Program Manager - Executive Programs and Strategic Accounts

Santa Clara University; Santa Clara (CA); On-site; USD 51,000 - 62,000; Part time

Job summary

Santa Clara University invites a Program Manager to lead executive education programs and strategic accounts at the Leavey Executive Center. You will manage relationships with senior sponsors, design program concepts, coordinate enrollment, and drive growth across accounts.

The role includes supervising interns, supporting marketing efforts, and ensuring quality delivery across on-site and virtual formats. A bachelor’s degree and 2+ years of relevant experience are required.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in a related field is required.
• Minimum two years of relevant program management or account management experience.
• Strong relationship, proposal, and marketing coordination capabilities.

Responsibilities

• Manage strategic accounts and lead business development initiatives.
• Design programs, coordinate enrollment, and ensure timely delivery.
• Plan executive events, create proposals, and track budgets.
• Supervise interns and coordinate cross-functional teams.

Skills

Relationship management

Executive communication

Proposal design

Budget tracking

Event planning

Marketing coordination

Organization

Presentation skills

CRM proficiency

Education

Bachelor's degree in business, marketing, communications, education, or related field

2 years relevant experience required

Tools

CRM platforms

Microsoft Office / Google Workspace

Canva or Adobe Express

Job description

Position Title: Program Manager - Executive Programs and Strategic Accounts

Position Type: Fixed Term (Fixed Term)

Hiring Range: $37.31 - $44.79 per hour; Compensation will be based on education, experience, skills relevant to the role and internal equity

Pay Frequency: Hourly

The Program Manager provides independent leadership for assigned executive education programs and strategic client accounts at the Leavey Executive Center (LEC). Reporting to the Executive Director, this individual coordinates program design, enrollment, and delivery, strengthens relationships with corporate and institutional partners, and advances business development within assigned accounts.

As a key member of the LEC team, the Program Manager translates client needs into well-executed learning experiences and opportunities for repeat and expanded engagement. The role works closely with industry senior executives, faculty, University leadership, and internal partners; supervises student interns; and contributes to field and digital marketing. This position will help build the account relationships, delivery practices, and growth pipeline that support the Center's development over the next three to five years.

B. ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

1. Strategic Account Management and Business Development (35%)

• Serve as the primary relationship manager for assigned key accounts, maintaining regular contact with executive sponsors, human resources and learning leaders, and other decision makers.
• Develop account plans that identify stakeholder relationships, client priorities, current engagements, and opportunities for renewal or expansion.
• Lead discovery conversations to understand business challenges and learning needs; identify opportunities for additional programs, new audiences, and introductions to other business units.
• Partner with the Executive Director and faculty to design and develop relevant program concepts, proposals, presentations, and scopes of work; coordinate pricing and contracting through established approval processes.
• Advance opportunities from initial conversation through proposal and handoff to delivery, maintaining timely follow-up and clear next steps.
• Maintain accurate CRM records and provide regular account and pipeline updates, including opportunity stage, estimated value, expected timing, risks, and recommended actions.

2. Program Design Enrollment and Execution (35%)

• Manage assigned programs from design and enrollment through launch, execution, evaluation, and follow-up, with accountability for agreed scope, schedules, budgets, and deliverables.
• Collaborate with faculty, instructors, and clients on learning objectives, program structure, delivery format, and content, aligning program design with audience needs and faculty expertise.
• Plan and coordinate enrollment for assigned programs, including inquiry follow-up, recruitment communications, registration, and roster management. For client-sponsored cohorts, coordinate participant nominations and enrollment with account contacts.
• Coordinate instructors, faculty, facilitators, client representatives, administrative staff across University departments, vendors, and interns to deliver a consistent, professional participant experience.
• Prepare project plans, agendas, participant communications, learning materials, and executive briefings; ensure materials are accurate, accessible, and ready on schedule.
• Oversee program logistics, including facilities, catering, technology, and on-site or virtual execution support. Coordinate learner onboarding, readiness communications, and timely responses to participant questions; refer academic or specialized needs to the appropriate faculty or University office.
• Track program expenses and performance against approved budgets; coordinate with finance colleagues on purchasing, invoicing, and reconciliation.
• Monitor enrollment against targets and summarize participant engagement, completion, and feedback where applicable. Lead post-program reviews, address service issues, and recommend improvements to learner experience and follow-on engagement.

3. Executive Events, Content and Marketing Coordination (20%)

• Support account-focused marketing and outreach in coordination with the Executive Director, LEC colleagues, and relevant University marketing teams.
• Plan and execute selected executive events, roundtables, client briefings, webinars, and campus visits that deepen account relationships and generate qualified conversations.
• Prepare and adapt proposals, program briefs, presentations, email campaigns, social media content, and basic promotional creatives using approved brand standards. Gather, organize, and edit content for newsletters and other marketing communications; coordinate contributions, review, and publication with relevant colleagues.
• Coordinate digital campaign execution, content calendars, website updates, and audience segmentation with appropriate colleagues.
• Track event engagement, campaign responses, and resulting opportunities; ensure timely follow-up and recommend improvements based on results.

