MBA & Professional Education Staff Director

Miami University Alumni Association

About The Position

The MBA & Professional Education Staff Director provides strategic leadership for the MBA program and tailored professional education with a primary focus on corporate partnerships, external engagement, enrollment growth, and program development. The Director serves as the primary external-facing representative for the MBA program and professional education by developing relationships with companies, executives, HR and talent leaders, alumni, professional organizations, and community partners to expand the reach of the MBA program and professional education and create new opportunities for enrollment and engagement for both. In addition to external relationship development, the Director provides overall leadership for recruitment and enrollment, student success, marketing direction, and program operations. The Director also works with the Associate Dean for Education Excellence and the MBA & Professional Education Faculty Director on the strategy for MBA certificates, degrees, and tailored professional education. The MBA & Professional Education Staff Director directly supervises the MBA Program Assistant Director – Student Experience and provides support for student experience responsibilities as needed.

Requirements

Master’s degree and at least five (5) years of relevant professional experience; OR a bachelor’s degree and at least eight (8) years of relevant professional experience.
Relevant experience in graduate or professional education, enrollment management, business development, corporate relations, marketing, or a related field.
Experience developing and managing relationships with employers, executives, professional organizations, alumni, or other external stakeholders.
Experience leading, supervising, or managing professional staff.
Knowledge of the MBA market, adult and professional learners, and the competitive landscape for graduate business education.
Strong oral, written, interpersonal, and presentation skills.
Ability to build, cultivate, and sustain productive relationships with a wide variety of internal and external stakeholders.
Ability to use data and performance metrics to inform decisions, evaluate outcomes, and recommend improvements.
Ability to work collaboratively across organizational units and coordinate initiatives involving multiple stakeholders.
Ability to exercise sound judgment, manage competing priorities, and independently advance projects and initiatives.
Ability to lead and motivate professional staff and cross-functional teams.

Nice To Haves

Master’s degree in business, education, marketing, management, or a related field, with preference given to candidates holding an MBA.
Experience working with MBA, graduate, executive, professional, or continuing education programs.
Experience working in higher education, particularly in graduate or professional education.
Experience recruiting and enrolling working professionals or adult learners.
Experience developing corporate partnerships, customized education programs, executive education, or workforce development initiatives.
Experience engaging alumni as ambassadors, referral sources, mentors, or corporate connectors.
Experience working with senior executives, corporate human resources or talent-development leaders, or other organizational decision-makers.
Experience leading cross-functional teams or initiatives within a complex organization.

Responsibilities

Serve as the primary external-facing leader and ambassador for the MBA certificates, MBA degree, and tailored professional education engagements.
Identify, develop, and manage ongoing relationships with organizations (companies, healthcare providers, universities that don’t have MBA programs, etc.), executives, alumni, and professional networks to generate MBA prospects, enrollment opportunities, tailored professional education opportunities, or other mutually beneficial opportunities.
Work with the Associate Dean for Education Excellence and MBA & Professional Education Faculty Director to develop strategic direction and vision and strategies for the MBA program and tailored professional education that emphasize program quality, growth, enrollment, revenue, market positioning, and student success.
Establish annual targets and priorities for the MBA program and professional education engagements related to enrollment, corporate engagement, recruitment, retention, student experience, and program development that are based on market trends, economic and competitive forces, employer needs, and student demand.
Develop and oversee the overall MBA recruitment and enrollment strategy and measurable outcomes, focusing on the following key populations: working professionals, early- and mid-career professionals, Miami University alumni, Miami undergraduate students (who can earn one MBA certificate prior to graduation), corporate employees, career changers and emerging leaders.
Work closely with MBA Program Assistant Director and University admissions, marketing, and enrollment management teams to identify prospective students via recruitment funnel to application, at which point the Assistant MBA Director – Student Experience assumes primary responsibility for managing student experiences.
Provide strategic direction for the MBA program marketing and communications across multiple channels designed to reach targeted market segments that reflect employer needs, career outcomes, program flexibility, and the value of Miami MBA certificates, MBA degrees, and tailored professional education.
Collaborate with University marketing and communications teams on campaigns, website content, digital marketing, email, social media, recruitment materials, and events.
Provide oversight and coaching of the Assistant Director – Student Experience, including providing assistance as needed.
Serve as the escalation point for complex student, academic, faculty, or operational issues that require Director-level involvement or resolution.
Participate in development and management of the MBA program and tailored professional education budget and recommend investments that support corporate engagement, recruitment, enrollment growth, marketing, and student success.
Track and report on key performance indicators (e.g., applications, admissions, yield, enrollment, retention, graduation, course enrollment, corporate engagement, and revenue), monitor program expenses and evaluate return on investment.
Develop meaningful relationships with MBA alumni that engage them as ambassadors and referral sources and create opportunities for alumni to participate in mentoring, networking, recruitment, corporate outreach, and student activities.
Build an alumni and organizational network that strengthens the MBA program and creates tailored professional education opportunities