Why the Partnership
When you join the Greater Houston Partnership, you get the opportunity to work with an organization helping guide the future of the Houston region. Our team of professionals work across multiple disciplines, including: Economic Development (Regional and International), Executive, Finance & Accounting, Marketing & Communications, Member Engagement, Public Policy, Regional Workforce Development, Research, Resources, and the Center for Houston’s Future.

The Greater Houston Partnership works to make Houston one of the best places to live, work and build a business. As the economic development organization for the region, the Partnership champions growth across 12 counties by bringing together business and civic-minded leaders who are dedicated to the area’s long-term success. Representing more than 900 member organizations and approximately one-fifth of the region’s workforce, the Partnership is the place companies come together to make an impact.

We look forward to telling you more about the organization and helping determine if a career with the Partnership is right for you!

Today, We Are Looking For

The Director, Strategic Education Partnerships, will establish, manage, and grow strategic relationships with education, community, and nonprofit organizations in the Houston area to plan, pilot, and execute initiatives of the Greater Houston Partnership, particularly focused on its Talent & Economic Mobility strategic initiative.

Most post-secondary institutions and many of the K-12 ISDs and major nonprofit organizations in Houston involved in workforce and economic mobility are already members of the UpSkill Houston Steering Committee, a collective table between employers, education, and nonprofit organizations.  However, to execute the components of the new Talent & Economic Mobility initiative, the Director will deepen and reengage existing relationships, add new ones, and directly work with members to strategize, plan, and execute new programs.  

The key expected outcomes of the Talent and Economic Mobility initiative are to:

• Support regional efforts to build a skilled, diverse workforce aligned with industry demand.
•  Enable access to career pathways and employment opportunities that drive upward mobility to the economic mainstream.
• Connect systems that empower learners, educational institutions, and employers to provide seamless transitions to workforce pathways. 

The ultimate goal is to integrate education and workforce development in a way that fosters economic mobility for every student and worker while supplying Houston businesses with the talent they need to grow and thrive.

The Director will work closely with the SVP, Regional Workforce, as well as the Sr. Director of Technical Workforce Solutions to collaborate with leaders from K–12 education, community colleges, universities, nonprofits, government agencies, and employers. Together, they will envision the components that exist already but need to be scaled or optimized, as well as needed new components needed to achieve the vision.

Primary Duties and Responsibilities
The following responsibilities are essential to job performance: ​​​​​​

• Apply both a strategic mindset and a hands-on mindset to understand the problem at hand and develop feasible solutions.
• Build, manage, and maintain strong relationships with a diverse set of stakeholders, including education, government, nonprofit and community leaders.
• As part of an agile product development team, actively manage pilots and implementation plans in education systems, obtaining real-time feedback
• Meet defined targets by monitoring performance and making adjustments as needed.
• Communicate project progress to all relevant stakeholders.
• Contribute to the overall goals of the Regional Workforce Division, including revenue generation.
• Other duties as assigned.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities
The following knowledge, skills, and abilities are desirable for job success:

• Proven experience in relationship management, particularly within education, government, or non-profit segments.
• An innovative and entrepreneurial mindset with a track record of success.
• Demonstrated ability to understand business strategy and lead the development of corresponding solutions.
• Ability to navigate complex problems and find the best solutions among multiple options.
• Skilled in developing and executing strategies that positively impact the regional community.
• Strong project management skills with a focus on achieving results.
• Holds self-accountable for both successes and challenges.
• Ability to align relationships with short- and long-term goals.
• Exceptional oral and written communication skills, with the ability to educate, persuade, and leverage relationships effectively.
• Ability to work collaboratively in a team environment.
• Flexibility to travel domestically and work overtime as necessary.

Behavioral Competencies

The following behavioral competencies are essential for job success:

• Entrepreneurial Mindset: Ability to think creatively and independently, driving projects forward while managing multiple stakeholders.
• Planning & Organization: Strong organizational skills with the ability to understand high-level strategies and execute detailed plans using project management techniques.
• Problem Solving: Skilled at gathering and analyzing information, developing alternative solutions, and working well in group problem-solving situations.
• Collaboration: Builds relationships internally and externally, working with others to achieve common goals, demonstrating respect, and forming effective teams.
• Business Savvy: Demonstrates subject-matter expertise with confidence and professionalism, consistently delivering high-level results.
• High energy: Can be depended on to be a valuable contributor in a small, highly-driven, and highly-energized team driven by a vision that can truly transform a generation of Houstonians.

Education Requirements

While a bachelor’s degree is a plus, demonstrated experience, certifications, and relevant credentials will be given equal consideration.

Required Experience

At least 7 years of experience in relationship and/or project management, particularly in the education, non-profit, and economic development sectors.  

Physical Requirements

• Good vision and hearing acuity (with adaptive aids if necessary).
• Manual dexterity and skillful use of computer keyboard.
• Physical exertion includes bending, pushing, standing, and walking.  Must be able to move or lift approximately 25 pounds on occasion.

Mental and Aptitude Requirements

• Job requires the ability to hear, see, and talk; analytical, conceptual, problem-solving, planning and decision-making skills.

Safety Requirements
Adhere to office safety policies.

Note: The statements herein are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by employees assigned to this classification.  They should not be construed as an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties, and skills required of personnel so classified.

The Greater Houston Partnership is an Equal Opportunity Employer.