Senior Director - University Partnerships

Risepoint is an education technology company that helps regional universities launch and grow online programs for modern learners. Risepoint supports more than 100 universities and colleges across five countries, with programs concentrated in high-demand fields including nursing, healthcare, teaching, business, technology, and public service. Our suite of products and services supports the full student journey and each university’s long-term goals. Together, we increase access to affordable education that delivers a strong return on investment for learners and meets employer and community needs. Learn more at risepoint.com.

The Impact You Will Make

In this role, you are responsible for launching new partners, with a strong focus on change management and implementing best practices and recommendations. As the partner's main point of contact, you will build trusted relationships with executive sponsors and guide partner stakeholders through the changes a launch requires, laying the foundation for a lasting partnership.You will also hold Risepoint teams accountable for their launch workstreams, working with Business Technology, Marketing, Marketing Operations, so every partner receives a coordinated, on-time launch. Your work helps university partners grow online enrollment and supports student success, which is central to Risepoint's mission.

How You Will Bring Our Mission to Life

What You Will Do

• Lead end-to-end launches of new university partners, overseeing priorities, cross-functional dependencies, and delivery to ensure successful, on-time launches while balancing competing business and partner needs
• Serve as the partner's main point of contact, building executive-level relationships that sustain a successful partnership.
• Influence partner stakeholders at every level to adopt Risepoint's best practices and recommendations.
• Use current industry news and trends, along with a library of best-practice experiences and know-how, to identify gaps in the partnership or operations, and make and set recommendations that ensure operational excellence for both the partner and Risepoint.
• Drive change management so partner teams understand, accept, and carry out the practices launch requires.
• Lead cross-functional alignment across Business Technology, Marketing, Marketing Operations, Academic Services, and other teams, establishing clear accountability, resolving competing priorities, and driving coordinated execution across partner launches.
• Partner with Business Development to set launch expectations for prospective partners as deals and the portfolio are finalized.
• Lead the partner readiness assessment that gauges how closely each partner aligns to Risepoint's best practices.

• Continuously optimize the launch process by capturing lessons learned from each launch and applying them to Risepoint’s playbooks, best practices, and cross-functional handoffs, improving the predictability and quality of future launches.

What Success Looks Like

• New University Partners launch on time and aligned to best practices with measurable improvements in launch effectiveness and partner experience.
• Executive sponsors regard you as a trusted partner and stay engaged through the launch.
• Partner stakeholders adopt Risepoint's best practices and recommendations with limited resistance.
• Internal teams complete their launch workstreams on schedule because accountability is clear from the start.
• Prospective partners enter launch with realistic expectations set before the deal is final.
• Readiness assessment results shape each partner's launch plan from the start.
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• Percentage of partner launches delivered on time and in scope.
• Number of partner launches led from kickoff to go-live.
• Percentage of internal launch workstreams completed by their committed dates.
• Completion of a readiness assessment for each new or prospective partner.
• Partner executive sponsor feedback on the launch experience.

What You’ll Bring to the Team

Experience That Matters Most

• 10+ years of progressive experience in project, program, or partnership management, including leading complex, cross-functional initiatives and managing multiple concurrent projects or partner launches.
• Bachelor's degree in Business Administration, Higher Education, Project Management, or a related field, or equivalent professional experience.
• Working knowledge of partner contract structures and economics
• Deep knowledge of higher education online operations and processes.
• Experience building and sustaining relationships with executive sponsors and influencing stakeholders at every level.
• Experience leading change management efforts that move teams to adopt new practices.
• Experience holding cross-functional teams accountable for deliverables without direct authority over them.
• Clear written and verbal communication with executives, partners, and internal teams.

Experience That’s Great to Have

• Experience supporting new business development efforts, including setting expectations with prospective clients.
• Experience leading readiness or maturity assessments that gauge alignment to a set of best practices.

Risepoint is an equal-opportunity employer and supports a diverse and inclusive workforce.