What are the responsibilities and job description for the Director of Partner Relations position at Fresno Pacific University?
Position Summary
Under the guidance and direction of the Executive Director of Continuing Education, the Director of Partner Relations works to establish partnerships with local, regional, national, and international organizations, companies, and districts to meet their continuing educational, professional development, workforce development and contract training needs. The Director of Partner Relations will collaborate with the Director of Marketing and use a data driven process to identify these entities and match their needs with current or newly developed CE programs in order to expand CE’s reach and revenue.
The CE office offers a diverse portfolio of credit and noncredit programs and develops new, innovative, workforce-relevant offerings that meet the evolving needs of local businesses, industries, social service providers, and K-14 educators. Acting as an expert resource for adult learners, CE supports the creation of high-demand courses and programs tailored to post-traditional students and graduates of FPU.
The Director of Partner Relations must demonstrate a strong ability to work both independently and in collaboration with the CE team while representing Fresno Pacific University and the Office of Continuing Education with professionalism and integrity. Strong emphasis for this position will be placed on oral and written presentation skills (both in-person and online) and the ability to use data to make decisions. This position involves regional day travel for approximately three days each week.
Essential Functions
- Work to implement the strategic priorities of the CE Marketing plan.
- Work closely with CE team members to identify local, regional, national, and international entities to contact.
- Facilitate growth in the Continuing Education for Educators program by contacting and engaging local, national, and international entities and offering both independent study courses and workshops to meet with continuing educational needs of K-12 teachers.
- Research non-local educational entities and set up virtual appointments to offer independent study courses and workshops.
- Physically visit local and regional educational entities.
- Visit local and regional employers to assess workforce development needs.
- Offer workforce development and contract training programs to local employers.
- Engage community organizations and NGOs to promote workforce development training.
- Act as a CE ambassador at local and regional community activities.
- Demonstrate a commitment to serving and inspiring students and colleagues in a context of a Christian University, integrating your Christian faith into your role and responsibilities.
- Embrace the mission, vision, and values of Fresno Pacific University, affirm the FPU Faith Expectations (Download PDF reader), and support the ideals and practices articulated in "The Fresno Pacific Idea”
- Uphold and advance Fresno Pacific University’s commitment to Christ-centered higher education, holistic student development, and serving diverse communities.
- Complete tasks timely with work that is comprehensive, complete, and accurate
- Communicates clearly, listens attentively, and seeks to understand others
- Collaborates productively with colleagues of varying skillset
- Other job duties as assigned
Qualifications
- Bachelor’s degree, preferably in a field related to education, communication, adult education, business administrative, or higher education administration.
- A record of successful employment or service experience.
- Demonstrated ability to work well independently and with the team.
- Demonstrated ability to cultivate and maintain strategic internal and external partnerships to benefit the success of initiatives and students.
- Experience in the development of training curriculum and programs, including incorporating new learning technologies, and knowledge in adult learning theories.
- Excellent communication skills, particularly in written communication and oral presentations.
- Familiarity with environmental scanning and market research, and the analysis of competition and sales.
- Ability to think, respond, and act quickly with
- Effective leadership and team management skills.
- Effective partnership building skills, and the ability to facilitate discussions with employers, educators, and community members.
- Experience working with diverse populations and constituencies; and, in particular, with adult learners.
- Advanced proficiency with computer software used in communication and program development (i.e., Microsoft Office, Internet, E-mail, etc.).
- Broad understanding of educational technologies, IT systems processes, and troubleshooting abilities pertaining to CE programs, websites, and internal data.
- Experience and skill in developing, implementing, and maintaining adult and continuing education programs in accordance with adult learning theory models and established best practices.
- Vision for opportunities beyond the obvious, coupled with an entrepreneurial spirit to carry out the mission, vision, and purpose of CE.
- Understanding of, and experience working with, community-campus partnerships, particularly as they relate to continuing education and economic development.
- Ability to implement policies and procedures effectively.
- Ability to evaluate and analyze program information and effectively communicate information via reports.
- Strong organizational and communication skills and capacity to work in a fast-paced, high-energy, change oriented environment.
- Ability to maintain confidentiality of sensitive data and to build processes to ensure the data is secure.
- Ability to work with a diverse population of staff and students in a positive manner.
- Valid California Driver’s License.
Preferred:
- Master’s degree or Teaching Credential
- Experience managing multiple projects and developing reports for CE and university leadership
- Familiarity with workforce development programs and regional employer needs.
- Experience with Canvas or other similar online learning platforms, and online curriculum development.
Environmental Conditions:
- Indoors in a normal office environment with little exposure to excessive noise, dust, fumes, vibrations, and temperature changes at least eighty percent (80%) of the time.
- Frequent computer use at a workstation, up to eight hours per day.
- Frequently work at a fast pace with unscheduled interruptions.
- Drive personal or University vehicles to appointments.
- Public contact position requiring professional apparel, personal hygiene, and grooming.
Physical Demands:
- This position typically functions indoors in an office environment with light to moderate noise associated with business office equipment. The position may involve travel for meetings and events.
- While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to: remain in a stationary position 80 % of the time, be able to move about inside the office to access file cabinets/office machinery etc., operate a computer and keyboard and other office productivity machinery such as calculators/copy machines/printers. The employee is occasionally required to position self to reach items on the floor and in high cabinetry.
- The employee must regularly lift and/or move up to 10 pounds and occasionally lift and/or move up to 40 pounds. Employee must be able to communicate with others to exchange information including both over the telephone and in-person communication with callers and community members and be able to read a computer screen and paper documents.
- Reasonable accommodations for those with disabilities will be provided in accordance with law.
University Information
$70,304 is the annual starting salary for this role and reflects what Fresno Pacific University reasonably expects to pay for this position. Actual compensation may vary based on qualifications, experience, and internal equity. In addition to compensation, FPU offers a competitive benefits package.
Reserving its rights as a religious institution, Fresno Pacific University is an equal employment opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, ethnicity, sex, age or disability, or other classes protected by applicable law. Committed to excellence and actively supportive of cultural diversity, FPU invites individuals who contribute to such diversity to apply. If you need assistance or an accommodation due to a disability, you should contact FPU’s Human Resources Department at hr@fresno.edu. As a religious institution, the University will administer the equal opportunity employment policy consistent with the Fresno Pacific University statement of faith, the FPU Idea and the University’s governance by the Pacific District Conference of Mennonite Brethren Churches.
**This information, including salary, is accurate as of October 14, 2025**
Salary : $70,304