VP of University Partnerships

Human Capital Research Corporation (HCRC) is a leading provider of analytic services and strategic insights that help colleges and universities improve institutional effectiveness and student success. HCRC partners with institutions to assess market potential, inform program development, optimize pricing and financial aid, and evaluate academic and administrative performance. Our solutions are deeply data-driven and help universities make evidence-based decisions that advance access, equity, and outcomes.

As the Vice President of University Partnerships, you will be an individual contributor responsible for developing and closing new business partnerships with colleges and universities seeking HCRC's strategic research and consulting services. You will lead the full sales lifecycle, from prospecting to closing, and play a critical role in shaping our go-to-market strategy and product offerings. You will represent HCRC to senior academic leadership and will be expected to communicate complex analytic and strategic concepts with clarity and confidence.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Identify and cultivate new university partnerships aligned with HCRC's core service areas: market research, program planning, financial aid optimization, retention analytics, and institutional effectiveness. • Build a robust pipeline of opportunities through strategic outreach and relationship development with high-level university administrators (e.g., presidents, provosts, CFOs, VPs of Enrollment). • Conduct consultative sales calls, uncovering institutional challenges and aligning them with HCRC's evidence-based solutions. • Lead development of tailored proposals, scopes of work, and pricing models in collaboration with internal teams. • Deliver persuasive sales presentations and product demos to multi-stakeholder audiences. • Stay current on trends in higher education policy, finance, student success, and academic planning to inform strategic outreach. • Represent HCRC at higher education conferences and events; travel required up to 25%. • Maintain accurate records of pipeline activity in CRM and provide regular forecasting.

EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE:

• Bachelor's degree from a four-year college or university.
• Minimum 5+ years of business development experience in higher education, with a strong preference for experience selling consultative, analytics, or strategic services (as opposed to transactional or marketing-heavy OPM services).
• Proven track record of success selling to senior leadership in colleges/universities.
• Demonstrated ability to manage long and complex sales cycle.
• Must have a proven track record of hunting for prospects and closing business.
• Strong aptitude for researching and prioritizing prospects to reach goals.
• Ability to create and close end-to-end partnership opportunities by prospecting new leads, generating sales/partnership correspondences, proposals, sales calls, and completing partnerships agreements.
• High level of professional acumen in the areas of presentation, interaction, person to person networking
• Ability to create opportunities and see them through to completion.
• Exceptional communication, consultative selling, negotiation, closing skills, a proven ability to exceed sales quotas, and the ability to work in an individual selling environment, are essential.
• Demonstrated ability to work independently and from a home office while managing time well is a must. Employees need to be a high-volume producer, organized and consistent in approach. Planning for travel balanced with completing internal work assignments is required.
• Demonstrated success in referral/lead building.
• This is a remote position

Key Benefits:

• Opportunity to participate in building something important.
• Experienced management team that enjoys the work - and loves education.
• Competitive salary and commission plan
• Medical/Dental/Vision Insurance.
• 401K plan.
• Unlimited PTO policy.

Salary Range: $170-190,000 + performance-based bonus

HCRC is an equal opportunity employer.