"Director, Partnerships and Client Solutions"

General purpose:

The Director of Partnerships and Client Solutions provides strategic leadership for MICAs institutional engagement with external partners, driving the development and delivery of innovative academic offerings that expand access, enhance student experience, address regional workforce development needs, and create new revenue streams. The Director serves as a key leader connecting MICAs internal expertise with the evolving needs of partners across industries, nonprofits, cultural institutions, and government sectors.

Working across academic planning, external engagement, and operational execution, this role leads the design and implementation of customized learning experiences-including professional training, certificates, contract education, and co-branded programs-tailored to address market demands and advance MICAs mission in the creative economy. The Director oversees strategic partnerships, aligns internal teams, and champions high-quality, responsive programming for professional, adult, and non-traditional learners.

Summary of Essential Functions:

• Develop and manage partnerships across industries, civic, and educational sectors.
• Oversee design and execution of custom training, credentials, and workforce solutions.
• Ensure strategic alignment and quality implementation of client-based learning programs.

Essential Duties & Responsibilities:

• Lead identification, cultivation, and stewardship of institutional partnerships.
• Collaborate with leadership to set revenue goals and KPIs for custom education initiatives.
• Negotiate MOUs, articulation agreements, and contracts with external partners.
• Collaborate on funding and engagement strategies with Advancement and academic leadership.
• Represent MICA at external meetings, convenings, and events.
• Design and direct development of customized academic offerings and contract training.
• Conduct market research and environmental scans to guide program development.
• Oversee proposal development, pricing models, and instructional design.
• Ensure successful program delivery including operations, staffing, and reporting.
• Supervise staff and manage performance, logistics, and compliance.
• Collaborate with internal stakeholders on cross-functional initiatives and messaging.
• Contribute to reports, grant proposals, marketing content, and public communications.
• Participate in campus-wide efforts to promote workforce readiness and community learning.
• Perform other related duties as assigned.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Knowledge of partnership development, customized learning design, market research, continuing education models
• Skills: strategic planning, communication, instructional design, operational execution, project management
• Ability to: engage external partners, lead cross-functional teams, negotiate contracts, align programs to institutional and partner goals:

Minimum qualifications:

• Education: Bachelors degree in arts administration, Education, Business, Public Policy, or related field
• Experience: Minimum of 5 years in partnership development, program leadership, or continuing education
• Certifications/licenses: None required
• Indicate whether any substitutions can be allowed: Not specified.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Masters degree in education, Arts Administration, Public Administration, or related field
• Interest or background in the arts, design, or creative economy
• Experience designing programs for adult learners or non-traditional students
• Familiarity with Workday, Canvas, Asana, Salesforce, or similar systems
• Experience in grant writing, curriculum development, or instructional design

Reporting to this position:

Staff responsible for program coordination, partner relations, and participant support

Conditions of Employment:

• Satisfactory Background Check
• Unusual Circumstances related to position: May require some evening and weekend hours to perform the essential functions.

Physical Demands:

While performing the duties of job, the employee is occasionally required to stand, walk; sit; use hands to finger, handle, or feel objects, tools, or controls; reach with hands and arms; balance; stoop; talk or hear. The employee must occasionally lift up to 25 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by the job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and the ability to adjust focus.

Work environment:

While performing the duties of the job, the employee is exposed to weather conditions prevalent at the time. The noise level in the work environment is usually minimal.

Required training:

Handbook orientation, Anti-Harassment, Hazard Communication, Emergency Plans & Fire Prevention, Personal Protection Equipment. (additional training may be added, SEE: EHS Manager training schedule)