Director of Business Development and Partnerships

Campus; New York (NY); Hybrid; USD 165,000 - 190,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Base salary + equity

Medical, dental and vision insurance

401(k) match

Fertility benefits via Carrot

Flexible Time Away + paid holidays

In-office lunches (NY Office)

Hybrid work schedule

Travel for partner meetings

Dog-friendly office

Job summary

Campus is hiring a Director of Business Development & Partnerships to source, sign, and help launch partnerships that bring prospective students to Campus. You will build Campus’s BD function, identifying opportunities across workforce platforms, education groups, and employers, while turning relationships into opportunities and developing an outbound pipeline.

You’ll personally source opportunities, negotiate terms, and own the relationship through launch, working with Marketing and Business

Qualifications

• Approximately 7-10 years of relevant experience in business development, partnerships, or sales in higher education, edtech, workforce development, or employment platforms.

Responsibilities

• Source and sign partnerships; build an outbound pipeline and leverage existing relationships.
• Own the deal from initial conversation to signature; negotiate terms and structure proposals.
• Launch partnerships in collaboration with Marketing and Operations; ensure ongoing relationship management.

Skills

Pipeline development

Sourcing partnerships

Deal negotiation

Relationship building

Strategic planning

Executive collaboration

Independent work

Higher education networks

Job description

Director of Business Development & Partnerships

Department: Marketing

Location: Campus NYC

Employment Type: FullTime

About Campus

Campus is on a mission to accelerate the talent of tomorrow and reimagine what college can (and should) be. The problem is clear: college costs have skyrocketed, but outcomes haven’t. Traditional college hasn’t kept up with the aspirations of today’s students—and they can’t afford to wait.

At Campus, we’ve built a two-year, accredited college where students learn from top professors at universities like Princeton, Stanford, and Howard, in live, online classes. Our students graduate with in-demand business and AI skills—ready to launch their careers or transfer to top four‑year universities. Our unique approach is grounded in a pioneering technology platform and a heavily‑researched student success model that offers students dedicated advisors and on‑demand tutoring and coaching. We were also named one of Fast Company’s Most Innovative Companies of 2024.

We’re backed by an exceptional investor team that believes deeply in our vision for the future of education, including General Catalyst, Founders Fund, Bloomberg Beta, 8VC, Rethink Education, Sam Altman, Jason Citron, Shaquille O’Neal, and others.

The world has changed. Higher ed needs to catch up, and we’re leading the way - come join us!

About the Role

Campus is hiring a Director of Business Development & Partnerships to source, sign, and help launch partnerships that bring prospective students to Campus.

We’re looking for someone to build Campus’s business development function, identifying opportunities that fit our programs and business model while building on existing relationships. We’re looking for someone who can build on that foundation by turning existing organizational relationships into opportunities while developing an outbound pipeline of their own.

You will focus on workforce and employment platforms, community organizations, education organizations, and other partners with access to prospective Campus students. Employers are also part of the opportunity, particularly where existing relationships provide a path to the right decision‑makers.

This is a hands‑on individual contributor role. You will personally source opportunities, build relationships, structure proposals, negotiate agreements, and close deals. You will remain the relationship owner through launch, working closely with Marketing and Business Operations, which will lead much of the launch execution.

The initial mandate is to prove a repeatable, commercially sound approach. Success creates the opportunity to grow the function and build a team.

You’re excited about this opportunity because you will…

• Source and qualify opportunities. Build a pipeline through targeted outbound outreach, your own network, and introductions from Campus leadership, investors, and existing partners.

• Help shape the business development strategy. Work with leadership to identify and prioritize opportunities that fit Campus’s programs and business model. Define which markets and organizations to pursue, why, and how to turn those opportunities into business.

• Identify partners that can drive enrollment. Assess audience fit, reach, engagement, distribution capabilities, and willingness to commit resources to a successful partnership.

• Own the deal from first conversation to signature. Develop the business case, build relationships with decision‑makers, structure proposals, negotiate terms, and secure agreements.

• Develop the right partnership structure. Work across referral agreements, co‑marketing arrangements, employer education benefits, and other models that create value for Campus, partners, and prospective students.

• Turn agreements into launches. Establish clear commitments, responsibilities, and timelines. Partner with Marketing and Business Operations to prepare launches, resolve issues, and keep the partner engaged.

• Own the partner relationship. Maintain executive and working relationships after signature, address barriers to performance, and identify opportunities to expand successful partnerships.

• Manage the economics. Evaluate expected enrollment contribution, acquisition costs, resource requirements, and return. Prioritize partnerships with a credible path to positive ROI in the first year.

• Build a disciplined process. Keep pipeline and forecasts current, document what works, and develop a repeatable approach to sourcing, qualification, negotiation, and partner handoff.

What we’re looking for:

• Approximately 7 - 10 years of relevant experience in business development, partnerships, or sales, including meaningful experience in higher education, edtech, workforce development, or employment platforms.

• A demonstrated record of personally sourcing and closing partnerships, with clear examples of your role in originating opportunities, negotiating agreements, and getting partners to launch.

• Experience building pipeline through both outbound prospecting and relationship‑driven introductions.

• Strong commercial judgment: you can distinguish an interesting conversation from an opportunity with a credible audience, committed partner, and sound economics.

• Experience structuring referral, co‑marketing, employer education benefit, or comparable distribution partnerships.

• The ability to work across senior decision‑makers and operating teams, and to keep deals moving through competing priorities.

• A practical, accountable approach to collaboration. You can coordinate internal resources while staying responsible for progress and the partner relationship.

• Comfort operating independently, building processes as you go, and balancing relationship development with consistent follow‑through.

• An established network in higher education, edtech, workforce, or employment platforms is a strong plus.

What success looks like:

• Success means signing partners that launch and deliver measurable enrollment value. In the first year, you will establish a qualified pipeline, turn promising opportunities into active partnerships, and demonstrate a positive return on the investment in the function.

• We will evaluate results through signed and launched partnerships, the strength of the pipeline, and the enrollment contribution and economics of the partnerships you build.

What you’ll get:

• A compensation package that includes a base salary ($165k - $190k) + equity grant

  • Actual compensation within the pay range will be decided based on factors including, but not limited to, skills, prior relevant experience, and specific work location. For roles that are available to be filled remotely, base salary will be localized.

• Medical, dental, and vision insurance

• 401(k) match

• Fertility benefits via Carrot

• Flexible Time Away + paid holidays

• In‑office lunches for our NY Office (did we mention, we’re dog friendly?)

• Hybrid work schedule (Mon & Fri remote; Tues‑Thurs in-office)

  • Travel will be required for partner meetings, events, and business development opportunities. The frequency will depend on demonstrated business needs, and candidates should be comfortable adapting as the partnership portfolio develops.

• Social events - happy hours, birthday celebrations, holiday parties, & more!

• Opportunity to make an impact – you’ll be an integral player in bringing our vision to life

Where we’re located: Tribeca, NY

At this time, we are unable to provide visa sponsorship or immigration support for this position. Candidates must have current and ongoing authorization to work in the United States without the need for sponsorship now or in the future.