Description

Job Summary

RIT Certified is a forward-thinking educational initiative powered by Rochester Institute of Technology, designed to meet the evolving needs of today's learners, employers, and industries. We specialize in delivering flexible, skills-based education that is directly aligned with workforce demands, empowering individuals to thrive in a rapidly changing job market. By offering innovative, industry-informed programs, RIT Certified bridges the gap between traditional education and modern professional needs, preparing learners for the future of work. Joining our team means being part of an organization that is committed to challenging the status quo, fostering creativity, and driving meaningful impact for both individuals and businesses.
The Director for Growth and Strategic Engagement reports to the Executive Director of RIT Certified and is responsible for leading the unit's external engagement strategy with a clear mandate: generate revenue through strategic relationship development, market expansion, and partnership cultivation. This role serves as the primary driver of business development for RIT Certified, with accountability for building and managing a high-impact pipeline of employer, government, and community relationships that result in enrollment growth, paid contracts, and sustainable financial performance.
To fulfill this mission, the Director develops and implements intentional outreach strategies that identify target markets, establish credibility in key industries, and convert employer and community needs into mutually beneficial business opportunities. This includes identifying high-potential sectors, mapping engagement and sales paths, proposing tailored partnership models, and closing agreements that contribute directly to RIT Certified's bottom line.
The Director provides direct supervision to assigned staff and student employees in the functional areas of career services and registration & billing, aligning team resources with strategic goals. This includes overseeing work plans, managing performance, and ensuring cross-functional coordination with marketing, outreach, and recruitment functions to drive operational efficiency and accountability. The Director works in close collaboration with internal teams to ensure that outreach efforts are aligned with available offerings, audience needs, and operational readiness. The Director also plays a critical role in translating employer input into strategic insights that inform new offerings, pricing strategies, and delivery models.
In addition to employer-focused responsibilities, the Director provides leadership for broader community engagement efforts that expand visibility, increase learner interest, and support inclusive access to RIT Certified's programs and courses. This includes representing the unit at events, building partnerships with workforce-serving organizations, and collaborating with colleagues on recruitment strategies. The Director also maintains a dotted-line relationship with the Associate Director for Community Support and Online Experiences to ensure coordinated execution of community-facing strategies and shared recruitment goals.
This is a high-accountability role that requires a combination of strategic thinking, relationship-building, team leadership, and executional follow-through. The Director is expected to meet defined revenue targets, track performance, and continuously refine business development tactics based on outcomes and opportunities.

Job Responsibilities

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Business Development and Revenue Generation
Lead the design and execution of a strategic business development plan that drives revenue growth. Identify and prioritize target sectors, build a qualified pipeline of employer, government, and community partners, and convert relationships into paid contracts, enrollments, and recurring revenue. Track performance against defined sales targets and continuously refine outreach tactics to increase yield.

Team Leadership and Staff Supervision
Ensure execution of MOUs/ contracts and outward facing operations that impact relationships. Directly supervise and develop functional areas of career services and registration & billing and full-time staff and student employees supporting growth and engagement efforts. Assign goals, oversee project execution, manage performance, and support professional development. Align team activities with strategic objectives and foster a collaborative culture focused on innovation, accountability, and results.

Market Intelligence and Program Alignment
Gather insights from employer and community interactions to inform new program opportunities, pricing strategy, and delivery models. Provide input into internal planning discussions to ensure that offerings and services reflect market demand, employer needs, and partner expectations.

Cross-Functional Collaboration and Recruitment Support
Collaborate with internal teams to align outreach efforts with program delivery, learner success, and marketing activities. Support recruitment strategies by coordinating outreach efforts with the Associate Director of Education Access and Outreach and other team members. Ensure community engagement efforts are integrated and mission-aligned.

Reporting and Continuous Improvement
Track business development activities and revenue performance. Report regularly on outreach progress, pipeline health, and opportunity conversion. Analyze trends to improve strategic execution and increase long-term financial sustainability.

Required Qualifications

• Minimum of 7-10 years in business development, external relations, partnership cultivation, or a related field within higher education, workforce development, or corporate training
• Proven success in revenue-generating roles, including managing pipelines, closing contracts, and achieving financial goals
• Minimum 3 years of leadership experience, particularly in high-touch professional or community organizations.
• Experience leading cross-functional initiatives that engage employers, students, and community stakeholders
• Demonstrated ability to manage external partnerships and maintain long-term client relationships
• Familiarity with CRM systems and data-driven approaches to outreach, engagement, and decision-making
• Experience overseeing third-party contractors and coordinating external-facing activities across departments
• Candidates must be eligible to work in the United States.

Preferred Qualifications

• Strategic thinker with a strong business mindset and ability to drive growth
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills for building rapport and trust across diverse stakeholders
• Skilled in contract negotiation, outreach planning, and managing complex partnerships
• Strong strategic and organizational skills, with the ability to manage multiple priorities in a dynamic, fast-paced environment
• Comfortable representing the organization at high-level meetings, industry events, and community engagements
• Collaborative leadership style with experience working across departments to align business goals with learner and employer needs

How To Apply

This position offers a competitive salary in the range of $68,800 to $115,200 (Grade 121A) with a performance-based opportunity.
In order to be considered for this position, you must apply for it at: http://careers.rit.edu/staff. Click the link for search openings and in the keyword search field, enter the title of the position or the BR number.

Additional Details

In compliance with NYS's Pay Transparency Act, the salary range for this position is listed above. Rochester Institute of Technology considers factors such as (but not limited to) scope and responsibilities of the position, candidate's work experience, education/training, key skills, internal peer equity, as well as, market and organizational considerations when extending an offer. The hiring process for this position may require a criminal background check and/or motor vehicle records check. Any verbal or written offer made is contingent on satisfactory results, as determined by Human Resources. RIT provides equal opportunity to all qualified individuals and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, creed, age, marital status, sex, gender, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, national origin, veteran status or disability in its hiring, admissions, educational programs and activities. RIT provides reasonable accommodations to applicants with disabilities under the Rehabilitation Act, the Americans with Disabilities Act, the New York Human Rights Law, or similar applicable law. If you need reasonable accommodation for any part of the application and hiring process, please contact the Human Resources office at 585-475-2424 or email your request to hr@rit.edu. Determinations on requests for reasonable accommodation will be made on a case-by-case basis.