Director, Workforce Funding & Partnerships

Cengage Group; Burlington (VT); Remote; USD 170,000 - 187,000; Full time

Job summary

Cengage Group is seeking a senior commercial business development leader to identify, shape, and secure large-scale workforce funding opportunities that drive enrollment growth. This role requires an established network of senior decision-makers across government, workforce development, education, and the private sector to create access to new funding opportunities.

The ideal candidate will originate and secure large-scale funding partnerships, anticipate investment priorities, and manage

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree or equivalent related experience.
• 10+ years of experience in workforce funding, economic development, public-private partnerships, government-related business development, or a related field.
• Deep knowledge of workforce funding and how investment priorities and decisions are shaped at the state and national levels.
• An established network of senior decision-makers and influencers across government, workforce and labor, economic development, and public-private partnerships.
• Proven success personally originating, developing, and securing large-scale workforce funding partnerships or initiatives.
• Experience identifying and shaping opportunities before they become formal programs, procurements, or broadly available market opportunities.
• Experience leading complex, long-cycle business development efforts involving senior executives, government leaders, and multiple decision-makers.
• Strong commercial judgment, negotiation, communication, and relationship-building skills.

Responsibilities

• Identify, shape, and secure workforce funding opportunities with seven-figure revenue potential or the ability to expand funded enrollment across partners, markets, or states.
• Leverage existing relationships with senior decision-makers and influencers in governor's offices, state government, workforce and labor leadership, economic development, and public-private partnerships to create access to funding opportunities.
• Anticipate workforce investment priorities and position ed2go in discussions before funding programs or opportunities are formally established.
• Lead opportunities from origination through relationship development, negotiations, agreements, and activation.
• Develop funding partnerships involving state-funded programs, public-private initiatives, employer-backed coalitions, and other workforce investment models.
• Build and advance a pipeline of funding opportunities, evaluating revenue potential, scalability, and alignment with business priorities.
• Represent ed2go in executive discussions, negotiations, and industry forums to strengthen relationships and originate opportunities.
• Collaborate with Government Affairs and teams across Cengage and ed2go to navigate policy considerations, coordinate engagement with key decision-makers, and activate secured funding partnerships.
• Provide senior leadership with insights into workforce funding trends, emerging opportunities, and market risks.
• Work remotely with the ability to travel up to 30% as business needs require.

Skills

Networking

Government relations

Strategic partnerships

Negotiation

Business development

Public-private partnerships

Leadership

Education

Bachelor's degree or equivalent

Advanced degree preferred

Job description

Cengage Group is seeking a senior commercial business development leader to identify, shape, and secure large-scale workforce funding opportunities that drive enrollment growth. This role requires an established network of senior decision-makers across government, workforce development, education, and the private sector to create access to new funding opportunities.

The ideal candidate will originate and secure large-scale funding partnerships, anticipate investment priorities, and manage