4. Intern Supervision and Team Coordination (10%)

• Recruit, onboard, train, and supervise assigned student interns in accordance with University practices.
• Set clear assignments, deadlines, and quality expectations; review work, provide feedback, and ensure completion of deliverables.
• Delegate research, marketing, reporting, and program support tasks appropriately while retaining accountability for quality and client commitments.
• Develop reusable templates, scalable workflows, and tools for enrollment, delivery, marketing, and reporting. Contribute business requirements, user testing, feedback, and team training for improvements to CRM, registration, and marketing automation systems; perform other related duties as assigned.

5. Other Duties

• Perform other duties as assigned.

C. PROVIDES WORK DIRECTION

• Student Interns

D. RECEIVES WORK DIRECTION FROM

• Executive Director

E. GENERAL GUIDELINES

• Operates independently within agreed priorities, approved budgets, University policies, and delegated authority; exercises sound judgment and follows through on commitments.
• Keeps the Executive Director informed of progress, account developments, budget variances, and risks; escalates decisions requiring additional authority.
• Establishes milestones and prepares regular reports covering program delivery, account activity, business development, marketing results, and intern deliverables.
• Maintains the accuracy, completeness, timeliness, and confidentiality of client, participant, financial, and University information.
• Builds cooperative working relationships across a diverse community and supports the University's mission and inclusive learning environment.
• Evaluates effectiveness through on-time delivery, budget performance, enrollment results, inquiry conversion where applicable, learner engagement and completion, client and participant satisfaction, account retention and expansion, and team execution. Specific goals will be established with the Executive Director.

F. QUALIFICATIONS

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The qualifications listed below are representative of the knowledge, skills, abilities, education, and experience required.

This position requires the ability to establish and maintain collaborative working relationships within a diverse, multicultural, and mission-driven university environment.

Knowledge

• Knowledge of program and project management, client relationship management, and consultative business development.
• Understanding of field and digital marketing practices, including executive events, email outreach, social content, and campaign measurement.
• Working knowledge of budgeting, performance reporting, CRM practices, and professional document preparation.

Skills

• Excellent written, verbal, and presentation skills, including the ability to prepare polished proposals, executive summaries, presentations, client communications, and newsletter and marketing.
• Professional confidence and credibility in conversations with senior executives, faculty, and University leaders.
• Strong organization, attention to detail, and proficiency with productivity tools such as Microsoft Office or Google Workspace, CRM platforms, and project management tools.
• Ability to create and adapt basic marketing visuals using tools such as Canva or Adobe Express, and coordinate more complex creative work with specialists.

Abilities

• Ability to manage multiple accounts and programs independently, prioritize competing demands, and deliver work against clear deadlines.
• Ability to ask effective discovery questions, connect client needs with relevant offerings, and move conversations toward actionable opportunities.
• Ability to work effectively with instructors, faculty, executives, and administrative staff across University departments; navigate differing priorities and resolve problems with discretion.
• Ability to supervise and develop interns, delegate effectively, and maintain accountability for team output.

Education and/or Experience

• Bachelor's degree in business, marketing, communications, education, or a related field, or an equivalent combination of education and relevant experience;
• 2 years relevant experience required.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS

• Considerable time is spent at a desk using a computer terminal.
• May be required to travel to other buildings on the campus.
• May be required to attend conference and training sessions within Bay Area or in-or-out-of-state locations.
• May be required to occasionally travel to outside customers, vendors or suppliers.

WORK ENVIRONMENT

• Typical office environment.
• Mostly indoor office environment with windows.
• Offices with equipment noise.
• Offices with frequent interruptions.

Telecommute

Santa Clara University is registered to do business in the following states: California, Nevada, Oregon, Washington, Arizona, and Illinois. Employees approved to telecommute are required to perform their work within one of these states.

EEO Statement

Equal Opportunity/Notice of Nondiscrimination

Santa Clara University is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants are encouraged to apply and will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, ethnicity, national origin, citizenship, ancestry, religion, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender, gender expression, gender identity, marital status, parental status, veteran or military status, physical or mental disability, medical conditions, pregnancy or related conditions, reproductive health decision making, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local laws. For a complete copy of Santa Clara University's equal opportunity and nondiscrimination policies, please visit the Office of Equal Opportunity and Title IX website at https://www.scu.edu/title-ix/.

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Amenicans with Disabilities Act

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