Global University Partnerships & Venue Operations Lead

WorldStrides; Charlottesville (VA); Hybrid; USD 69,000 - 72,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health benefits

401(k) match

Tuition reimbursement

Paid time off

Job summary

WorldStrides is seeking a Manager of University Relations & Venue Operations to lead strategic university and venue partnerships across programs. You will own sourcing, negotiations, housing, contracts, and service standards, supervising the Mexico-based operations coordinator and driving reliable execution across venues and housing arrangements.

The role demands strong relationship-building, negotiation, risk management, and cross-functional collaboration with Legal, Admissions, Finance, and

Qualifications

• Proven experience in university relations, venue management, event operations, hospitality, contract management, or a related field; experience leading complex partner portfolios strongly preferred.
• Demonstrated ability to build trusted relationships and communicate effectively with university leaders, venue partners, and cross-functional stakeholders.
• Experience supervising, coaching, or leading employees or shared-service support teams across locations or time zones.
• Strong negotiation, decision-making, problem-solving, and conflict-resolution skills.
• Ability to travel extensively during peak program operations (May-July), with overall travel averaging approximately 40-50% annually.
• Strong project and portfolio management skills, with the ability to manage multiple venues, contracts, deadlines, and competing priorities.
• Financial acumen and comfort reviewing budgets, pricing, invoices, and cost variances.
• Data-driven mindset with proficiency in Microsoft Office; experience with Smartsheet, CRM platforms, contract systems, or similar operational tools preferred.
• Willingness to work with AI and identify process improvements.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.

Responsibilities

• Serve as the primary relationship owner for assigned universities, colleges, schools, and other host venues.
• Build and maintain collaborative, year-around partnerships with campus event teams, housing and dining departments, facilities, academic contacts, and senior venue stakeholders.
• Lead renewal conversations, partnership reviews, and strategic planning discussions to strengthen long-term relationships and support program growth.
• Represent WorldStrides during site visits, campus meetings, industry conferences, and other partner engagements.
• Address sensitive relationship matters, venue performance concerns, and escalations that require judgment or negotiation.
• Identify and evaluate prospective host venues based on program requirements, geography, capacity, housing, classroom and meeting space, dining, accessibility, participant experience, risk, and cost.
• Lead site visits and coordinate cross-functional evaluation of prospective and existing venues.
• Negotiate pricing, space allocations, housing commitments, meals, operational terms, concessions, and other partnership requirements.
• Partner with Legal, Marketing, Admissions, Finance, Risk Management, and program leadership throughout contract development, review, approval, and renewal.
• Recommend venue selection, renewal, expansion, contingency, or replacement decisions based on performance and business needs.
• Develop and maintain an annual university and venue strategy aligned with enrollment, program calendars, budget, regional needs, and operational capacity.
• Identify capacity gaps, conflicting space needs, staffing concerns, and other operational risks; develop mitigation and contingency plans.
• Evaluate and approve requests involving over-enrollment, additional space, operational changes, or nonstandard venue requirements.
• Resolve complex issues involving housing, classroom assignments, room setups, shipping, staffing, contract interpretation, or venue service delivery.
• Provide leadership with clear recommendations, status updates, and risk assessments.
• Manage, coach, and develop the University & Venue Operations Coordinator based in Merida, Mexico.
• Set priorities, performance expectations, service standards, and escalation protocols for venue administration and operational support.
• Establish standardized processes, templates, checklists, training resources, and documentation to reduce dependence on individual institutional knowledge.
• Review dashboards, exception reports, and performance indicators rather than serving as the routine processor or reviewer of every transaction.
• Lead regular portfolio reviews and ensure responsibilities are clearly assigned across the venue team and internal stakeholders.
• Cross-train appropriate backup resources and promote continuity of operations during peak periods, absences, and transitions.
• Support venue budgets, forecasts, cost comparisons, and variance analysis in partnership with Finance and program leadership.
• Review and approve material invoice discrepancies, nonstandard charges, and financial exceptions.
• Monitor partnership health, contract status, capacity, operational readiness, cost trends, and venue performance.
• Use data and stakeholder feedback to identify process improvements and strengthen service delivery.
• Maintain awareness of university operations trends, industry practices, regional venue changes, and emerging partnership opportunities.

Skills

University relations

Venue management

Event operations

Hospitality

Contract management

Leadership

Negotiation

Project management

Financial acumen

CRM tools

Smartsheet

Microsoft Office

Travel readiness

Education

Bachelor's degree in Business, Hospitality, Event Management, Communications, Higher Education

Equivalent relevant experience

Tools

Smartsheet

CRM platforms

Contract systems

Microsoft Office

Job description

WorldStrides is seeking a Manager of University Relations & Venue Operations to lead strategic university and venue partnerships across programs. You will own sourcing, negotiations, housing, contracts, and service standards, supervising the Mexico-based operations coordinator and driving reliable execution across venues and housing arrangements.

The role demands strong relationship-building, negotiation, risk management, and cross-functional collaboration with Legal, Admissions, Finance, and