"Senior Director of Academic & Corporate Partnerships"

Job Description

Are you passionate about creating and managing strategic partnerships with academic and corporate entities? Do you have experience with higher education innovation, workforce development, or large-scale, cross-functional projects? Then apply today for this Senior Director of Academic & Corporate Partnerships opportunity!

EdPlus at ASU is a dynamic unit of Arizona State University focused on the design and scalable delivery of digital teaching and learning models to increase student success and reduce barriers to achievement in higher education. We advance the economic, social, cultural, and overall health of the local, national, and international communities served by ASU.

We are seeking a Senior Director of Academic & Corporate Partnerships to join our Academic Portfolio Management team. Every day you'll make a difference in the lives of others by leading a portfolio of strategic relationships designed to expand access to education through both employer and academic institution collaborations. You will ensure that ASU delivers high-impact partnership experiences that align with institutional strategy, support learner success, and drive measurable enrollment outcomes.

You will be responsible for the full lifecycle of partner management, from operational execution to innovation pilots, and be the central point of coordination between internal teams and external collaborators. Key partnerships may include Starbucks, Uber, InStride, and strategic institutional collaborations focused on shared degrees, course-sharing, or dual enrollment models like with the University of Tennessee, Knoxville. Key collaboration points include strategic communications, marketing and lifecycle teams, academic leadership, and enrollment and operations.

Here's what success in this role will look like:

• Enrollment through academic and employer partnerships increases year-over-year.
• Strategic pilot programs are launched and scaled successfully.
• Partner satisfaction (via NPS or internal feedback) remains consistently high.
• ASU's reputation as a premier institutional and workforce partner continues to grow.
• Internal teams are empowered, coordinated, and supported in delivering high-impact partner outcomes.

Essential Duties:

Strategic Relationship Leadership

• Serve as the primary point of contact for ASU's academic and corporate partners.
• Deepen partnerships through co-created strategy, shared success metrics, and collaborative planning.
• Represent ASU in executive-level engagements with institutional and employer partners.

Partnership Execution & Operations

• Manage delivery of all partner-facing workstreams (e.g., marketing, enrollment services, learner support).
• Coordinate with academic units and operations teams to ensure alignment and excellence in execution.
• Track deliverables, solve problems, and ensure a consistent, high-quality experience across all partnerships.

Innovation & Growth

• Lead partnership pilots in areas such as shared curriculum, workforce-aligned programming, and employer-funded pathways.
• Design scalable frameworks for academic collaborations and employer benefit programs.
• Build toolkits, dashboards, and templates to enable rapid partner onboarding and growth.

Impact Measurement & Reporting

• Define and report on KPIs, including enrollment contribution, learner outcomes, and partner satisfaction.
• Maintain shared dashboards and provide data-informed insights to internal and external stakeholders.
• Ensure transparent, strategic communications between ASU and partner organizations.

Assume or coordinate other duties or projects as assigned or directed. Minimum travel required.

NOTE: This is not a fully remote position. Must be able to reliably commute to Scottsdale Arizona.

Preferred and Required Qualifications

Minimum Qualifications:

Bachelor's degree and nine (9) years of experience appropriate to the area of assignment/field including five (5) years managerial experience; OR, Any equivalent combination of experience and/or training from which comparable knowledge, skills and abilities have been achieved.

Desired Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree in a related field required; advanced degree preferred.
• Evidence of 5+ years in strategic partnerships, academic innovation, corporate education, or enterprise client success.
• Demonstrated experience managing large-scale, cross-functional projects with internal and external stakeholders.
• Evidence of managing academic or corporate partnerships at Arizona State University.
• Demonstrated deep understanding of higher education systems, workforce development, and adult learner behavior.
• Evidence of outstanding communication, diplomacy, and executive relationship-building skills.
• Demonstrated experience with CRM and reporting systems (e.g., Salesforce, Tableau, Monday.com).
• Demonstrated willingness and ability for minimum travel.

NOTE: Please answer the following question in your cover letter: Describe your experience in managing strategic partnerships, academic innovation, corporate education, or enterprise client success.

Application Details

Salary & Benefits: $132,300 - $160,000 per year, DOE. ASU offers a total compensation package that includes valuable employee benefits. Click here to explore options.

• Healthcare
• Financial Security
• Retirement
• Family Resources
• Tuition Reduction (Eligible ASU Employee, their dependents and spouse.)
• Discounts

Department Statement: EdPlus defines itself through a culture of curiosity, risk-taking and refusing to accept the status quo. As a central enterprise unit for ASU focused on the design and scalable delivery of digital teaching and learning models to increase student success and reduce barriers to achievement in higher education, our commitments support the University charter. ASU is a national service university and aspires to accelerate positive social outcomes through the seamless integration of cutting-edge technological innovation and scalability.

Working Environment: Your desk will be in the beautiful, cutting-edge, and collaborative workspace at SkySong, the ASU Scottsdale Innovation Center.