Director of New Program Launch

Who We Are:

National Louis is a 135+ year old university that has been grounded in the values of innovation, access, excellence, and equity from its inception. As an institution, we believe in providing access to educational opportunity and that education is our greatest lever for social and economic mobility. We are a student-focused community that is committed to continuous improvement and superior student service. We believe that through education we are able to empower change and build healthy communities. Our hard-working community is based on collaboration and respect for all team members and students.

What You Will Do

National Louis University (NLU) is seeking a seasoned and strategic Director of New Program Launch to lead the university’s efforts in bringing new academic programs to market. This is a high-impact leadership role at the intersection of strategy, project management, and cross-functional collaboration.

As the Director, you will own the end-to-end launch process for new programs, overseeing everything from marketing and enrollment training to technology setup and competitive research. You will work across departments to ensure every new program is set up for strong, sustainable growth within its first year.

Essential Responsibilities

Strategic Leadership & Project Management

• Develop and execute a comprehensive launch strategy for each new program, guiding it through a structured one-year incubation period.
• Build a standardized launch framework for the university, assembling cross-departmental teams, setting objectives and timelines, and driving full accountability for results.

• Design and deliver training programs that bring consistency to enrollment teams, ensuring they can compellingly and accurately represent each new program.
• Partner with enrollment leadership to identify performance gaps and develop targeted solutions to strengthen the enrollment pipeline.

• Collaborate with marketing and academic teams to produce materials that showcase each program's unique value, including website updates, landing pages, brochures, digital ads, tuition sheets, and flyers.
• Oversee timely implementation and quality of all program collateral.

• Track and analyze engagement metrics across all departments involved in a program launch.
• Produce weekly and monthly reports that surface the insights needed to course-correct quickly and drive growth.

• Serve as the central point of contact for all new programs during the incubation phase, building strong working relationships across Enrollment, Marketing, Operations, and Academic departments.
• Establish consistent communication rhythms and streamlined processes that create an outstanding student experience from first inquiry through enrollment.

• Bachelor's Degree required
• 3+ years of project management and team leadership experience, preferably in a sales or marketing function
• At least 1 year of experience mentoring team members or providing leadership with or without direct line authority
• Minimum of 3 years of experience as a marketing generalist, with working knowledge of Google Analytics, social media native tools, and CRM platforms such as Salesforce or Pardot
• Strong analytical skills with the ability to collect, organize, visualize, and draw meaning from data
• Excellent copywriting and editing skills, with the ability to articulate program and brand narratives clearly and compellingly
• Demonstrated ability to create effective sales presentations and supporting materials

National Louis University is deeply committed to serving its community, advancing access and equity, and ensuring that all individuals are welcomed and valued. We are dedicated to fostering a culture where diversity, equity, and inclusion remain at the core of who we are. These are more than just words to us: they are truly a way of life for the NLU community. We recognize that differences in abilities, age, ethnicity, gender (identity and expression), race, religion, sexual orientation, socio-economic status, and background bring richness to our work environment. We affirm diverse perspectives, innovative contributions, and authentic presentations of self from every member within the NLU community. We believe inclusion is grounded in the actions we intentionally take each day. Our goal is to inspire and empower NLU employees and community members to cultivate an environment where we collectively focus on uplifting and advancing our institutional culture.

Compensation And Benefits

At National Louis University, we offer our employees an innovative environment to work together and inspire the ideas that will make an impact. As our external environment changes, our employees are provided the opportunities and tools needed to grow both personally and professionally to remain successful. NLU employees and dependents are offered a wide range of benefits, including but not limited to, Health Insurance benefits, Retirement benefits, Paid Time Off and Educational Opportunities. Additional information regarding full-time staff benefits can be found here .

The salary range of the grade for this position is $72,188 to $108,281 annually. Compensation decisions are dependent upon the facts and circumstances of each position and candidate. Offers are based on multiple factors permitted by law, including but not limited to: budgetary considerations, job-related knowledge/skills, experience, market considerations, tenure and standing with the university (applicable to current employees), and internal equity.

Application Instructions

Please Include The Following Along With Your Application

• Resume (Required)
• Cover Letter (Optional)
• Current NLU employees please also submit an Internal Posting Form