Hiring Campus Director in Baltimore

Cortiva Institute is a leading national network of post-secondary professional education institutions dedicated to training qualified healthcare, wellness and personal services professionals across the United States. Operating 20 campuses nationwide since 1999, Cortiva has a national graduate placement rate of 87%, with its Baltimore/Linthicum Heights campus serving over 600 students annually across programs in massage therapy, esthetics, certified nursing assistant training and continuing professional education. The campus is located in a modern 12,000-square-foot facility in Linthicum Heights, 15 minutes from downtown Baltimore, equipped with state-of-the-art training labs and collaborative learning areas. We are currently seeking an experienced and strategic Campus Director to lead this high-performing campus and drive its next phase of growth and impact in the Baltimore region. This senior leadership position reports directly to the Regional Vice President of Operations for the East Coast, and serves as the primary point of contact for students, staff, local partners, regulatory bodies and national leadership. The ideal candidate has a proven track record of driving student success, operational efficiency and campus growth in a vocational education setting.

Your core responsibilities will include, but are not limited to:
1. Oversee all daily campus operations, including course scheduling, resource allocation and facility maintenance, to deliver a seamless student experience and achieve a 90%+ student satisfaction score on semi-annual surveys.
2. Manage the campus annual $2.8M operating budget, optimizing expenditure, developing new revenue streams through continuing education and employer partnerships, and meeting annual revenue targets set by national headquarters each fiscal year.
3. Lead and develop a 25-person cross-functional team of program directors, academic advisors, administrative staff and instructors, implementing performance reviews, professional development plans and recognition programs to maintain annual staff turnover below 12%.
4. Ensure full compliance with federal and state education regulations including Title IX, FERPA, Maryland State Education Commission standards and Title IV financial aid rules, leading annual compliance audits with zero major non-conformities.
5. Design and implement student retention strategies to achieve a 75% year-over-year retention rate, including early alert systems for at-risk students, personalized support and partnerships with local mental health and academic services.
6. Oversee all campus academic programs (massage therapy, esthetics, certified nursing assistant, continuing education), ensuring content is updated to match local labor market needs, instructors meet qualification standards, and graduate placement reaches 88% within 6 months of program completion.
7. Build strategic partnerships with local hospitals, spas, wellness centers and nursing homes to secure student internships, offer corporate training for employees and create student funding opportunities, targeting 15+ new active partnerships per year.
8. Represent Cortiva at local education fairs, high school outreach events and industry conferences to raise brand awareness and attract new students, organizing at least 10 outreach events annually.

The campus team operates in a collaborative, inclusive culture focused on student success and community impact. You will have significant autonomy to adapt program offerings and operational processes to meet the specific needs of the Baltimore region, while receiving consistent support from the national team in the form of pedagogical resources, leadership training and strategic guidance. The role requires regular on-site presence, with occasional travel to regional meetings and partner sites.

To qualify for this role, you must meet the following requirements:
- 7+ years of leadership experience in higher education, vocational education or a related field, including at least 3 years managing a campus or educational institution.
- In-depth knowledge of US higher education regulations, including FERPA, Title IX, Maryland state accreditation standards and Title IV financial aid requirements.
- Proven track record of managing budgets exceeding $2M, leading 20+ person cross-functional teams, and developing successful local employer partnerships.
- Excellent communication skills, with the ability to engage diverse stakeholders including students, staff, regulatory bodies, employers and community leaders.
- Proficiency with higher education tools including Ellucian Banner (SIS), Canvas/Moodle (LMS), Asana/Trello (project management) and QuickBooks Online.
- A strong commitment to equity, inclusion and access to professional training for all demographics, including low-income students, veterans and career changers.
- Valid US driver’s license and access to a personal vehicle for local travel.

Key technical skills required for the role include: Ellucian Banner, Canvas LMS, Asana, Microsoft Office 365, QuickBooks Online, Title IX compliance management tools, local labor market analysis platforms, and FERPA compliance frameworks.

This permanent full-time role offers a competitive annual salary of $115,000 to $145,000, dependent on experience and qualifications. The full benefits package includes:
- Health, dental and vision insurance with 80% of premium costs covered for you and your family
- 20 days of paid time off annually, plus 10 days of paid sick leave
- 401(k) plan with 4% employer matching contributions
- $5,000 annual professional development stipend for certifications and training
- Preferential access to Cortiva continuing education programs for you and your family
- Flexible administrative work arrangements outside core campus hours as needed

This role offers clear career advancement pathways within Cortiva’s national network, including opportunities to move into regional operations leadership, national academic program director roles, or support the launch of new campuses in underserved markets. You will also have access to exclusive leadership development programs, peer networking with 19 other campus directors across the country, and opportunities to contribute to national strategic projects expanding access to vocational education.

The recruitment process follows these steps:
1. Application submission: Candidates are invited to share their application, including a detailed CV and a cover letter outlining their relevant campus leadership experience and measurable professional achievements, to the email address [email protected] by October 31, 2024. All applications are reviewed within 5 business days of receipt.
2. First-round interview: 45-minute virtual interview with the East Coast Regional Vice President of Operations to assess your strategic and operational expertise.
3. Second-round interview: 60-minute on-site interview with the Baltimore campus leadership team to evaluate your fit with the team and your approach to the campus’s current challenges.
4. Final interview: 30-minute interview with Cortiva’s Chief Executive Officer to confirm alignment with the company’s national strategic vision.
Candidates are notified of their status within 10 business days after each stage. The preferred start date is no later than December 2, 2024.