Sr. Manager, Partner Strategy & Engagement

Chicago, IL, United States

Sr. Manager, Partner Strategy and Engagement

At Boundless Learning we are empowering our partners to deliver exceptional experiences that expand opportunities for learners around the world. We put learner success at the heart of everything we do, empowering our partners to deliver personalized, learner-centric experiences that boost access and create economic mobility. For 30 years, we've partnered with organizations and corporations around the world to design workforce-aligned experiences. When it comes to online program management, we keep learner success at the heart of everything we do and work hard to deliver positive career outcomes. At Boundless Learning you’ll have the opportunity to collaborate with passionate, diverse teams, where your ideas are valued, and your expertise is respected. Join us on this meaningful journey towards transforming education and making a lasting difference in the lives of learners worldwide.

Four Key Areas of Focus

Learner-Centered Design

The quality of the learner’s experience matters. We design solutions that are informed by learner needs and industry demands. We design courses and develop programs with flexibility, engagement, and employability in mind. Our teams are led by subject matter experts in strategy, research, development, and data science.

Data-Drive Personalization

Our approach to academic strategy pinpoints untapped potential. Our team uses advanced digital analytics tools to identify learners across all segments, build student recruitment strategies, and develop enrollment management services. We see what works. We adjust. Then we dig in again. The results speak for themselves.

Access and Opportunity

We believe the power of learning should be available to all. Our solutions consider values, beliefs, and life stage.

Trustworthy Partnerships

As experts in online learning solutions, our reach breaks borders (and barriers) to support learners and partners around the globe. We emphasize transparency and commit to shared goals. It's how we've made long-lasting relationships worldwide.

About the Team

Global Partner Strategy & Engagement

As experts in online learning solutions, our reach breaks borders (and barriers) to support learners and partners around the globe. Currently we serve partners in North America, the UK, and Australia. We emphasize transparency and commit to shared goals. It's how we've made long-lasting relationships worldwide.

The Global Partner Strategy & Engagement (PSE) team sits in the heart of the Global Acquisition and Retention (A&R) team, led by Boundless Learning’s Chief Revenue Officer. We are joined in this division by Global Marketing, Enrollment Services, Student Support Services, and Product and Learner Experience.

The purpose of the PSE Team is to establish, translate, and position the strategic capabilities, operational value, and KPIs that Boundless Learning provides to our global University Partners. We work across the organization to be experts in the end-to-end services we provide partners so that we can best position our work and collaborate with University Partners to accelerate growth.

The PSE team’s goal is to ensure that both internal business partners and external partner stakeholders have a clear understanding of what Boundless Learning’s strategic and tactical plans are for lead generation, new student enrollment, and continuing student retention and how performance is pacing against KPIs. We do this directly by serving as bi-directional coordinator for A&R – representing the functional teams to the partner and reporting back to the business partner-provided feedback and insights to inform strategic and operational enhancements. We aim to be the unified voice for A&R for the organization. As such, we are the face of the business with Academic Partners and serve as their single point of contact for all aspects of their engagement with Boundless Learning from contact inception forward. Through our deep business and partnership knowledge, we develop and ensure on-point delivery of Boundless Learning’s capabilities.

About the Role

Under the direction of the Director, Partner Strategy & Engagement, and in partnership with the Boundless Learning Acquisition & Retention functional leaders, you will manage the development of in year partner engagement and performance strategies that align to Boundless Learning business objectives, take into consideration portfolio and partner long-term strategic plans, and clearly articulate shared goals, budgets, timelines, and service levels. You will serve as the primary engagement point for Boundless Learning to our global partners, and as such, will also be responsible for closing feedback loops back to the business from these interactions. You are responsible for overseeing the requirements needed to launch and maintain Boundless Learning products and services with existing Academic Partners. This position works with both internal teams and external partners to meet operational and financial goals. You will provide leadership, direction, and coordination of activities related to marketing, enrollment services, retention services, starts budgeting & forecasting, and the direction of our relationship with current partners. This role is also jointly accountable to internal and external partner satisfaction.

Steward Boundless Learning’s University Partnerships for Optimal Bi-Directional Success

This role will be part of the Global Partnership Strategy & Execution team that coordinates Boundless Learnings partner activities cross-functionally and will be the central conduit for engagement management between Boundless Learning and our portfolio of UK-based University Partners. The role will report to the Director of Partnership Strategy & Engagement and will have several dotted line coordination requirements for consistent communication and engagement with global marketing, enrollment, student support services, product, finance, legal and B2B. This position will be the knowledge expert on all aspects of university partners and will be asked to present at business reviews, executive meetings, and team meetings. It is expected that this person will have consistent interaction and engagement with Boundless Learning partners and the internal Boundless Learning cross-functional team. This person will demonstrate a deep understanding of partner GTM and growth strategies.

Position Purpose

To progress partnership opportunities with well-regarded and ambitions higher education institutions and manage/optimize existing agreements for quality, efficacy, improvement in market share, and to drive enrollment growth.

Key Accountabilities

Serve as the primary point of engagement for Boundless Learning to Academic Partner stakeholders

Steward and manage the development of in year planning and strategies and development of associated narratives that are aligned to Boundless Learning business objectives, take into consideration portfolio and partner long-term strategic plans, and clearly articulate business goals, budgets, timelines, and service levels

Collaborate with Boundless Learning leadership and across the business to set prioritization of in-year strategies and tactical areas of focus

Synthesizes performance insights, diagnoses risk/opportunity and monitors KPIs for A&R at the portfolio, partner, and program level

Coordination of inputs for performance tracking and contribution to budgeting and forecasting projections

Supporting the development and maintenance of stakeholder relationships

About You

5+ years of experience in a similar role or relatable experience

Desire and willingness to support multiple geographies

Strong commercial acumen

Highly influential and collaborative with experience in stakeholder/executive management

Demonstrable knowledge and experience working in the Acquisition & Retention space (Marketing, Enrolment and Retention)

Experience crafting and/or managing strategic plans

Strategic aptitude with an ability to diagnose and assess tactical performance

Strong data analysis experience

Exceptional written and verbal communication skills

Passion for the art of a presentation

Ability and experience working across functions and/or in a matrixed environment

Exceptional communicators with an eye for detail and an ear for the unspoken

Ability to translate complex information bi-directionally, to and from the partner and the business

Skilled at seeing the connective tissues that exist between divisions, teams, partners, initiatives, etc

C reative thinker & problem solver who can see trends across and within the business

Highly experienced in drawing actionable insight from performance and operational analysis

Highly organized and meticulous

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