Manager, Partnerships and Programming

About the Role

The Manager advances career readiness and experiential learning opportunities for students in Human Development & Family Studies (HDFS) and Community & Organizational Development (COD). Partnering with the SoHE Advising & Career Center and other key stakeholders, this position will assist in the creation, piloting, and scaling of partnership-driven programs and experiences that support students to connect academic experiences with meaningful careers and community impact. The position serves as a key liaison between academic programs and external stakeholders to strengthen career pathways and student success.

This role proactively identifies and advances new partnership and program opportunities based on industry trends and stakeholder needs, translating them into actionable initiatives. Working closely with faculty, staff, alumni, employers, and partners across the health, nonprofit, and community-based sectors, the Manager strategically builds and activates relationships that generate internships, field placements, service-learning opportunities, mentorships, and other high-impact experiential learning opportunities that align with HDFS and COD career pathways. The Manager may oversee educational affiliation agreements and partnership records.

Through strategic collaboration and relationship building, this role helps ensure HDFS and COD students are well prepared to transition from the classroom to professional and community settings. The successful candidate will use data and assessment practices to evaluate program effectiveness, identify and advance emerging opportunities for students, and inform future engagement strategies. This position represents the School of Human Ecology in campus, local, and regional forums and plays an important role in elevating the visibility and value of HDFS and COD student outcomes.

Occasional evening and/or weekend hours and local travel may be required to support student programs, partnership development activities, networking events, and community engagement opportunities.

Responsibilities

• Monitors portfolio activity and market share and disseminates updates to leadership and appropriate entities
• Evaluates existing strategies and makes recommendations to unit leadership for program enhancement
• Assists with implementing the unit personnel resource allocation plan including hiring, training, supervision, and resolution of personnel issues
• Identifies, proposes, and implements new or revised unit operational policies and procedures
• Plans and directs staff implementation of new and existing business outreach events, programs, communications, and research activities

About the Department

The Office of Strategic Partnerships develops and manages relationships with private, public, and nonprofit organizations to advance the mission of the School of Human Ecology and enhance student learning, development, and career readiness. By collaborating with faculty, staff, alumni, employers, and community partners, the office identifies and creates mutually beneficial opportunities that connect to both curricular and co-curricular experiences, including experiential learning, applied projects, research, industry engagement, and career-connected programming. Through a proactive, collaborative, and solutions-oriented approach, the office strengthens partnerships that support student success and meaningful community impact.

Requirements

• Experience leading programs, projects, initiatives, or partnerships from planning through implementation
• Experience working with and engaging multiple stakeholder groups to advance shared goals or initiatives

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience working with or partnering across health, nonprofit, or community-based organizations
• Demonstrated ability to translate relationships into tangible opportunities (e.g., internships, projects, programs, events)
• Experience designing or supporting experiential or applied learning opportunities
• Demonstrated ability to collaborate effectively across cross-functional teams and diverse stakeholders
• Exposure to partnership development efforts, including funding, sponsorship, or resource alignment

Benefits

• Comprehensive benefits package, including generous paid time off
• Competitively priced health, dental, vision, and life insurance
• Tax-advantaged savings accounts
• Participation in the nationally recognized Wisconsin Retirement System (WRS) pension fund

Pay

The starting salary for the position is $74,500 (negotiable based on experience and qualifications).