Executive Director, Barnard|Next

Barnard College•New York City, NY

10d•Onsite

About The Position

The Executive Director of Barnard|Next is a strategic, collaborative, and hands-on leader providing vision and operational leadership for Barnard|Next. This comprehensive revenue-generating enterprise encompasses Pre-College Programs, Lifelong Learning, Summer Session and Custom Programs for current undergraduates, as well as a growing year-round venue rental and contract partnership practice. Collectively, Barnard|Next connects more than 1,500 diverse learners annually—ranging from secondary school students to current undergraduates and lifelong adult learners—to the intellectual vitality of Barnard College. The Executive Director drives portfolio growth and sustainability in direct alignment with the College’s core academic mission, balancing rigorous educational programming with strategic revenue generation and operational excellence. Responsibilities include the conceptualization, execution, and continuous assessment of mission-aligned programs in collaboration with faculty, academic leadership, and cross-campus administrative partners. This role demands deep expertise in higher education markets, non-degree program design, multi-channel marketing, budget planning, revenue forecasting, facility optimization, risk management, and staff supervision. The Executive Director provides active, hands-on leadership across all operational phases—from initial contract negotiation and curriculum alignment through program execution and impact assessment.

Requirements

Master’s degree required.
Minimum 8 years of progressive management experience in higher education, including student affairs, summer session, pre-college, or off-campus programming; alternatively 10-12 years of experience in managing and implementing programs or major initiatives outside of higher education.
Proven expertise in fiscal oversight, budget management, revenue forecasting, and data-driven financial modeling.
Demonstrated track record of designing, launching, and scaling successful programs in both on-ground and online modalities, backed by a strong working knowledge of undergraduate curricula.
Exceptional oral, written, and interpersonal communication skills, with a demonstrated ability to collaborate effectively with faculty, executive leadership, and external partners.
Proven experience inspiring, managing, and developing high-performing, cross-functional teams in a fast-paced, deadline-driven environment.
Proficiency in leveraging market research and data-driven decision-making to optimize operations and achieve institutional goals.

Responsibilities

Provide exceptional leadership and management for a team of experienced professionals who execute mission-aligned and revenue generating programs.
Drive strategic direction and multi-year planning for credit-bearing Summer Academic Sessions, Pre-College Programs, Lifelong Learning, and non-degree offerings, aligning program goals with institutional academic standards and growth.
Partner closely with the Provost, academic department chairs, Centers, Advancement, and other stakeholders to leverage Barnard’s intellectual capital and develop high-quality, market-responsive credit, non-degree, and rental opportunities/initiatives.
Analyze higher education market trends within and beyond New York City, target demographics, and peer institution practices to identify growth opportunities and innovate programming across on-ground, hybrid, and online modalities.
Set and maintain admissions standards and academic rigor for visiting undergraduate and pre-college students compatible with Barnard’s standards of excellence.
Build visibility for Barnard College’s distinctive intervention in these revenue-generating/mission-aligned spaces; represent Barnard|Next in national associations (e.g., Association of University Summer Sessions [AUSS], North American Association of Summer Sessions [NAASS]) to integrate higher education best practices.
Work in coordination with College offices, including Residential Life, Facilities, Registrar, and Events Management (etc.) to maximize housing capacity for internal and external summer programs, and to maximize classroom, event space and lab capacity.
Prepare contracts and arrangements with external vendors in consultation with campus stakeholders.
Create relationships with external organizations to secure direct enrollments though MOUs and agreements.
Provide high level oversight of marketing strategy, including in partnership with external messaging partners, as appropriate.
Seek out and develop new partnerships to expand the footprint of Barnard’s lifelong learning programs in the greater NYC area and beyond.
Lead operational workflows in coordination with Events Management, Residential Life, the Registrar, Bursar, Financial Aid, and BCIT to ensure seamless program logistics and optimal usage of classrooms, labs, and housing.
Partner with the leadership of Facilities and Capital Projects to align summer program calendars with deferred maintenance and scheduled capital projects, maximizing space efficiency.
Oversee minor safety protocols for pre-college programs in strict compliance with guidelines set by the Office of General Counsel, Risk Management, CARES (Community Safety), and other stakeholders.
Negotiate agreements and manage performance with external service providers, including residential management agencies, logistics vendors, and external marketing partners.
In collaboration with Enrollment Management and Communications, design and execute integrated marketing and outreach strategies to achieve term-by-term enrollment and revenue targets.
Cultivate community-based partnerships and recruitment channels that strengthen applicant funnels and yield rates for unique program offerings.
Direct multi-channel communications targeting prospective applicants, parents, and enrolled students, maintaining exemplary participant and client satisfaction.
Direct financial operations, budget management, pricing strategies, and revenue modeling across all programs, ensuring strict fiscal integrity and profitability.
Hire, train, mentor, and evaluate full-time and part-time administrative staff, cultivating a collaborative, high-performing team environment.
Coordinate with Human Resources and the Provost’s Office to establish robust recruitment, vetting, and contracting processes for non-degree instructors and adjunct faculty.
Utilize data-driven modeling and key metrics to evaluate program performance, financial viability, and overall portfolio impact to inform ongoing continuous improvement.