Director, Portfolio Development & Innovation, Smeal College of Business

The Pennsylvania State University•University Park, FL

About The Position

Penn State Executive & Professional Programs delivers non-degree custom and open-enrollment professional development for working professionals and organizations. The Director of Portfolio Development & Innovation partners with the Managing Director to translate departmental strategy into coordinated action and measurable results. The position combines business acumen, learning strategy, project management, and collaboration to advance strategic priorities, strengthen portfolio performance, and support continuous improvement across custom and open-enrollment programs. The Director contributes to client discovery and solution development, program and portfolio quality, and effective use of technology and AI to improve business processes and learner experiences. The role is suited to an emerging or experienced leader with experience in professional or executive education, corporate learning, consulting, client services, or a related field. Business acumen, professional presence, initiative, and the ability to turn strategy into action are essential. The role supports live programs and follows an event-driven schedule. Select program weeks may involve early mornings, evenings, and occasional weekends, with on-site presence required for in-person deliveries. When programs are not in session, the schedule is more predictable and includes flexible or hybrid work per unit policy. Regional and national travel is required for offsite programs. The position requires operation of a motor vehicle, a valid driver's license, and successful completion of a motor vehicle records check. Employment also requires successful completion of background checks. Applicants must be authorized to work in the U.S.; Penn State does not sponsor or take over sponsorship of a staff employment visa.

Requirements

Master’s degree in business, education, organizational development, learning and development, or a related field, or an equivalent combination of education and experience accepted.
At least 10 years of relevant experience in professional or executive education, corporate learning, talent or leadership development, consulting, client services, or another program-based environment.
At least 3 years of full-time supervisory experience.
Demonstrated business acumen.
Experience consulting with senior leaders to assess professional development needs, identify opportunities, and develop strategic solutions.
Exceptional stakeholder management, communication, and change leadership skills.
Executive presence and ability to communicate effectively with clients at all levels, faculty, and colleagues.
Strong presentation, facilitation, organization, and follow-through.
Valid driver’s license and successful completion of a motor vehicle records check.
Authorization to work in the U.S.

Nice To Haves

Experience with custom learning, executive education, leadership development, or cohort-based professional development.
Familiarity with program evaluation, portfolio management, CRM or learning platforms, and practical uses of AI.

Responsibilities

Work with the Managing Director to develop plans, milestones, and review cycles that translate strategic priorities into action and support portfolio performance.
Establish and maintain portfolio-level quality and performance standards that support learner outcomes, program relevance, and competitive positioning.
Monitor portfolio performance and market information to identify opportunities to improve, expand, reposition, or discontinue programs, working with portfolio leaders to inform decisions.
Partner with marketing to align portfolio priorities, positioning, messaging, and campaigns with program and business objectives.
Develop and maintain dashboards and reporting on strategic progress, portfolio performance, and areas requiring attention.
Supervise assigned team members by setting priorities, providing guidance, and supporting accountability toward departmental goals.
Identify and advance technology-enabled improvements to operational efficiency, learner experience, and business performance.
Coordinate use of business platforms, including learning management systems, customer relationship management systems, and data and analytics systems, working with internal partners and vendors as appropriate.
Advance practical uses of AI to improve productivity, personalization, decision-making, and business processes while supporting responsible use.
Support data practices that improve data quality, reporting, and data-informed decision-making.
Partner with portfolio leaders to turn market and performance insights into program improvements and portfolio recommendations.
Serve as Program Director for select open-enrollment and custom programs, coordinating planning and delivery and ensuring a high-quality learner and client experience.
Monitor program quality and participant feedback and work with faculty and internal partners to identify and implement improvements.
Participate in client conversations to understand business and capability needs and help shape custom learning solutions with business development and program teams.
Coordinate across operations, faculty, marketing, technology, and University partners to support seamless program planning and execution.
Manage selected custom client relationships, monitoring program delivery, client satisfaction, and evolving needs to support long-term partnerships.