Director of Partnerships - Digital Learning - UTK

Director of Partnerships Reporting to the Executive Director, Head of Outreach, Engagement & Partnerships, the Director of Partnerships provides leadership and oversight of the partnership function within the Digital Learning unit. The Director leads, plans, and directs the development of strategic partnerships with industry and education partners that build enrollment pipelines to the university's fully online degree programs, and establishes the processes and infrastructure that allow the program to launch, scale, and sustain. As the founding hire for this function, the Director owns the full partnership lifecycle, serves as Digital Learning's primary point of contact for partners, advises unit leadership on matters within their area of expertise, and analyzes courses of action to make independent decisions on complex operational issues within scope. This is a builder's role suited to someone who is equally comfortable in an external, consultative business-development conversation with an HR or talent-development leader and in the internal work of standing up a program from the ground up, including defining workflows, configuring CRM, drafting agreements, and establishing the metrics by which the program is evaluated. The Director operates with a high degree of autonomy, carries enrollment goals, and serves as Digital Learning's primary point of contact for employer partnerships. Responsibilities Partnership Development Develop and execute an outreach strategy to identify, prospect, and secure new corporate, government, nonprofit, and organizational partners whose workforce development needs align with the university's online degree offerings. Cultivate and maintain relationships with leadership and staff at current and prospective partner institutions, including community colleges and other education partners. Serve as the lead in partnership conversations with organizational decision-makers; translate the university's value proposition into terms that map to an employer's recruitment, retention, and upskilling goals. Qualify organizational prospects against defined criteria, manage a multi-stage pipeline, and move opportunities from first contact through signed agreement. Negotiate and structure partnership agreements, ensuring terms are compliant and sustainable. Monitor market and competitor trends and share intelligence with leadership to inform new, emerging, and enhanced partnership opportunities. Relationship & Account Management Serve as the primary relationship owner and the consistent face of Digital Learning for a portfolio of active partners through the life of each partnership, ensuring partner satisfaction, regular engagement, and renewal. Coordinate partner onboarding, including verification of employee eligibility, co-branded communications, and the partner-facing materials needed to activate each agreement. Serve as Digital Learning's onsite and virtual representative for partners; organize and deliver onsite and virtual recruiting and information sessions and attend partner-hosted events when requested. Maintain current and thorough knowledge of Vols Online degree programs, transfer credit policies, and the scholarship and financial aid options most relevant to partner audiences. Coordinate with the recruitment team on prospective student leads generated through partner activity. Conduct periodic business reviews with partners, reporting on enrollment, student success outcomes, and value delivered. Data, Reporting & Process Build-Out Define and own the program's key performance indicators. Build and maintain reporting that tracks pipeline health and program performance, and present results and recommendations to senior leadership on a regular cadence. Routinely evaluate the ROI of partnership and recruitment efforts and use the data to refine strategy, recommend whether to initiate, expand, restructure, or sunset partnerships, and adjust the tier model over time. Design and document the end-to-end operational processes for the partnership program: inquiry intake, partnership review and approval, contracting, eligibility verification, and renewal. Cross-Functional Collaboration Partner with internal and external campus stakeholders to ensure support of partnerships and partner students. Collaborate with the Division of Enrollment Management, the Transfer Center, and academic colleges to ensure a coordinated approach to community college partners. Work with the appropriate university offices to route and finalize partnership agreements through institutional review and approval. Collaborate with recruitment and student success teams to support partner enrollment, persistence, and completion through graduation. Represent Digital Learning at external employer meetings, industry events, community college and transfer events, and professional forums; serve as a spokesperson for the partnership initiative internally and externally. Qualifications Required Qualifications Education : Bachelor's Degree Experience : 5-7 years of progressively responsible experience in business development, partnership/account management, sales, corporate relations, higher education recruitment, or a comparable external-facing role, with demonstrated success developing and managing partnerships or accounts. Demonstrated track record of independently sourcing, closing, and growing partnerships or accounts. Experience designing or substantially improving processes, workflows, or programs. Proficiency with a CRM and the ability to structure pipeline data and reporting. Knowledge, Skills, & Abilities: Skill in consultative selling, relationship-building, and negotiation with senior external stakeholders, and the ability to translate the university's value proposition into terms that map to a partner's goals. Ability to think strategically and operationally: to set direction and to build the processes, tools, and infrastructure that support it. Ability to work autonomously, set priorities, and take ownership of results in an ambiguous, start-up-like environment. Knowledge of CRM systems and skill in structuring pipeline data and reporting. Ability to interpret data and to manage to metrics-based performance goals. Skill in written and verbal communication and in presenting to audiences ranging from prospective students to executive leadership. Ability to collaborate across functions and to influence without authority. Skill in organization and project management, with the ability to prioritize and manage multiple initiatives simultaneously. Applicants must be legally authorized to work in the United States on a full-time basis without need now or in the future for sponsorship for employment-based visa status. Preferred Qualifications Education : Master's Degree Experience : Experience in higher education, online/continuing/professional education, or workforce development. Experience developing community college partnerships, transfer recruitment pipelines, or articulation agreements. Experience selling into or working with corporate HR, benefits, talent-acquisition, or learning and development functions. Experience recruiting or serving adult learners and working professionals. Experience standing up a new program, team, or business line from the ground up. Experience supervising or building a team. Knowledge, Skills, & Abilities: Knowledge of the Tennessee higher education landscape, including Tennessee Board of Regents community colleges, Tennessee Transfer Pathways, and TN Reconnect. Knowledge of employer tuition-benefit models and related compliance considerations, and skill in using Salesforce. Ability to communicate credibly in both corporate and academic setting Work Location: Knoxville, TN In Office, with a possibility of a hybrid work schedule Compensation and Benefits: UT market range: MR 14 Anticipated hiring range: $105,000-$110,000 To express interest, please apply with the noted below attachments: Resume Cover Letter About Digital Learning Digital Learning at UT, is a university-wide unit charged with advancing UT's commitment to discovery, creativity, learning, and engagement, specifically for online learners. Using advanced and innovative technologies, Digital Learning at UT provides scalable solutions that enhance the online learning experience and reduce barriers to student access and success, providing a tremendous impact to online learners across the state and the nation. At Digital Learning, we are bold and impactful, transforming the future of online education through innovative thinking and collaborative problem-solving. Join our dynamic and inclusive Digital Learning team where we take pride in teamwork, excellence, and a shared commitment to shaping the future through education and innovation About Us The University of Tennessee, Knoxville, has shaped leaders, changemakers, and innovative thinkers since its founding in 1794. The university is home to more than 38,000 students and