DIRECTOR, HIGHER EDUCATION SECTOR FINANCE - NEW BUSINESS & RETENTION (REMOTE)

Overview

This remote role is responsible for shaping the Higher Education Sector’s growth and client retention strategy through financial leadership. The Director, Higher Education Sector Finance - New Business & Retention leads the financial strategy and execution of new business and client retention offers across the Higher Education Sector, ensuring offers are competitive, strategically structured, client-focused, and aligned with long-term financial objectives.

Responsibilities

• Lead offer-level financial strategy for high-value and complex Higher Education new business and retention opportunities, shaping pricing, investment structures, contract terms, and financial positioning.
• Partner with sector, sales, retention, and operations leadership to define offer strategy, balancing competitiveness, client value, profitability, and risk across the opportunity pipeline.
• Establish and recommend pricing strategies, guarantee structures, capital investment recommendations, and financial frameworks for new and retention offers.
• Evaluate offer economics, margins, cash flow, and return profiles to ensure opportunities meet internal performance thresholds and strategic objectives.
• Provide financial oversight of labor models, operating assumptions, enrollment projections, participation rates, and meal plan economics to ensure alignment with operational realities, client commitments, and financial targets.
• Lead financial risk assessment and mitigation strategies, including scenario modeling and sensitivity analysis for key new business and retention variables.
• Oversee development and validation of financial models and proformas for new business and retention offers, ensuring accuracy, consistency, and alignment with strategic objectives.
• Review and interpret RFP and renewal requirements, contract terms, client financials, and campus operating environments to identify risks, opportunities, and structural considerations.
• Support contract negotiations by providing financial guidance on pricing, guarantees, investments, and commercial terms for new and retained partnerships.
• Present financial strategies, offer structures, investment recommendations, and key risks to senior leadership during proposal, retention, and approval reviews.
• Evaluate auxiliary revenue opportunities, capital projects, and long-term investment strategies associated with prospective and existing client partnerships.
• Influence cross-functional stakeholders and senior leaders to drive sound financial decisions, consistent offer practices, and alignment on new business and retention strategies.
• Drive standardization and continuous improvement of financial modeling tools, benchmarking methodologies, and new business and retention offer processes.
• Collaborate with operations, culinary, marketing, finance, sales, retention, and sector leadership to align financial strategy with service delivery and client expectations.
• Provide ongoing insight into market trends, enrollment dynamics, competitive positioning, client priorities, and benchmarking data to inform new business and retention strategy.
• Serve as a key financial advisor to Higher Education leadership, influencing strategic decisions across the new business and retention pipeline.
• Partner with executive leadership to support capital allocation decisions, investment prioritization, and long-term growth initiatives.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Finance, Accounting, Business, or related field required.
• 7-10+ years of progressive finance experience, with exposure to pricing, deal modeling, new business development, client retention, or contract renewals.
• Experience in Higher Education, foodservice, hospitality, outsourcing, or support services industries strongly preferred.
• Proven ability to influence senior leadership and cross-functional stakeholders; demonstrated ability to build alignment and drive decisions without direct authority.
• Advanced proficiency in Excel and financial modeling.
• Excellent communication and presentation skills, with ability to convey complex financial concepts clearly.
• Willingness to travel up to 15-20% of the time.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience providing financial leadership for new business and retention offers in Higher Education.

Compensation & Benefits

• Salary: $150,000 - $180,000
• Bonus eligible
• Medical
• Dental
• Vision
• Life Insurance/AD
• Disability Insurance
• Retirement Plan
• Paid Time Off
• Holiday Time Off (varies by site/state)
• Associate Shopping Program
• Health and Wellness Programs
• Discount Marketplace
• Identity Theft Protection
• Pet Insurance
• Commuter Benefits
• Employee Assistance Program
• Flexible Spending Accounts (FSAs)
• Paid Parental Leave
• Personal Leave
• Paid and/or unpaid time off benefits may be available in accordance with applicable federal, state, and local laws.

Location

Remote (with travel up to 15-20% of the time).