Director, Business Development – Southern California Region

This is a fully remote position, open to applicants in United States.

📋 Description

• Identify, nurture, and secure strategic partnerships with healthcare systems, clinical networks, employer organizations, community colleges, and relevant industry stakeholders to promote enrollment growth in WCU's online and graduate programs.

• Build and oversee a strong pipeline of potential partners through proactive outreach, high-level engagement, and structured relationship development from initial contact to contract execution.

• Collaborate closely with the Senior Director of Business Development to ensure that all partnership pursuits, outreach strategies, and prospect engagements align with broader departmental goals, institutional priorities, and brand standards—seeking guidance and approval as necessary before progressing key opportunities.

• Function as a collaborative team member within the Business Development department and across the organization, actively sharing market insights, prospect intelligence, and best practices with colleagues to ensure a coordinated and unified approach to partnership development.

• Create and present compelling presentations, proposals, and business cases to healthcare executives, HR leaders, clinical stakeholders, and educational partners that demonstrate employer ROI and highlight the mutual value of the partnership.

• Act as a consultative partner to prospective and existing employers, linking WCU's academic offerings to workforce pipeline challenges and positioning the university as a preferred partner in education and talent development.

• Utilize market research, labor data, competitive intelligence, and industry trends to pinpoint high-potential regions, prioritize target organizations, and tailor value propositions to meet specific partner needs.

• Collaborate with the Senior Director of Business Development to develop and enhance business development strategies, identify process improvements, and suggest new approaches to enhance departmental efficiency and effectiveness.

• Work cross-functionally with internal teams—including Marketing, Admissions, Alumni Relations, Career Services, Academics, Compliance, Legal, and Clinical Placement—to ensure seamless implementation of partnership agreements and fulfillment of employer commitments.

• Manage and cultivate existing strategic partner relationships post-contract, identifying opportunities for expansion, renewal, and deeper engagement while ensuring a smooth transition to implementation teams for daily operations.

• Represent WCU at key industry events, conferences, education fairs, trade shows, and targeted networking opportunities to enhance visibility, build relationships, and discover new partnership opportunities.

• Maintain accurate and current documentation in CRM systems, tracking all outreach activities, engagement statuses, pipeline progress, and partnership performance metrics.

• Keep informed about healthcare industry trends, workforce development initiatives, regulatory changes, and competitive dynamics that influence healthcare education and professional development opportunities.

• Collaborate with the inside admissions team and other internal departments to align partnership activities with prospective student needs and enrollment goals.

• Ensure proactive communication with the Senior Director of Business Development and cross-functional stakeholders, providing regular updates on pipeline activity, prospect engagement statuses, potential challenges, and market feedback.

• Maintain full visibility and alignment across the team at all times. In partnership with the marketing team, enhance brand recognition and perception of the University among employers, healthcare organizations, and community partners through consistent and professional engagement and thought leadership.

• Adhere to University policies and procedures while executing job responsibilities in accordance with standards outlined in the University's Code of Ethical Conduct, Compliance Agreement, Sexual Harassment Policy, and all relevant federal and state laws and professional standards.

• Maintain a regular work schedule, including standard business hours, and ensure proper recording of time worked and/or time-off. Frequent travel is considered a core function of this role. Additional duties may be assigned as required.

⛳️ Requirements

• A Bachelor's degree in Marketing, Sales, Business Administration, Healthcare Administration, or a related field is preferred.

• Over 7 years of progressive experience in business development, partnership development, B2B sales, or strategic account management, with a strong preference for experience in healthcare, higher education, or edtech sectors.

• Proven track record in identifying, developing, and closing complex partnership or business agreements with mid-to-senior-level decision-makers, including C-suite executives.

• Strong consultative selling and strategic thinking abilities with a talent for navigating extended sales cycles, managing multiple concurrent opportunities, and influencing senior stakeholders.

• Experience in mentoring, coaching, or providing informal leadership to team members in a business development or sales context.

• Highly motivated and entrepreneurial mindset with the capability to work independently and drive results in a fast-paced, matrixed organization.

• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to develop executive-level presentations, complex proposals, and strategic recommendations.

• Proficient with CRM systems and business intelligence tools; strong analytical and organizational capabilities.

• Ability to self-direct, multi-task, and perform well under the pressure of deadlines and competing priorities.

• Willingness to travel frequently (estimated 50–75% of the time), including local, regional, and national travel.

• Capacity to exercise sound judgment and maintain professionalism in all interactions.

🏝️ Benefits

• Bonus Eligible