Director of Partnerships - Digital Learning

University of Tennessee, Knoxville; Knoxville (TN); Hybrid; USD 105,000 - 110,000; Full time

Job summary

University of Tennessee, Knoxville seeks a Director of Partnerships to lead the partnership function for Digital Learning. You will build enrollment pipelines through strategic corporate and education partnerships, own the full lifecycle, and drive enrollment goals from inception through renewal.

The role is based in Knoxville with a potential hybrid schedule. Requires a bachelor’s degree and 5–7 years in partnerships or related fields; Salesforce experience is preferred.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree required.
• Five to seven years of experience in business development, partnerships, or higher education recruitment.
• Experience sourcing, closing, and growing partnerships or accounts.
• CRM proficiency and ability to design or improve workflows and programs.
• Salesforce experience preferred.

Responsibilities

• Develop and execute outreach to secure corporate, government, nonprofit, and organizational partners aligned with online degrees.
• Manage a multi‑stage sales pipeline from first contact through signed agreement.
• Negotiate and structure partnership agreements; own relationships through renewal.
• Coordinate partner onboarding, including eligibility verification and co-branded communications.
• Define KPIs and build reporting on pipeline health for senior leadership.
• Document end‑to‑end processes for inquiry intake, partnership approval, contracting, eligibility verification, and renewal.
• Collaborate with Enrollment Management and academic units on community college partnerships.

Education

Bachelor's degree

Master's degree (preferred)

Tools

Salesforce

Job description

Director of Partnerships - Digital Learning

Digital Learning, University of Tennessee, Knoxville | Knoxville, TN | Full-Time

Anticipated hiring range: $105,000 - $110,000

About the Role

Reporting to the Executive Director, Head of Outreach, Engagement & Partnerships, the Director of Partnerships leads the partnership function within the Digital Learning unit. The Director develops strategic partnerships with industry and education partners that build enrollment pipelines to the university’s fully online degree programs, and sets up the processes and infrastructure that let the program launch, scale, and sustain. As the founding hire for this function, the Director owns the full partnership lifecycle and carries enrollment goals.

Responsibilities

• Develop and execute an outreach strategy to prospect and secure corporate, government, nonprofit, and organizational partners whose workforce development needs align with the university’s online degrees.
• Qualify prospects, manage a multi-stage pipeline, and move opportunities from first contact through signed agreement.
• Negotiate and structure partnership agreements, and serve as the primary relationship owner for a portfolio of active partners through renewal.
• Coordinate partner onboarding, including employee eligibility verification and co-branded communications, and deliver onsite and virtual information sessions.
• Define the program’s key performance indicators and build reporting on pipeline health and performance for senior leadership.
• Design and document the end-to-end processes for inquiry intake, partnership approval, contracting, eligibility verification, and renewal.
• Collaborate with Enrollment Management, the Transfer Center, and academic colleges on community college partnerships.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree.
• Five to seven years of progressively responsible experience in business development, partnership or account management, sales, corporate relations, or higher education recruitment.
• Demonstrated record of independently sourcing, closing, and growing partnerships or accounts.
• Experience designing or improving processes, workflows, or programs, and proficiency with a CRM.
• Preferred: a master’s degree, higher education or workforce development experience, and Salesforce skills.

Notes

The position is in office in Knoxville with a possible hybrid schedule. Applicants must be legally authorized to work in the United States without sponsorship. A resume and cover letter are required.