Partner Operations Manager

Risepoint is an education technology company that provides world-class support and trusted expertise to more than 100 universities and colleges. We primarily work with regional universities, helping them develop and grow their high-ROI, workforce-focused online degree programs in critical areas such as nursing, teaching, business, and public service. Risepoint is dedicated to increasing access to affordable education so that more students, especially working adults, can improve their careers and meet employer and community needs.

The Partner Operations Manager (OM) manages a portfolio of university partners, overseeing the operational success of online program delivery and the student lifecycle. Acting as the day-to-day liaison between the internal teams at Risepoint and the partner, you will ensure that program launches, ongoing operations, and partner interactions are handled with efficiency, consistency, and care.

Day In a Life:

The essential functions of this role are as follows:

This role requires a combination of relationship management, operational expertise, process optimization skills, and strategic thinking—rooted in our mission to drive transformation, remove obstacles, and execute with operational precision. The OM empowers both internal teams and partners through collaborative problem-solving and data-informed decision-making to accelerate student and partner success.

Partner Relationship & Account Management

• Serve as the primary operational contact for assigned university partners, building trusted relationships with key stakeholders.
• Manage the execution of operational plans for each partner, ensuring program launches and ongoing processes run smoothly.
• Proactively identify and resolve operational challenges, escalating complex issues to the Senior Manager as needed.
• Maintain a deep understanding of partner goals, priorities, and timelines to ensure alignment in execution.
• Partner with universities to identify and remove operational barriers, fostering an environment where partners can focus on strategic priorities and student success.

Operational Excellence & Process Improvement 

• Lead change management efforts with partners by clearly communicating proposed operational improvements, guiding adoption, and ensuring smooth, successful implementation across processes, systems, or program structures.
• Ensure operational best practices are applied consistently across partnerships.
• Analyze trends and themes in partner escalations to address root causes, prevent recurrence, and proactively communicate solutions to partners.
• Identify opportunities to enhance efficiency, reduce friction, and improve the student journey from inquiry through graduation.
• Manage accurate and timely data integration and reporting for assigned partners, ensuring information is actionable, drives strategic insights, and supports transformation in the student and partner experience.

Cross-Functional Collaboration

• Coordinate closely with enrollment, marketing, technology, and other internal teams to align on partner needs and deliverables.
• Ensure that partner-facing requests and initiatives are well thought through, operationally feasible, and communicated with the partner’s perspective in mind.
• Contribute to resource planning and prioritization discussions to support partner satisfaction and growth.

Communication & Reporting

• Provide timely updates on partner status, program changes, and operational metrics to stakeholders.
• Maintain organized documentation of processes, partner updates, and key decisions.
• Share insights and trends with the Senior Manager to inform strategic planning and continuous improvement initiatives.

What You’ll Need for Success:

You must meet the following requirements to be considered for employment:

Education

• Bachelor’s degree in Business, Marketing/Communications, or related field required.

Experience

• 5+ years of experience in operations management, account management, or project/program management—higher education experience strongly preferred.
• Demonstrated ability to manage multiple complex projects in a fast-paced environment.
• Proven success in building and maintaining strong client relationships.

Skills & Abilities

• Strong communication and presentation skills, with the ability to adapt messages for different audiences.
• Functional knowledge of higher education operations and familiarity with student information systems (SIS).
• Experience with CRM tools and understanding of call center or enrollment operations a plus.
• Change management aptitude with the ability to guide teams and partners through process transitions.
• Highly organized, detail-oriented, and capable of balancing competing priorities.
• Collaborative mindset with the ability to work across functions and levels.

Travel:

• Required for Quarterly In-Person Leadership Meetings; ability to travel to partner-sites (up to 25%).

Risepoint is an equal-opportunity employer and supports a diverse and inclusive workforce.