Director, Strategic Partnerships

Sophia has developed a broad range of products and capabilities aimed at improving student success, engagement, and retention, all in the interest of supporting students to reach their educational and employment goals. For candidates interested in taking their next career step in the educational technology space, Sophia offers the fast pace and excitement of working for a startup, with the support and backing of an established organization. You will be on the front lines of educational innovation. This is an opportunity to drastically redefine how universities serve their students.

Sophia is seeking a Director, Strategic Partnerships for university partnerships. The ideal candidate for this role is someone that is highly organized, goal-oriented, thinks systematically and is masterful in managing internal and external relationships. Externally, this person will regularly interface with University leadership (i.e. University Presidents/Provosts).

Essential Duties & Responsibilities:

• Sign Higher Education articulation agreements; Achieve agreed upon sales targets and outcomes.
• Implement and oversee partnership development strategy to drive revenue growth across new partners.
• Identify new business opportunities, build lead lists and manage a pipeline of prospects from SQL through the contracting phase.
• Research emerging trends and recommend product use cases based on needs analysis
• Provide discipline-specific market insights that add value to partner conversations.
• Have an informed opinion about the education landscape; be a thought-leader both internally and externally.
• Regularly attend industry-related convenings as a representative of Sophia’s offerings to the higher education sector and showcase the value of products and tools to the sector.
• Work cross-functionally with legal, marketing, PR, IT and other departments to design collateral, legal agreements and processes for partner onboarding and success.
• Effective interpersonal communication in managing multiple internal stakeholders including senior team leadership, product leaders, functional points of contact and direct reports.
• Manage regular weekly, monthly and quarterly sales and partner goals reporting to senior team leadership.

Job Skills:

The following characteristics and attributes make for a competitive candidate:

• Goal-oriented, organized team player.
• Proven track record and experience expanding a company’s client base and sales.
• Able to analyze data and sales statistics and translate results into better solutions.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• Able to multi-task, prioritize, and manage time effectively.
• Self-motivated and self-directed.
• Experienced at preparing and presenting quarterly goals and forecasts for future projects
• Comfortable in both a leadership and team-player role.
• Creative problem solver who thrives when presented with a challenge.
• Culturally competent and a self-reflective leader able to interface with various university types.

Work Experience:

• 5+ years of experience working in the higher education sector and/or experience working in sales signing agreements with institutions.

Education:

• Bachelor’s Degree; Masters/MBA Degree Highly Preferred.

Other:

• Must be able to travel occasionally should a business need arise (e.g. conferences)
• Must be able to meet critical thinking and problem solving aspects aligned to job duties, as well as effectively communicating with co-workers.
• Must be able to work more than 40 hours per week when business needs warrant. Accommodations related to schedule may be considered. 
• Able to access information using a computer.
• Other essential functions and marginal job functions are subject to modification.

SEI offers a comprehensive package of benefits to employees scheduled 30 hours or more per week. In addition to medical, dental, vision, life and disability plans, SEI employees may take advantage of well-being incentives, parental leave, paid time off, certain paid holidays, tax saving accounts (FSA, HSA), 401(k) retirement benefit, Employee Stock Purchase Plan, tuition assistance as well as entertainment and retail discounts. Non-exempt employees are eligible for overtime pay, if applicable.

Careers - Our Benefits, Strategic Education, Inc

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