Director of Higher Education Strategy

 

At Project Kitty Hawk we hire talented people who are not only dedicated to our mission but share our belief that working together makes us stronger and more effective. In this organization you’ll find individuals with a range of interesting backgrounds and life stories; the true magic happens when those individuals come together to solve problems in service of a common goal.  We encourage you to bring your unique perspective, talents, and ideas to the table as we strive to make a meaningful impact.   

 

 

The Director of Higher Education Strategy supports Project Kitty Hawk (PKH) in extending the benefits of public higher education to all North Carolinians. This position is an experienced relationship manager who is familiar with public university operations and the adult learner market, thrives on building lasting relationships with UNC System Office leaders and prospective university partners, and has experience nurturing university and System relationships into formal partnerships that drive university and company growth. The role requires background experience in:

• Higher education leadership to facilitate strategic and productive engagements at all levels of PKH’s current and prospective partner institutions, including senior university leadership.
• Continuous improvement in university practice and process, including admissions, enrollment management, and student success.
• Ability to distill key lessons from work with individual universities to inform University System policy, practice, and procurement.
• Prospecting and account management to build relationships and nurture new partnerships.
• Internal project and process management to strengthen relationships through transparent and replicable university engagements.

This position requires strong self-motivation, a team-oriented mindset, and the ability to pivot quickly and decisively in a fast-paced environment.

1. FASTER Initiative Coordination: The FASTER Initiative is a partnership with the UNC System to support System campuses in their efforts to enhance the student journey, from initial impression all the way to graduation. This role will:

Execute the day-to-day operations of the FASTER initiative.

Utilize project and process management skills to ensure transparent and repeatable delivery of consulting services, specifically the development of the project plans, interview schedules, and final deliverable preparation.

Measure and report on the progress of initiative-specific milestones and the overall health of campus partnerships.

 

1. Partnership Development (Business Development)

2. Build and manage a pipeline of prospective UNC System and national university partners, from initial prospecting through close.
3. Lead solution-scoping conversations with university leadership, translating institutional challenges (enrollment, retention, student success) into partnership opportunities.
4. Support development of scope documents and foundational partnership contracts, including drafting agreements and facilitating final delivery.
5. Lead transition phases from prospect to client, collaborating closely with Partnership Success to ensure seamless onboarding and integration.
6. Drive cross-functional collaboration with marketing, admissions, student services, and partnership success teams to identify new solutions that respond to the pressing needs of the UNC System and the state.
7. Conduct market viability assessments using UNC System and national datasets to build a deep knowledge of potential partners’ vision, programs, and objectives.