Program lead

Position: Program Lead, Institutional Partnerships
Position Type: Full-time, exempt
Reports to: Executive Director
Location: Chicago, IL (Hybrid Work Environment)
Start Date: December 2025

About the Partnership for College Completion (PCC)

The Partnership for College Completion (PCC) is a nonprofit organization founded in 2016 to champion policies and practices that increase college completion and eliminate degree completion disparities for low-income, first-generation, and students of color in Illinois — particularly Black and Latinx students. PCC is the only organization in Illinois dedicated to providing leadership for a systems-level approach to support college completion and eliminate institutional inequities by race and income in higher education outcomes.

PCC envisions a state where equitable opportunities to access and complete a college education lead to greater degree attainment, racial equity, and socioeconomic mobility for Illinoisans. With its vision for system-level reform and institutional change, PCC executes a three-part strategy in pursuit of its goals:

• Supporting colleges and universities directly in their institutional equity change efforts
• Advocating for effective local, state, and national policy and legislation
• Conducting and elevating data and research to increase public awareness and dialogue on higher education equity

Position Overview

The Program Lead, Institutional Partnerships is a key member of PCC’s leadership and program team, serving as the organization’s primary liaison with colleges and universities across Illinois. This role leads the design and delivery of programs that advance research-based strategies to improve college completion rates and reduce attainment gaps for students from communities marginalized by current educational and economic systems.

The ideal candidate combines deep knowledge of higher education equity with strong relationship management, program design, and organizational leadership skills. The Lead will work in close partnership with PCC’s Policy and Research teams, as well as external partners, to support institutions implementing developmental education reform and scaling corequisite education models.

This position offers a clear professional growth path within PCC. Outstanding performance will lead to advancement into a senior leadership role as PCC’s institutional partnership work expands and evolves.

Core Responsibilities

Institutional Engagement & Strategy (35%)

• Lead PCC’s engagement with colleges and universities statewide, elevating research-based strategies that drive equitable completion and reduce attainment gaps for students from marginalized communities.
• Serve as a trusted advisor and technical assistance provider to institutional leaders on equity-driven change efforts.
• Collaborate with PCC’s Policy & Research teams and external partners to monitor implementation of developmental education reform and support institutions scaling corequisite models.
• Identify opportunities to deepen partnerships, surfacing institutional insights that inform PCC’s research, policy, and advocacy agendas.
• Play a key role in PCC’s 2026 strategic planning process by contributing field-based insights and helping shape future institutional focus areas.

Program Design, Implementation & Evaluation (35%)

• Design and facilitate professional learning, communities of practice, convenings, and coaching interventions that support institutional transformation.
• Co-develop with Policy & Research team measurement frameworks to assess institutional progress and program impact.
• Document promising practices, develop case studies, and facilitate peer learning across partner institutions.
• Manage deliverables and internal compliance for grant-funded programming aligned with institutional partnership goals.

Team Leadership, Collaboration & Resource Development (20%)

• Supervise internal staff and external consultants engaged in outreach, coaching, and institutional support.
• Partner with the Executive Director, Director of Development, and other leaders to identify, pitch, and secure funding to sustain and scale institutional engagement work.
• Participate in PCC’s senior leadership team discussions, supporting cross-department alignment and integration of institutional work with policy, research, communications, and development.
• Represent PCC externally, at conferences, coalitions, and institutional networks, to raise awareness of best practices in equity and completion work.

Organizational Leadership & Culture (10%)

• Contribute to organizational planning, goal-setting, and culture building consistent with PCC’s values.
• Support board reporting and, when needed, present on institutional partnership work and outcomes.
• Model inclusive leadership and build a collaborative, data-informed, and equity-centered team culture.

Qualifications

Required:

• Bachelor’s degree (or equivalent combination of education and experience).
• At least 5 years of relevant experience in higher education, nonprofit, policy or institutional change contexts.
• Experience working directly with colleges/universities on equity, completion, or transformation.
• Demonstrated ability to design, manage, and evaluate multi-stakeholder programs.
• Strong relationship-building and communication skills, particularly with senior institutional leaders.
• Experience managing or coordinating staff, consultants, or teams.
• Data-driven mindset, with ability to translate research/policy insights into actionable institutional strategies.
• Passion for equity in higher education and alignment with PCC’s mission.
• Willingness to travel across Illinois for campus visits, workshops, and meetings.

Preferred:

• Master’s degree in education, public policy, higher education, or related field.
• Prior experience advancing corequisite or developmental education reform.
• Track record of grant writing, fundraising, or building partnerships.
• Established professional experience navigating Illinois’s higher education landscape and contributing to statewide equity and reform efforts

Growth & Advancement Potential

This position is designed as a leadership growth opportunity within PCC. The Lead of Institutional Partnerships role offers a clear pathway for professional advancement as PCC’s institutional engagement work expands. With demonstrated success in program execution, institutional collaboration, and organizational impact, the individual in this role will advance into a senior leadership role.

PCC is committed to supporting internal career growth through mentorship, performance feedback, and professional development aligned with organizational priorities. Advancement will be based on demonstrated leadership, measurable outcomes, and the evolving scope of PCC’s institutional partnership portfolio.

Compensation & Benefits

The salary range for Program Lead, Institutional Partnerships is $95,000 – $115,000 annually, commensurate with experience, along with a generous benefits plan that includes health, dental, a 403(b) plan with a generous company match (up to 5%), short- and long-term disability, holiday, vacation, and sick accrual, a flexible, hybrid work schedule, paid parental leave, access to professional and wellness opportunities, and a number of other elective and competitive benefits such as vision insurance.

Commitment to Diversity

The Partnership for College Completion is an equal opportunity employer with a commitment to building a diverse team and to engaging the skills and leadership of people of color, individuals from low-income households, LGBTQ+ persons, differently-abled people, and others that hold identities that represent the significant diversity of college students in Illinois. People from these and other historically marginalized backgrounds and communities are strongly encouraged to apply. We look forward to hearing from you!

Virtual and In-Office Workplace

PCC maintains a flexible, hybrid work environment. Staff work remotely three days per week and are expected to work in the office two days per week to support collaboration, team culture, and cross-functional coordination.

COVID-19

COVID-19 vaccination and corresponding documentation must be provided by all employees in advance of their start date.

How to Apply

To be considered for the Program Lead, Institutional Partnerships, please email your application materials as a single PDF attachment to [email protected] with the subject line: Program Lead, Institutional Partnerships.

Your application must include:

• A cover letter that outlines your interest in the role, demonstrates your experience navigating Illinois’s higher education landscape and contributing to statewide equity and reform efforts, and shares your vision for advancing institutional partnerships that strengthen PCC’s mission and impact.
• A resume detailing relevant professional experience.

Late-stage candidates will be asked to provide 2–3 professional references.PCC is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate against any employee or applicant for employment based on sex, race, color, ancestry, citizenship, ethnicity, national origin, religion, age, ability, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, marital status, pregnancy or any other characteristic protected under federal, state, or local law.

Job Type: Full-time

Pay: $95,000.00 - $115,000.00 per year

Benefits:

• 401(k)
• 401(k) matching
• Dental insurance
• Flexible schedule
• Health insurance
• Paid time off
• Tuition reimbursement
• Vision insurance

Work Location: Hybrid remote in Chicago, IL 60604