Academic Partnership & Portfolio Advancement Manager

Western Governors University•Salt Lake City, UT

3d•$119,400 - $185,100•Hybrid

About The Position

Responsible for advancing School of Education (WSE) priorities across three integrated areas: academic portfolio advancement, research and insights, and external engagement. The role partners closely with the SVP/Executive Dean, Deans, Program Chairs, and cross functional leaders to strengthen WSE’s academic offerings, partnerships, and institutional readiness. This position serves as a key liaison to external agencies and education partners to ensure WSE maintains a compelling, relevant, and scalable portfolio aligned to educator preparation needs, workforce demands, and institutional priorities. The role also supports leaders and stakeholders through periods of transition by applying structured change principles as initiatives move from planning into operational execution. In addition, this role contributes to internal and external communications—including presentations, articles, and award submissions—by translating research, insights, and outcomes into clear, actionable narratives that elevate WSE’s profile and impact. Through regular engagement with external education stakeholders (e.g., district leaders, boards of education, administrators, and EPP convenings), this role helps WSE refine and reposition programs and services based on evidence, emerging trends, and partner feedback. The role requires strong judgment, adaptability, relationship building capability, and comfort navigating ambiguity while working closely with senior leadership.

Requirements

Ability to build relationships and influence effectively at all levels, internally and externally.
Proven ability to analyze data, identify trends, and translate insights into actionable recommendations.
Strong organizational, project management, and communication skills.
Ability to lead, coach, and develop people and teams.
Sound judgment and decision‑making skills.
Ability to support leaders through complex or evolving initiatives.
Comfort operating with ambiguity while working closely with executive leadership.
Graduate degree in relevant discipline or 10 years equivalent work experience.
Minimum 5 years of experience designing and implementing programmatic solutions within an educator preparation or higher education environment.
Minimum 5 years of experience leading and managing people, teams, or complex projects.
Experience with competency‑based and online education models.
Experience managing vendor relationships and budgets.
Experience with data collection, analysis, and executive‑level presentation.
Experience in curriculum development, instructional design, or educational technology.
Demonstrated success managing relationships across internal and external partners.

Nice To Haves

Approximately 50% travel is required. This positions spends time working with external partners (districts, agencies), bodies (conferences, convenings), as well as internal stakeholders (leadership, managers) to bring together innovational experts, as well as to provide strategy, mapping, and consultation internally around change management.

Responsibilities

Incorporates WGU’s leadership principles into all work and professional interactions.
Produces timely, consistent, and accurate reports and updates for stakeholders and executive leadership.
Maintains professional knowledge of educator preparation (EPP) subject matter and current practices in learning science, competency‑based education, and online learning through research review and conference participation.
Applies established change management principles, as needed, to support adoption and sustainment of new initiatives.
Provides regular, substantive updates across WSE—particularly to Deans and the Executive Dean—highlighting opportunities for improvement informed by external feedback and analysis.
Establishes and sustains a network of strategic internal and external relationships to remain current on research, practices, and initiatives, and to disseminate relevant insights to leaders.
Inspires and supports leaders, managers, and (if applicable) direct reports to meet or exceed expectations while serving as a trusted representative of WGU and the WSE mission.
Collaborates with internal and external stakeholders to develop and implement academic offerings, pathways, and initiatives that meet intended outcomes.
Partners cross‑functionally to support the coordinated rollout of new programs, processes, and procedures, ensuring readiness and alignment across the school.
Supports leaders through execution and adoption activities to promote effective implementation and long‑term sustainability.
Conducts and collaborates on research to inform decisions related to academic offerings, partner engagement, and workforce alignment.
Works with executive leadership to identify macro‑economic, policy, and societal trends and translates findings into reports and visualizations for decision-making.
Oversees market and needs based research related to new programs, refinements to existing offerings, and potential service enhancements.
Partners with regional and partnership teams to validate local employer and student needs and assess alignment with potential partners.
Provides thought leadership and makes recommendations regarding learning products, learning design, and delivery, based on analysis of data and learning science.
Directs research projects aimed at elevating the school and the executive team’s thought leadership profile.
Collaborates with regions, government relations, and partnership teams to obtain updates and ideas by leveraging existing school, district, partner, and community relationships.
Establishes meaningful partnerships that enable innovations in all modalities and contexts: licensure, internships, apprenticeships, and work-based learning strategies.
Works with district partners to create minor, sustainable customizations in programs for specific, scaled partners, leading to stronger local partnerships and trusted advisor relationships.
Ensures project and change management for any bespoke offerings to ensure WSE alignment and support.
Performs other related duties as assigned.