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Western Governors University

Manager, Workforce Partnership Development - Craft Education

🇺🇸 Hybrid - Nashville, TN

🕑 Full-Time

💰 $97K - $175K

💻 Project Management

🗓️ February 26th, 2025

CRM

Edtech.com's Summary

WGU is hiring a Manager, Workforce Partnership Development. The role involves identifying, developing, and administering strategic partnerships to support the company's objectives, particularly with state and local workforce development boards. The manager will lead efforts in strategy, brand recognition, and partnership conversion, while also contributing to product innovation through insights gained from the field. 

Highlights 
  • Deliver partnerships with local workforce development boards memorialized in contracts.
  • Support strategic growth alongside the Senior Manager, Workforce and WIOA.
  • Plan, budget, and report on partnership developments and initiatives.
  • Utilize CRM software for pipeline management.
  • Develop conference and event strategies for outreach and partnership conversion.
  • Salary range: $97,300.00 - $175,200.00.
  • Bachelor's degree or equivalent experience required.
  • 5+ years in partnership or business development, preferably in workforce settings.
  • Benefits include health coverage, retirement savings, and flexible paid time off.
  • Preferred familiarity with apprenticeship and workforce development initiatives.

Manager, Workforce Partnership Development - Craft Education Full Description

Manager, Workforce Partnership Development - Craft Education
Nashville, TN
Full time

If you’re passionate about building a better future for individuals, communities, and our country—and you’re committed to working hard to play your part in building that future—consider Craft Education as the next step in your career.
 
Craft Education is on a mission to solve skilled labor shortages by powering work-based learning pathways for all.  
 
At Craft, we’re revolutionizing the apprenticeship degree, combining on-the-job learning with accredited instruction to create innovative educational pathways that accommodate working professionals and meet employer needs.  Our flagship product - Craft Connect - helps organizations administer apprentice degree programs and address mission-critical data and reporting needs.  Through the same platform, Craft is also transforming how on-the-job learning converts into academic credits.
 
Our team of technology, education and workforce professionals also provides technical assistance to organizations looking to launch and manage apprenticeship degree programs.  We are working tirelessly to accelerate the expansion of these programs along with the data infrastructure that underpins them.  
 
If you’re looking to join the work-based learning revolution, we’d love to talk with you.  At Craft, you’ll have the opportunity to solve hard problems in a high-growth startup environment and make a lasting impact on the future of education and workforce development.  We couldn’t be more excited to advance this work as a team of innovative, collaborative and mission-oriented professionals - we hope you’ll consider joining us.

The salary range for this position takes into account the wide range of factors that are considered in making compensation decisions including but not limited to skill sets; experience and training; licensure and certifications; and other business and organizational needs.

At WGU, it is not typical for an individual to be hired at or near the top of the range for their position, and compensation decisions are dependent on the facts and circumstances of each case. A reasonable estimate of the current range is: 

Pay Range: $97,300.00 - $175,200.00

Job Description
The Manager, Workforce Partnership Development will execute activities to identify, develop, and administer strategic partnerships that lead to the attainment of key company objectives. They will work closely with the Senior Manager, Workforce and WIOA to identify and deliver concrete partnerships with state and local workforce development boards. They will develop and monitor metrics and provide support across their team’s partnership pipeline and establish best practices that can be replicated and standardized across regions. They will also be responsible for contributing to strategy and generally supporting partnerships within the workforce ecosystem. By meeting in person with prospective partners and attending and presenting at key conferences and events, they will drive brand recognition and outreach efforts, ultimately converting relationships into formal partnerships. Additionally, they will share valuable field insights to inform product innovation, ensuring alignment with workforce needs and trends.

Primary Responsibilities
  • Deliver official partnerships with local workforce development boards (LWDBs), memorialized in contracts or equivalent
  • Support the Manager, Workforce and WIOA in growing and leading the department as needed per company vision and strategy, traveling on-site as needed to support regional PSGMs
  • Lead the team in planning, budgeting, and reporting on WDB partnership development, initiatives, and performance for annual and quarterly goals.
  • Effectively prospect, engage and deliver outcomes by identifying personas, mapping organizations and generally executing on a repeatable solutions-oriented sales process
  • Prepare reporting for workforce board partners
  • Collaborate with the Manager, Workforce and WIOA on strategies and initiatives to develop partnerships with state and local workforce development boards and other entities
  • Develops and executes on regional conference and event strategies that lead to brand recognition, effective outreach and partnership conversion
  • Work with the Manager, Workforce and WIOA to develop opportunities to add value and/or generate revenue from LWDBs or as they relate to the workforce ecosystem more generally
  • Travel on-site to meet with prospective partners about opportunities to grow and formalize relationship
  • Conduct due diligence and research as needed to execute on LWDB partnerships
  • Communicate key learnings from the field that may assist in product innovation
  • Input and maintain partner pipeline status in a CRM software
  • Occasionally attend in-person company meetings

This job description includes a general representation of job requirements rather than a comprehensive inventory of all required responsibilities or work activities.  This document's contents or related job requirements may change at any time with or without notice.

Qualifications
  • Strong skills in developing and executing conference and event strategies that enhance brand visibility and facilitate outreach
  • Excellent presentation and communication skills, with experience presenting at conferences and public events
  • Ability to conduct thorough due diligence and research to identify and strategize new partnership opportunities
  • Experience in drafting and finalizing partnership agreements
  • Capacity to gather and communicate insights from the field that contribute to product innovation and organizational strategy
  • Adept at collaborating across teams to ensure all collateral and messaging are up-to-date and aligned with company priorities
  • Experience with CRM software for maintaining partnership pipeline records, communication history, and account status
  • Willingness to attend in-person internal and external meetings and events across regions as needed to build relationships and grow Craft’s presence

Education          
Bachelor's or equivalent experience

Experience
5+ years of experience in partnership development, business development, or a related role, preferably within workforce development or public sector initiatives
Equivalent relevant experience performing the essential functions of this job may substitute for education degree requirements.  Generally, equivalent relevant experience is defined as 1 year of experience for 1 year of education and is the discretion of the hiring manager.

Preferred Qualifications
  • Familiarity with apprenticeship programs and workforce development initiatives

Work Location
Work location is determined by role and business needs. In addition to our headquarters in Salt Lake City, UT, we have several satellite locations across the US. Senior leadership, administrative functions, and technology teams are typically assigned to work in one of our office locations. While this position will begin with a Remote/Work-From-Home designation, this position will work "In-Office" once a dedicated space in Nashville, TN is established.

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Position & Application Details
Full-Time Regular Positions (classified as regular and working 40 standard weekly hours): This is a full-time, regular position (classified for 40 standard weekly hours) that is eligible for bonuses; medical, dental, vision, telehealth and mental healthcare; health savings account and flexible spending account; basic and voluntary life insurance; disability coverage; accident, critical illness and hospital indemnity supplemental coverages; legal and identity theft coverage; retirement savings plan; wellbeing program; discounted WGU tuition; and flexible paid time off for rest and relaxation with no need for accrual, flexible paid sick time with no need for accrual, 11 paid holidays, and other paid leaves, including up to 12 weeks of parental leave.

How to Apply: If interested, an application will need to be submitted online. Internal WGU employees will need to apply through the internal job board in Workday.

Additional Information
Disclaimer: The job posting highlights the most critical responsibilities and requirements of the job. It’s not all-inclusive. 

Accommodations: Applicants with disabilities who require assistance or accommodation during the application or interview process should contact our Talent Acquisition team at recruiting@wgu.edu.

Equal Opportunity Employer: We are an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability or protected veteran status.