Program Director (f/m/d) - Executive MBA Program

WHU Entrepreneurship Roundtable; Düsseldorf; On-site; EUR 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Senior leadership role

International collaboration

Competitive compensation and growth

Job summary

WHU Entrepreneurship Roundtable seeks a seasoned Program Director (f/m/d) to lead WHU's EMBA portfolio alongside Kellogg-WHU. The role focuses on strategic and operational development, program delivery excellence, and launch-readiness for new EMBA offerings.

You will own the student experience, collaborate with central teams, and drive financial performance. The ideal candidate has a university degree (MBA advantageous), extensive leadership in international executive education, and strong

Qualifications

• University degree; MBA or comparable postgraduate qualification is an advantage.
• Several years of leadership experience in higher education, executive education, professional services, or similar international environments.
• Experience managing complex programs, products, or business areas in cross-functional settings.
• Strong strategic thinking with hands-on execution.
• Proven ability to lead and develop teams and foster high-performing collaboration.
• Strong business acumen with budgets, KPIs, and business objectives.
• Excellent stakeholder-management and cross-environment collaboration skills.
• Excellent communication and presentation skills in English; German is an advantage.

Responsibilities

• Lead and develop the Program Operations Team in collaboration with senior academic and administrative leaders.
• Ensure high-quality, efficient, participant-focused program delivery.
• Support development and launch readiness of the new WHU EMBA Program.
• Own the end-to-end student experience with exceptional service and engagement.
• Collaborate with Recruiting, Admissions and Marketing to support positioning and enrollment goals.
• Create and monitor program-specific business plans, budgets, pricing, and performance metrics.
• Coordinate with faculty to align delivery with academic objectives and program design.
• Represent EMBA programs with external partners and at events; support ongoing improvement initiatives.
• Monitor feedback and market developments to identify opportunities for enhancement.
• Work with internal and external stakeholders including alumni and corporate partners.

Skills

Leadership

Strategic thinking

Stakeholder management

Team development

Intercultural skills

English fluency

German language

Budgeting

Education

MBA preferred

Job description

General information

For the Kellogg-WHU Executive MBA Program (EMBA), jointly conducted with the Kellogg School of Management (Northwestern University, USA), as well as the WHU EMBA Program currently under development, we are seeking an experienced and committed Program Director (f/m/d).

Working within WHU’s overall Executive Education strategy, the Program Director (f/m/d) is responsible for the strategic and operational development, positioning, performance, and delivery within WHU’s Executive MBA portfolio.

Your mission

• Lead and further develop the Program Operations Team, working closely with the Associate Deans, Academic Directors, and the Director Executive Education Development
• Ensure high-quality, efficient, and participant-focused program delivery
• Contribute to the successful development and launch readiness of the new WHU EMBA Program
• Take ownership of the end-to-end student experience, ensuring excellent service, engagement, support, and continuous improvement throughout the programs
• Work closely with the central Recruiting & Admissions and Marketing teams, providing program-specific input and expertise to support positioning, candidate engagement, and enrollment activities
• Develop and implement program-specific business plans, budgets, pricing, and performance measures, and monitor the financial and operational performance of the programs
• Coordinate closely with Academic Directors and faculty to ensure that program delivery, format, and student experience support the academic objectives of the programs
• Ensure quality and excellence in program delivery in close coordination with the Kellogg School of Management and other relevant international academic and program partners
• Represent the EMBA programs externally, including at corporate events, alumni activities, recruiting events in coordination with the responsible central teams and international partners
• Continuously monitor participant feedback, program performance, and relevant market developments to identify opportunities for improvement and further development
• Close collaboration with faculty, administration, alumni, corporate partners, and other internal and external stakeholders

Your profile

• University degree, preferably with a business-related background; an MBA or comparable postgraduate qualification is an advantage
• Several years of leadership experience, ideally in higher education, executive education, professional services, or another client-focused international environment
• Demonstrated experience managing complex programs, products, or business areas, ideally in a cross-functional environment
• Strong strategic thinking combined with a pragmatic and hands-on approach to execution
• Experience leading and developing teams and creating a collaborative, high-performing work environment
• Strong business acumen and confidence working with budgets, performance indicators, and business objectives
• Excellent stakeholder-management skills and the ability to work effectively across academic, administrative, and external environments
• High level of intercultural competence and experience working in international settings
• Excellent communication and presentation skills in English; excellent German skills are an advantage
• High degree of initiative, ownership, team orientation, and reliability
• Willingness to travel and to work regularly on weekends when required by the programs

What we offer

• A senior and responsible position within one of Europe’s leading business schools
• The opportunity to contribute to the development, performance, and participant experience of WHU’s EMBA programs
• Responsibility for an internationally established flagship program and the opportunity to contribute to the further development of WHU’s Executive MBA portfolio
• Close collaboration with external and internal partners in a highly international, dynamic, and professionally demanding environment with significant scope for initiative and further development
• Attractive compensation as well as professional development opportunities

WHU is an equal opportunity employer and thus welcomes applications from individuals with diverse backgrounds. We believe in the benefits of diversity and therefore foster an international, inclusive, and inspiring working environment.

Contact

For Questions Please Contact

Dr. Steffen Löv

Assistant Dean Programs

email: [e-mail]