Director of Market Innovation at NursingABC, Inc – Beaver Falls, Pennsylvania

Job Title: Director of Market Innovation

Date: 01/08/2026

Reports to: President

Department: Program and Institutional Engagement

Status: Exempt - Professionals

General Summary:

The mission of Portage Learning is to transform lives and communities by providing learning opportunities for all who aspire to thrive. We do this not only through superior online instruction, but with a deep commitment to expanding access to education. We believe service is the thread that binds our community and our team together. To that end, we choose to …

• Believe the best in our employees
• Invest in our people
• Collaborate with humility, respect, and appreciation
• Cultivate curiosity and encourage creativity.

Help us be a part of one million stories. Build what’s next.

At Portage, we’ve already empowered thousands of students with high-quality, affordable online college-level courses. But that’s just the beginning. Our bold goal is to impact one million stories over the next decade, and to do that, we need to break into new markets, serve new audiences, and deliver new kinds of educational experiences.

We’re looking for a mission-driven intrapreneur—a builder, not a box-checker—to lead the charge into what’s next.

This isn’t just a job—it’s a runway.

As Director of Market Development & Innovation, you’ll have the freedom and responsibility to research, design, pilot, and scale new market opportunities. Whether it’s expanding to adult learners, launching new courses for specific student audiences, or unlocking regional growth through new partnerships, you’ll take ideas from whiteboard to real-world impact.

We have:

• A track record of delivering high-quality, online college-level learning
• Strong academic credibility and in-house instructional design
• A tech platform that’s ready to scale
• Self-funding and operational flexibility
• Leadership who are invested in bold, mission-aligned innovation
• A culture that values experimentation, agility, and impact

You’ll bring:

• A builder’s mindset
• A track record of launching and scaling new products or services
• The ability to navigate ambiguity and lead through influence, not just authority
• A heart for learners and a head for market strategy

This role is for someone who wants to build something that matters.

If you're looking to create—not just manage —we want to hear from you.

Key Responsibilities (Essential Functions):

Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential function(s).

Discover & Prioritize New Markets

• Conduct research to identify high-potential learner segments (e.g., adult learners, corporate upskilling, international partnerships)
• Evaluate market gaps that could be met with our current course portfolio—or inspire new course development
• Analyze enrollment trends, workforce data, and competitor activity to guide decisions
• Build business cases with clear ROI, impact potential, and strategic alignment

Pilot & Launch New Initiatives

• Develop and test new program models, partnerships, or distribution channels
• Act as the founding GM of new initiatives—launch fast, learn fast
• Lead cross-functional teams through pilot phases
• Determine when and how to integrate successful pilots into our core operations or spin off as new divisions

Build Strategic Relationships

• Forge partnerships with colleges, employers, learning platforms, and nonprofits
• Collaborate with academics, tech, marketing, and institutional engagement teams to align strategy and execution
• Represent Portage externally as a thought leader and innovator

Measure, Report & Improve

• Set and track KPIs: learner impact, revenue, partner growth, ROI
• Report on progress and learnings to executive leadership and board stakeholders
• Use data to refine, pivot, and optimize initiatives

Knowledge/Skills Required:

• A collaborative operator who builds momentum across diverse teams
• Strong analytical chops and comfort with ambiguity
• Deep empathy for learners and passion for mission-driven impact
• Experience in adult or non-traditional education markets
• Familiarity with LMS platforms, course design, or learning analytics
• Executes innovative strategies across multiple initiatives, pivoting quickly when needed.
• Knowledge of higher ed accreditation, quality assurance, or compliance

Qualifications (Education Requirements/Experience):

• Bachelor's Degree in Marketing, Entrepreneurship or related field required.
• 8+ years in business development, innovation, strategy, or product leadership required.
• Demonstrated ability to launch new programs, products, or services—ideally in edtech, higher ed, or adult learning
• Successful completion of a background check and current and/or ability to obtain the following clearances: Child Abuse, State Police, and FBI Fingerprinting.
• Demonstrated agreement with and vision for the stated mission, vision, philosophy, values, and goals of Portage Learning.

Work Environment:

This job operates in a professional office environment. This role routinely uses standard office equipment such as computers, phones, photocopiers, projectors, filing cabinets and fax machines.

Physical Demands:

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• Regularly required to sit; talk and hear, use hands to type, file, handle or feel. The employee is frequently required to reach with hands and arms. Occasionally required to stand; walk and stoop, kneel, crouch or crawl. Visual acuity to use a keyboard, prepare and analyze data and figures; transcribing, viewing a computer terminal; extensive reading.
• May require ordinary ambulatory skills sufficient to visit other locations; or the ability to stand, walk, lift, carry and move light to medium weight. Requires good hand-eye coordination, arm, hand and finger dexterity, including ability to grasp, and visual acuity to use a keyboard, operate equipment and learn technical information.
• Light lifting is required. Exerting up to 50 pounds of force occasionally, and/or up to 10 pounds of force frequently, and/or a negligible amount of force to constantly move objects.

Position Types and Expected Hours to work:

This is a full-time position. Days and hours of work are typically Monday to Friday, 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Must be able to work from the office located in Chippewa Township, PA.

Travel:

This job requires occasional travel. Travel is primarily local during the business day, although some out-of-the-area and overnight travel may be expected.

Other Duties Disclaimer:

This is not an all-inclusive document. Additional duties, expectations, demands, etc. may be added or changed to this document on an as-needed basis in order to meet organizational goals.

Applicants must be authorized to work for ANY employer in the U.S. We are unable to sponsor or take over sponsorship of an employment Visa at this time.