Executive Director, Strategic Partnerships and Operations, Division of Student Success

The University of Tennessee, Knoxville invites applications and nominations for the Executive Director for Strategic Partnerships & Operations within the Division of Student Success.  Reporting to the Assistant Vice Provost for Student Success and Transition, the Executive Director (ED) for Strategic Partnerships & Operations serves as the primary leader responsible for shaping, launching, and sustaining Rocky Top Gateway (RTG), a signature access and transition initiative housed within the Division of Student Success. The ED provides strategic, operational, and fiscal leadership for the program and serves as the primary steward of the university–community college partnership. The ED holds decision-making authority over program operations, staffing, and day-to-day execution, while operating within the governance framework established by the RTG Consortium Agreement and in close coordination with senior leadership at both institutions.

This role requires a leader who can operate at both an executive and implementation level, building and leading a team, managing a complex auxiliary operation, driving cross-institutional alignment, and designing systems that support the full student lifecycle from recruitment through transfer and post-matriculation persistence. The ED should understand the operational, academic, and administrative factors that shape successful student transition across institutions.  A full prospectus outlining the expectations can be reviewed here: tiny.utk.edu/v4MrA

Areas of Accountability and Oversight

Strategic Leadership, Program Oversight and Governance

The Executive Director will provide comprehensive leadership, guiding Rocky Top Gateway’s development as an auxiliary, revenue-supported operation that expands access, strengthens student transition, and improves retention and long-term academic success. The incumbent will serve as the primary point of contact for governance under the RTG Consortium Agreement, oversee complex regulatory and compliance responsibilities while leading strategic planning, budget forecasting, staffing, and operational infrastructure to ensure responsible stewardship of funds aligned with university priorities and student success outcomes. The ED directs day-to-day program operations to maintain strong systems, processes, and cross-institutional support for students, and will continuously refine the program’s mission, vision, and key performance indicators to position Rocky Top Gateway as a high-impact, scalable model for access and transition.

Institutional Leadership, Advocacy & External Engagement 

The Executive Director will serve as the primary institutional advocate and spokesperson for Rocky Top Gateway, representing the program to senior leadership, campus partners, prospective students and families, and external stakeholders. The position is expected to build and sustain strong partnerships with Deans, academic leaders, and key administrative units at both UTK and the community college partner to ensure shared alignment on academic pathways, student support structures, and program expectations. The ED serves as a member of the Division of Student Success leadership team and is expected to contribute to the divisional strategy and stay informed on emerging trends and best practices in student success, transfer pathways, and access-centered initiatives.

Organizational Leadership & Team Development 

The Executive Director will provide overall leadership for a growing Rocky Top Gateway team and lead strategic planning that supports sustainable organizational growth. The ED will shape the development, structure, and ongoing evolution of the RTG team by aligning staffing models, role design, and operational workflows with program scale and student needs. The position is responsible for guiding and holding staff accountable for delivering innovative, high-impact, student-centered programming and services with consistent quality, clear performance expectations, and measurable outcomes. As the program expands, the ED will support the onboarding and development of new functional areas by integrating new staff, refining responsibilities, and strengthening partnerships to ensure cohesive operations and continued program effectiveness. 

Cross-Institutional Partnership & Stakeholder Alignment 

The Executive Director serves as the executive liaison between UT Knoxville and the community college partner, ensuring consistent alignment across academic policies, student services, enrollment processes, and shared support structures that impact Rocky Top Gateway students. The ED will coordinate and lead a broad network of UTK and partner-institution staff who contribute to the program, building cohesion and accountability through influence and relationship management rather than direct supervisory authority. The position is responsible for facilitating cross-unit collaboration among Academic Affairs, Enrollment Management, Financial Aid, Student Life, Student Success, and advising communities to deliver seamless, integrated student experience across both institutions. Convening stakeholders on a regular basis to surface and resolve challenges, align priorities, clarify responsibilities, and ensure the program operates effectively and efficiently across institutional boundaries is a priority.

Financial Stewardship, Data Strategy & Accountability 

The Executive Director will provide executive oversight of Rocky Top Gateway as an auxiliary-funded operation by ensuring responsible fiscal management, regulatory compliance, and strategic alignment of resources with program priorities. In partnership with the Division of Student Success CFO, the ED will manage and execute cross-institutional financial processes. The ED will lead the development and ongoing governance of a comprehensive data and assessment strategy that tracks student outcomes from entry through matriculation and beyond, ensuring consistent collection, analysis, and reporting of key performance indicators. The ED will oversee the production of reporting mechanisms that translate data into actionable insights, demonstrate program impact, and ensure alignment with institutional and applicable national standards while contributing to broader university accountability and data initiatives.

Required Education Master's degree in Higher Education Administration, Business Administration (MBA), Public Administration, Organizational Leadership, Student Affairs, or a related field.

Required Experience

• Minimum of seven years of progressively responsible leadership experience within higher education, including operations and/or program management, with demonstrated ability to lead complex initiatives and drive measurable outcomes.
• Experience building and leading teams, managing budgets, and overseeing operational systems and processes in a complex or multi-stakeholder environment.
• Experience cultivating and leveraging relationships across institutional or organizational boundaries, including influencing outcomes and driving alignment through partnership and collaboration.
• Experience leading cross-institutional or multi-partner initiatives, including navigating differing governance structures, policies, and organizational cultures.

Required Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Ability to design, launch, and lead complex operational programs, including building scalable infrastructure, systems, and processes, while translating strategic vision into actionable goals and sustainable organizational structures.
• Ability to build, lead, and develop high-performing teams, and to cultivate and leverage relationships across organizational boundaries — influencing decisions and driving alignment through trust, credibility, and partnership.
• Knowledge of revenue-supported or auxiliary business models, with the ability to align financial strategy with operational priorities and exercise sound judgment while managing competing demands with significant autonomy.
• Knowledge of student success principles, retention strategies, or transfer student experiences, with the ability to use data to assess program effectiveness and translate evidence into strategic decisions and continuous improvement.

Preferred Education Doctoral degree (Ed.D., Ph.D., or equivalent terminal degree) in a related field.

Preferred Experience

• Experience in a director-level or comparable leadership role with responsibility for staff supervision, budget management, and program or operational oversight, preferably in a complex or multi-stakeholder environment.
• Experience launching or building a new program, organization, or operational unit from the ground up, including designing infrastructure, hiring teams, and establishing processes.
• Experience leading or working with bridge, transfer, access, or pathway programs, or managing operations across multiple institutions or organizational partners.
• Experience developing and using data, assessment, and reporting strategies to evaluate program effectiveness and inform strategic decision-making.

Preferred Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Knowledge of best practices in bridge programs, transfer pathways, dual-enrollment models, or access-focused initiatives, including the academic, regulatory, and administrative landscape of higher education.
• Skill in designing and managing operational workflows and cross-functional processes in complex, multi-stakeholder organizations.
• Ability to lead organizational change and build culture in a start-up or early-stage operational environment, and to represent a program effectively to external audiences and stakeholders.
• Skill in communicating strategically with senior leadership, campus partners, and external stakeholders, including the ability to translate complex operational and programmatic information into clear, compelling narratives.

The anticipated start date for this position is September 1^st, 2026.

The anticipated annual salary range is $120-130k.

To express interest, please submit an application and include a letter of interest and CV/resume. To be assured of full consideration, completed applications with all requested materials should be submitted on or before Sunday, July 12^th, 2026. For confidential inquires or nominations, please contact Brooke M. Swart, Executive Search Manager at bswart@utk.edu.