Academic Partnerships assists primarily regional universities in increasing their access and impact by making their academic programs available to students online. Founded in 2007, AP's mission is to expand access to high-quality, affordable, and workforce-relevant education, especially for working and adult students. AP brings single-minded dedication to student success, an integrated set of services, and data-driven performance to our collaboration with university partners.

The Sr Director, Product Marketing Solutions has demonstrated experience and results working as a leader in a professional services and/or technology organizations to develop and maintain new business opportunities and products in higher education and effectively manages relationships throughout the customer lifecycle. By understanding prospective institutional partner needs and developing relevant solution proposals, this individual is responsible for driving account success for targeted partners including, but not limited to, colleges and universities. In cooperation with the Commercialization and Business Development teams, develop and implement the strategy, product offerings and solutions to secure and sustain professional services partnerships, in line with the company's go-to-market strategy.

A Day in the Life:

The essential functions of this role are as follows:

Account Management:

• Maintain strong executive-level relationship with partner universities
• Implement and bring to closure, key strategic priorities as outlined in the contract for each partner university
• Manage and oversee the launch of new partners and programs
• Negotiate and confirm all program information of new programs with existing partners
• Lead, manage and train, a diverse group of seasoned field professionals to achieve unified success.
• Maintain strong relationship with executive decision-makers at partner universities
• Manage and resolve any strategic operational and process improvement matters at the university that impede partner and program performance
• Act as the internal escalation for assigned universities

Solutions Operations:

• Anticipate market demands, changes and needs to drive products and services that support prospective partners current and future needs
• Develop processes, SLAs and required documentation to effectively scale new products, services and offerings
• Seek to understand prospect's current situation, education model, strategy, motives, constraints, decision-making processes, etc. in order to develop meaningful and relevant product and services proposals and engagements in service to managing expectations of all parties
• Anticipate and proactively identify and mitigate potential problems or hurdles that could delay the sales, contract or launch processes
• Manage partner expectations to ensure they align with the company's ability to deliver what is needed
• Continuously use qualitative decision criteria to evaluate the viability of each opportunity and makes decisions to pursue only those that fit mission and purpose

Product Marketing:

• Deliver overall partner performance and contractual deliverables for assigned partners
• Establish and manage contracts and budgets
• Develop and execute data-driven marketing strategies coupled with measurement plans to track success
• Lead account management team to deliver success to partners, ensuring accountability across the professional services portfolio
• Leadership and development of the solutions team
• Strong understanding of paid media channels and performance with the ability to analyze lead generation tactics to identify and implement performance optimizations

What You'll Need for Success:

You must meet the following requirements to be considered for employment:

• Bachelor's degree in Business or Marketing required; Master's degree (MBA) strongly preferred
• 10 years of proven success in marketing, product marketing and/or product management
• 5 years of work experience and proven track record in sophisticated account management, business development, sales, and/or building strategic partnerships with universities and other highly complex companies or institutions
• Higher education, program marketing and/or student recruitment experience preferred
• Strong analytical, quantitative, and problem-solving capabilities (advanced level business acumen)
• Experienced people-leader
• Excellent presentation skills across organizations and levels
• Solid understanding of digital marketing (paid search, social media, SEO)
• Excellent communication, teamwork and diplomacy skills
• Ability to thrive in a highly ambiguous environment with changing priorities
• Results-oriented, energetic, change agent

Academic Partnerships is an equal opportunity employer and supports a diverse and inclusive workforce.

Academic Partnerships offers the following comprehensive benefits:

• PTO - accumulated from day one
• 11 designated holidays
• Medical - four options (including PPO and HDP)
• Dental
• Vision
• Life & Disability (company paid)
• Flexible Spending Account & Health Savings Account (company contribution to HSA)
• Retirement plan with company match
• Maternity / Paternity / Parental Leave (company paid)
• Volunteer Time Off

Supplemental Benefits:

• Wellness program
• Alternative medicine options
• Pet discounts
• Accident, Critical Illness and Hospital Indemnity

Personal and Professional Development:

• Continuous Professional and Leadership Development Programs
• Tuition Reimbursement for employees and their dependents