Assistant Vice President for Strategic Partnerships

Description

The AVP for Strategic Partnerships will lead Cedar Crest College's initiatives in workforce development education and strategic partnerships with corporate, non-profit, and other educational organizations. Reporting directly to the Provost & Vice President for Academic Affairs, the AVP will cooperatively establish partnerships, and renew existing ones, that open new enrollment markets for our degree programs and build new for-credit and non-credit workforce-aligned credentials. This position plays a crucial role in advancing the College's mission through visionary, innovative partnerships and programs that serve both our students and the broader community. 

As a women's college with co-educational graduate and adult-learner programs, Cedar Crest offers 38 bachelor-degree programs and an advancing portfolio of 15 master degrees and 4 practitioner doctorates. Our mission is to educate the next generation of leaders, especially women, for life in a global community. Our students include many from first-generation college families and diverse races and ethnicities, nationalities, economic means, gender and sexually diverse identities, religious beliefs, abilities and disabilities, and ages. The successful candidate will join Cedar Crest College during an exciting period of growth and innovation as we serve our student population in new ways. 

Essential Responsibilities: 

• Develop and implement a comprehensive Workforce Development education program within the School of Adult and Graduate Education, focusing on market-responsive curriculum and industry-aligned credentials 

• Open new enrollment markets through strategic partnerships for the College’s degree programs and Workforce Development credentials 

• Establish, renew, and maintain strategic partnerships with regional and national organizations, government agencies, and corporations to create workforce education opportunities and career pathways for students 

• Guide the college in developing community partnerships that advance workforce education while contributing to the common good of the Lehigh Valley region 

• Oversee and expand the college's academic partnerships with community colleges and educational consortia, including articulation agreements and transfer pathways 

• Work collaboratively with academic departments and college leadership to align workforce initiatives with institutional strategic priorities 

• Lead assessment and continuous improvement of partnership programs, ensuring alignment with accreditation standards and institutional effectiveness measures 

• Represent Cedar Crest College in regional workforce development initiatives and educational partnerships

Qualifications

Qualifications and Experience: 

• Master's degree required; doctorate or other terminal degree preferred 

• Minimum of 5 years of progressive leadership experience in higher education, with demonstrated success in program development and external partnerships, or equivalent experience in industry educational leadership 

• Proven track record in workforce development, continuing education, or adult learning environments 

• Experience in building and maintaining strategic partnerships with diverse stakeholders 

• Strong understanding of current trends in workforce development, higher education, and adult learning 

• Demonstrated commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion in educational access 

• Excellence in project management, data-driven decision making, and cross-functional leadership 

• Superior communication and relationship-building skills

Application Instructions

Applications will be accepted until the position is filled; applications received before 1/17/2024 will receive priority consideration. 

 

Please submit a letter of interest addressing qualifications and vision for workforce development and community partnerships in higher education, current curriculum vitae, three professional references, and an inclusion statement*

 *Inclusion Statement on the Cedar Crest College Commitment to Belonging:  

Cedar Crest College, a liberal arts college, empowers its diverse student body made up primarily of women, adult undergraduate and graduate students. The College is committed to educational excellence, leadership, and civic engagement in a pluralistic society. We thus embrace an inclusive community that brings together students, faculty, and staff of different racial and multi-racial, ethnic and multi-ethnic,