GENERAL SUMMARY

The primary role of the Executive Director, Program Strategy is to proactively and collaboratively lead across the organization in order to support new and existing degree programs in meeting both the business and customers' needs.

The Executive Director will play a key leadership role in managing P&Ls, achieving new enrollment, driving revenue and profitability goals for existing products, launching new products/initiatives, developing business cases, managing stakeholder relationships, coordinating key stakeholders, analyzing the pros and cons of business decisions, developing program and marketing strategy, summarizing the value proposition to key stakeholders and establishing metrics for success. The Executive Director will report to the Vice Chancellor and will serve as business partner to Academic Affairs.

This is a campus-based position. This position follows a hybrid work schedule requiring a minimum of 3 days on campus.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

• Product Quality and Profitability: In partnership with Academic leadership, collaborate with Academic Affairs, Accreditation, Student Services, Legal and Regulatory, etc to drive product / program quality and overall student experience. Responsible for overall program profitability and management of the program P&L in partnership with academic leadership.
• Consumer Insight: Identify, recommend, and develop plans for potential market opportunities by understanding the consumer through intensive market research and segmentation activities leveraging focus groups, surveys, and direct customer interviews.
• Competitive Positioning: Identify and implement new initiatives that enhance competitive positioning and foster strong financial results.
• Industry Insight: Foster in-depth understanding of the higher education and health care industries in order to provide informed recommendations to executive leadership on strategic direction, profitability, and ROI for new and existing programs. Become active in industry associations and events to understand market trends, establish a strong network, and identify potential partnership opportunities.
• Marketing & Enrollment Strategy: Collaborate closely with Enrollment and Marketing to drive inquiries, conversions, and enrollments, and with Finance to report, track and manage program-level financial performance; actively utilize data from these sources to determine strategic approaches.
• Operational Effectiveness. Manage and improve program specific operations by identifying and coordinating the launch of new technology, campuses spaces, and student services.
• Internal Coordination. Cultivate effective business relationships with executive leadership, functional management, customers and peers to achieve excellence in the student experience.

OTHER DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

May perform other duties and responsibilities that management may deem necessary from time to time.

POSITION IN ORGANIZATION

Reports to:Vice Chancellor

Positions Supervised: as needed

TECHNICAL, MANAGERIAL & PEOPLE SKILLS REQUIRED

To perform this job successfully an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Incumbents will be evaluated, in part, based on performance of each essential function. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions.

EDUCATION and/or EXPERIENCE

• Bachelor's degree required, Masters preferred, with a minimum of 10 years of progressively responsible experience in product management positions with consumer products, publishing, healthcare or higher education companies
• 5+ years of experience managing remote employees
• Demonstrated ability to grow businesses with strong creative ideas and practical implementation planning.
• Prior P&L experience with strategic planning and marketing experience preferred.
• Prior experience with leading teams and influencing stakeholders in diverse remote locations.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including ability to develop and deliver presentations to senior leadership; demonstrated ability to communicate issues and recommendations persuasively and effectively to key stakeholders
• Demonstrated research and analytical skills, as well as the ability to formulate strategic recommendations from disparate data and information sources
• Advanced knowledge of product and project management principles, practices, methods, and terminology:
  • Financial and business analysis and data mining
  • Planning, organizing, and project management
  • Budget development and management
  • Management of multiple, competing priorities
  • Advanced critical thinking, analysis, and synthesis skills
• Proficient with Microsoft Office Suite with particular aptitude in Excel and PowerPoint
• Must thrive under pressure and in a fast-paced, constantly changing environment with tight deadlines and multiple priorities; must be willing to push the envelope, embrace risk, and be extremely resourceful
• Experience working with diverse functional and business units in large, matrixed project teams

LICENSURE and/or CERTIFICATION

TRAVEL

Travel 20-25% of the time with the ability to transport laptop computer during travel

BUSINESS COMPETENCIES

To perform the job successfully, an individual should demonstrate the following competencies:

• Committed to Mission and Core Values - Demonstrates a commitment to the institution's mission and values. Has a passion for facilitating learning and for enabling students to navigate their own learning journey. Consistently demonstrates constructive, positive behaviors and builds trust of others throughout the university through honesty, integrity, collaboration, and professionalism.
• Dedicated to Students First - Committed to having students at the center and building an inspiring student experience; anticipates, monitors and meets the needs of students and responds to them in a proactive, consistent and timely manner; Understands their individual contribution, whether direct or indirect, to creating a quality student experience and treats others, including all students and colleagues, with respect.
• Accountable - Takes personal responsibility for own goals and outcomes to drive results and ensure success. Establishes clear expectations, follows through on commitments and holds themselves and others accountable for performance; consistently achieves results, even under tough circumstances; resilient.
• Drives Engagement - Creating a climate where people are motivated to do their best to help the organization achieve its objectives. Builds a team identity characterized by pride, trust and commitment. Demonstrates a personal commitment to create a collaborative and engaging environment.
• People Leadership - Leads by example when it comes to identifying, developing and retaining talent; setting performance targets that raise standards and development of high potential talent; provides opportunities for growth and development of the workforce.
• Decision Making - Committed to supporting and/or executing a timely course of action to accomplish a long-range goal after considering logical assumptions, facts, resources, and constraints; identifies deliverables needed to achieve objectives in support of a strategic direction and communicates them effectively; analyzes information to identify major trends, issues and causes and to make data-driven decisions; assumes accountability for outcomes of decisions.

WORK ENVIRONMENT
Work is performed primarily in a standard office environment but may involve exposure to moderate noise levels. Work involves operation of personal computer equipment for six to eight hours daily and includes physical demands associated with a traditional office setting, e.g., walking, standing, communicating, and other physical functions as necessary.