic Relationship Building 

• Build trusted, value-adding relationships with decision-makers at large corporations, associations, and mission-driven organizations. 
• Leverage alumni networks, associations, and professional contacts to expand reach and generate new opportunities. 
• Collaborate with faculty and internal teams to translate client needs into innovative, evidence-based learning solutions. 
• Serve as a thought partner to prospective clients positioning the organization as a trusted strategic advisor, guiding client organizations toward high-impact leadership development investments (>$500K-$3M spend annually). 
• Develop network relationships by representing UNC Kenan-Flagler Executive Development at relevant industry events, conferences, and convenings both locally and nationally. 

Market Growth & Brand Expansion 

• Contribute to the diversification of our client base and revenue portfolio by expanding into new target industries, sectors, and geographic markets. 
• Develop relationships with partner organizations within and beyond UNC, with alumni of Kenan-Flagler Business School and UNC Chapel Hill, and a range of affiliated stakeholders to broaden access and visibility. 
• Stay current with trends in business leadership and organizational transformation, executive education, adult learning, leadership development, and our competitive landscape. 

Cross-Functional Collaboration & Internal Leadership 

• Serve as a connector across business development, marketing, product design, and delivery teams, advocating for our clients’ interests. 
• Ensure seamless handoff of new client engagements to internal Program Director, maintaining high standards of experience. 
• Assist the Director of Revenue Strategy to refine sales enablement processes, messaging, and go-to-market strategies. 
• Contribute to knowledge-sharing, mentorship, and sales playbook development. 

QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE:

The candidate should possess the following: 

• 8+ years in consultative B2B sales, preferably in executive education, leadership development, professional services, fundraising, or adjacent industries; or equivalent experience.
• Demonstrated ability to create and execute high-impact business development strategies that lead to multi-six-figure engagements with senior-level decision-makers. 
• Deep understanding of complex sales cycles and enterprise relationship management. 
• Proven success building and managing a high-value pipeline while consistently meeting or exceeding revenue targets. 
• Strong interpersonal skills with the ability to quickly build trust and credibility across all organizational levels. 
• Executive presence and professionalism in engaging with C-suite leaders. 
• Exceptional listening, negotiation, presentation, and communication skills. 
• Strong cross-functional collaboration skills; able to partner effectively across teams and disciplines. 
• Proficiency with Salesforce or comparable CRM platforms. 
• Working knowledge of adult learning theory, leadership development methodologies, and executive education trends is preferred. 
• Bachelor’s degree required; MBA or other advanced degree preferred. 

About the role:

Job Type: Full-time

FLSA Status: Salaried, Exempt

Work Schedule: Hybrid (mix of in-office and remote work); some travel required

Location: Chapel Hill, North Carolina — must be within commuting distance to office

Compensation: This role will be required to achieve an annual sales quota and will receive performance-based compensation accordingly, in addition to a competitive base salary.

Primary KPIs for this position include the number of new clients aligned with our ideal client profile, target contract parameters, mix of new clients sourced from key target industries, and the initiation of multi-year relationships with client organizations. 

Benefits:

• Group health, dental and vision plans
• 401(k) retirement plan with employer match
• Life & disability insurance provided and funded by the LLC
• Paid holidays and time-off 
• Paid parental leave
• Professional development opportunities

TO Apply:

A resume and cover letter are required to complete the application. This position will remain open until filled.

ABOUT UNC EXECUTIVE DEVELOPMENT:

UNC Executive Development designs and delivers innovative, customized learning solutions to address our clients’ specific business, organizational, and leadership development needs. We collaborate with many client organizations, including Fortune 500 companies and governmental organizations, to drive long-term impact. As part of UNC-Chapel Hill’s Kenan-Flagler Business School, we are an internationally recognized leader in the field of executive education.

Learn more about us at

Kenan-Flagler Business School Executive Education, LLC is an equal opportunity and affirmative action employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to age, color, disability, gender, gender expression, gender identity, genetic information, race, national origin, religion, sex, sexual orientation, or status as a protected veteran. EOE M/F/D/V.