Director of community and strategic partnerships

PLNU is a Christian liberal arts university in the evangelical, Wesleyan tradition, offering quality undergraduate, graduate and professional programs. We provide higher education in a vibrant Christian environment where minds are engaged and challenged, character is modeled and formed, and service is an expression of faith. PLNU is an institution that is committed to reflecting the rich diversity of God’s kingdom. We therefore encourage applications from culturally diverse candidates.

Benefits:

We are pleased to offer attractive benefits and resources. This includes benefits such as health, dental, tuition benefits for employees and dependents, competitive retirement matching, vacation and sick time, and 15 paid holidays per year. In addition, we have many opportunities to engage with our community including staff chapel and a robust wellness program.

Job Summary:

This position is responsible for managing and directing community partnerships to accomplish the strategic goals of the university’s Pathways and Partnerships initiative. The Director will position PLNU as a trusted partner and talent pipeline for San Diego’s driving economic and societal sectors, ensuring students benefit from meaningful pathways to career opportunities. This role, operating out of the Provost’s office, involves coordinating regional partnership activity, supporting internal alignment of partnership efforts, and ensuring partnership initiatives are executed in a manner consistent with university-wide communication and engagement strategies.

Salary:

Pay range $90,000 - $120,000. Actual salary offered is determined by the candidate’s experience, education, skills, and other factors, including internal equity and university funding resources.

Job Status:

Full time

Job Description:

RESPONSIBILITIES

Strategic Partnership Management & Alignment

• Serve as a primary coordinator for community partnership activities, working with campus partners to evaluate and support the ROI of community engagement events, sponsorships, and relationships.
• Expand and refine TUG (Traditional Undergraduate) and GPS (Graduate and Professional Studies) community partnerships across the university.
• Collaborate with key industry partners across San Diego business, technology, professional sports, healthcare, and education sectors to develop, manage, and sustain strategic partnerships, sponsorships, affiliation agreements, and Memorandums of Understanding (MOUs) that advance university priorities, workforce alignment, and community impact.
• Facilitate coordination of community partnerships across the university by supporting shared processes, tools, and collaboration between Traditional Undergrad and Graduate and Professional Studies.
• Provide oversight of community partnerships, including formalizing tuition discounts and other academic, partnership-related benefits.
• Work with University Advancement and the Provost’s Council to operationalize a coordinated approach to external engagement, ensuring alignment with broader university priorities.
• Support the implementation of PLNU’s approach to external engagement by coordinating Advisory Board structures for each School/College and providing deans with aligned resources and communication guidance.

Systems, Tracking, and Reporting

• Oversight of a centralized Partnership Management System, including the selection, implementation, and university-wide adoption of a CRM or partnership tracking tool.
• Establish and maintain a Partnerships Dashboard & Reporting Framework to provide regular reports categorizing partnerships by sector, including BioTech, Hospitality, Education, Military, Healthcare, Public Affairs, Non-Profits, Arts and Culture, Media, and Church-related entities.
• Develop guidelines for tracking both formal and informal partnerships to ensure a sustainable, non-siloed internal system.

Alumni and Student Engagement

• Connect alumni with current students to expand university partnerships.
• Develop and manage a structured alumni-to-student mentorship program, including participation tracking, satisfaction surveys, and internship and career opportunity integration.

UNIVERSITY ADVANCEMENT RESPONSIBILITIES

• Identify potential donors, foundations, and granting agencies through community partnerships and work with University Advancement to leverage these relationships for the benefit of the university.
• Build on existing donor relationships to expand strategic engagement opportunities across campus, including internships, guest speaking, mentorship, sponsorships, and other partnership initiatives that connect donors with students, faculty, and university programs.

Distribution of the workload in the areas identified above will generally involve: 25% on developing new partnerships, 25% on systems and tracking, 30% on strengthening current advisory boards and partnerships, and 20% on coordination with the University Advancement office.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

• Minimum of five years of experience managing complex projects or teams within a university, non-profit, or business setting.
• Minimum of a Bachelor’s degree, with a graduate degree in business administration or a related field preferred.
• Strategic thinker with a strong operational focus and a proven track record of managing growth.
• Innovative mindset, self-reliant, and results-oriented with refined project management skills.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills; supportive and team-oriented with excellent people skills.
• Commitment to PLNU’s decidedly Christian community and its shared beliefs and practices.
• Knowledge and experience working with a diverse population.
• Evidence of Christian commitment and active church involvement. In addition, staff agree to live in agreement with PLNU’s Community Life Covenant.

The job offer is contingent on the successful completion of a background check. PLNU will consider qualified applicants, including those with criminal histories, in a manner consistent with state and local "Fair Chance" laws.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS

The work is primarily sedentary and may require sitting for extended periods of time. Use of computer equipment: computer keyboard, mouse, and monitor. Ability to read documents, email and other correspondence, and reports on paper and computer monitor. Ability to communicate effectively with others in person and by phone. Ability to stand, stoop, push, pull, and lift up to 20 lbs.

At PLNU, we believe in pursuing calling together. Deep and meaningful relationships between students, faculty, and staff is vital in nurturing our shared community and expressing God’s love. We are looking for enthusiastic candidates to join us in empowering our students to reach their greatest personal, spiritual and professional potential.

Point Loma Nazarene University does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, age, disability or status as a veteran in any of its policies, practices or procedures.