Director of Academic Partnerships

Syracuse University is building something new. We're launching SU Global to reimagine how we support and scale accessible online pathways for non-traditional learners, in a dynamic, innovative, and data-driven environment. That means rethinking how we work.

This role requires on-campus presence because the best ideas emerge from real-time collaboration, the mentorship that happens in hallways, and the spontaneous problem-solving that defines startup culture. You'll work non-traditional hours when needed - evening and weekend coverage, whatever it takes to deliver the best-in-class experience.

We're looking for team members who thrive in:

• High-energy, in-person environments where innovation happens face-to-face
• Flexible scheduling that follows student needs, not the clock
• Startup intensity within a world-class university structure

We're not looking for people who want a job. We're looking for builders who want a mission.

SU Global seeks a Director of Academic Partnerships to lead a dynamic team focused on delivering exceptional, premium-quality educational experiences to academic partners across the university. This role requires a strategic leader with significant experience in educational partnerships, creative content development, and team management. The Director oversees an academic partnership team model of Managers of Academic Partnerships who serve as dedicated account managers for assigned schools and colleges, ensuring seamless collaboration and high-quality, engaging deliverables that reflect Syracuse University's brand standards.

The Director manages several academic partnership teams, each containing multimedia designers, video producers, instructional designers, and Managers of Academic Partnerships who serve as the primary interface with campus stakeholders. The Director may also directly oversee an academic partnership team of internal staff and/or external consultants working on high-priority or specialized programs, serving in a mentor/coach capacity. Additionally, the Director oversees a Quality Assurance team that ensures consistency and excellence across all academic partnership teams.

Education and Experience

Required:

• Master's degree in Education, Instructional Design, Business Administration, or related field
• 7+ years of experience in educational partnerships, client relationship management, consulting or similar role in higher education
• Minimum 5 years of supervisory or senior leadership experience, preferably including creative or technical teams
• Experience managing complex, multi-stakeholder projects with creative components
• Knowledge of instructional design principles and educational technology
• Understanding of content development principles and quality standards for educational media

Preferred:

• Experience in university administration or academic affairs
• Background in online learning, educational media production, or creative content development
• Experience managing external consultants, creative agencies, or vendor relationships
• Experience with video production, visual storytelling, or multimedia content creation
• Project management certification (PMP, Agile, etc.)
• Experience with budget management and resource allocation

Skills and Knowledge

• Leadership Skills: Proven ability to lead diverse teams and manage complex reporting relationships. Proven ability to lead diverse teams including creative, technical, and relationship management professionals
• Creative Vision: Understanding of visual storytelling, content quality standards, and premium educational media production
• Relationship Management: Excellence in building and maintaining partnerships with senior academic leaders
• Strategic Thinking: Ability to develop long-term strategies and align initiatives with institutional goals
• Project Management: Strong organizational skills with ability to oversee multiple concurrent projects
• Communication: Exceptional written and verbal communication skills for diverse audiences, including creative direction and feedback
• Problem Solving: Ability to navigate complex challenges and find creative solutions
• Change Management: Experience leading organizational change and process improvement in creative environments

Responsibilities

• Strategic Leadership & Partnership Management - Develop and execute strategic plans for academic partnerships across the university, emphasizing innovative and engaging educational content delivery. Lead relationship building with deans, department heads, and senior academic leaders, positioning SU Global as a premium content partner. Establish creative vision and content standards across all partnerships. Oversee Managers of Academic Partnership teams in their role as dedicated account managers for assigned schools/colleges. Foster long-term partnerships that align with university goals and drive educational innovation through compelling visual storytelling and premium production values. Monitor partnership satisfaction and implement continuous improvement strategies for both relationship health and content quality.
• Team Leadership & Creative Direction - Hire, supervise, train, and mentor team comprised of various roles. Establish and maintain creative standards and visual storytelling approaches across all pods. Provide creative leadership and direction for premium educational content development. Guide faculty coaching strategies and on-camera presentation approaches. Collaborate with direct reports to set performance objectives focused on both relationship outcomes and creative excellence. Identify staffing needs and resource requirements for both technical and creative capabilities. Lead leadership team meetings and strategic planning sessions with emphasis on innovation and content quality. Support professional development in both relationship management and creative skills. Foster an inclusive environment that encourages collaboration, innovation, and creative risk-taking.
• Project & Quality Oversight - Oversee multiple complex creative and educational projects across all academic partnership teams simultaneously. May directly manage specialized internal staff and/or external consultant teams in mentor/coach capacity for high-priority programs. Ensure quality standards, brand consistency, and creative excellence across all partnership initiatives. Work with QA team to implement and maintain quality assurance processes that include both technical and creative standards. Monitor academic partnership team performance, creative output quality, and resource allocation. Coordinate cross-team collaboration and knowledge sharing on best practices in visual storytelling and faculty engagement. Establish and maintain project management standards, creative workflows, and production best practices.
• Stakeholder Relations & Communication - Serve as primary liaison between SU Global and academic leadership. Present partnership updates and strategic recommendations to senior leadership. Facilitate communication between teams and university stakeholders. Represent SU Global at university committees and strategic planning sessions. Manage escalated issues and complex partnership challenges.
• Innovation & Creative Excellence - Stay current with andragogical trends in higher education, digital learning, and creative content production. Identify opportunities for new services, innovative content approaches, and partnership models. Lead initiatives to improve both efficiency and creative quality. Research and implement best practices in visual storytelling, faculty coaching, and premium educational content development. Support university-wide strategic initiatives and special projects requiring creative expertise. Drive innovation in educational content delivery and production methodologies.

Physical Requirements

Not Applicable

Tools/Equipment

Not Applicable

Application Instructions

In addition to completing an online application, please attach a resume and cover letter.