Director, University Relations & Community Partnerships

Wasserman•Columbia, SC

About The Position

We are looking for a Director, University Relations & Community Partnerships to join our rapidly growing team of college and youth marketing enthusiasts. In this role, you will build, manage, and activate NEXT GEN·TEAM’s network of university and community partnerships — the access points that allow our clients to reach and engage the next generation of consumers in authentic, hyper-local ways. You will play a key role in the full lifecycle of our partnership portfolio: nurturing existing relationships, identifying new opportunities, translating access into client value, and leading the team that makes it all happen on the ground. Above all, you bring a genuine passion for creating memorable experiences for brands, students, and the campus communities that make it all possible.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in marketing, communications, business, or a related field
8+ years of related work experience, ideally in an agency setting and with field or experiential marketing programs
5+ years of direct team management experience
Demonstrated experience building and managing institutional or community-based partnerships, with a track record of translating relationships into measurable client value
Proven ability to build rapport with and present confidently to leadership, both internally and on the client side
Strong track record of working cross-functionally in an agency or similar setting to deliver premium, measurable results for clients
People-centric and collaborative with outstanding interpersonal, written, and oral communication skills; equally comfortable in a campus setting and an executive client meeting
Strong entrepreneurial spirit; a self-starter who thrives in a fast-paced environment and balances business acumen with creative thinking
Marketing activation experience across large-scale standalone events, student life programming, and classroom or living space integrations; content, media, or hospitality experience
Proficient in Microsoft Outlook, Excel, Word, and PowerPoint
Experience working with Salesforce, Adobe Creative Suite, and project management tools (Asana, SharePoint, Workday, etc.) a plus

Responsibilities

Own and grow NEXT GEN·TEAM’s existing portfolio of university and community partnerships, creating tangible value for current clients and new business prospects
Build and nurture genuine, quality relationships with key stakeholders across a national portfolio of university and community partners — including campus administrators, student organizations, athletic departments, career centers, and community partners
Develop strategic initiatives that drive a collaborative, growth-oriented approach to partnership value for clients, partners, and partner members
Maintain a relationship management platform (Salesforce) to capture and leverage actionable institution-, venue-, and market-specific intelligence
Support execution of newly developed NEXT GEN and THE·TEAM’s offerings as they are launched in market
Build and maintain a pipeline of new partnership opportunities by identifying prospects, attending relevant events and conferences, and running programs to assess fit and long-term value creation for clients
Identify opportunities to expand NEXT GEN·TEAM's partnership footprint into adjacent consumer spaces, including alumni networks, social sports leagues, and lifestyle communities across sports, music, and entertainment, to deepen access to next gen audiences beyond the campus
Exceptional understanding of each client’s business, marketing goals, and program objectives which allows for strategic thinking and program implementation
Effortlessly partner and work cross-functionally with NEXT GEN·TEAM's Client Services, Production, Digital, and University Relations teams to develop and execute integrated marketing campaigns and set tone for team
Collaborate with university, community, and internal teams to deliver quality results for clients’ business, marketing goals, and program objectives
Confidently represent the team in client meetings and presentations, maintaining strong project awareness and knowledge of account activity status to ensure credible, informed client engagement
Agency leader that ensures all work is completed at the standards of NEXT GEN·TEAM's - no matter how large or small
Analysis and synthesizing of relevant qualitative and quantitative program data that clearly demonstrates program performance relative to campaign objectives. This includes, but is not limited to, managing a team appropriately to develop comprehensive reporting that allows for measurable success from the outset of programs
Identify areas of organic growth within existing accounts through real-time assessment of program performance, consumer insights, and ongoing dialogue with client contacts
Contribute to and, where appropriate, lead new business pitches and proposals — bringing a revenue-oriented mindset to agency brainstorms, budget development, and client acquisition efforts
Apply marketing savvy and strategic thinking to translate partnership access into solutions that address unique client business challenges
Leverage experience and knowledge of the partnership, institutional, and consumer landscape to position NEXT GEN·TEAM as the preferred source of next gen access point intelligence for brands
Identify thought leadership opportunities that grow NEXT GEN·TEAM’s presence and credibility within the next gen consumer and campus marketing space
Lead, mentor, and develop a team of University Relations & Community Partnership professionals, balancing the strengths of experienced legacy team members with the energy and perspectives of new hires and aligning on role clarity, goal setting, and growth opportunities
Source and onboard new team members as the team grows; a strong education and/or marketing network is a plus
Fluency in resourcing and deploying team members appropriately across retainer- and project-based work to ensure consistent, high-quality delivery for clients
Champion the team's standards for excellence in day-to-day work, ensuring consistent delivery across clients and programs
Develop best practices across the team for partnership development, event logistics, program reporting, and Salesforce documentation
Positively contribute to agency culture by maintaining team morale and providing professional development paths for team(s)