University Partnership Development Associate

Job description

University Partnership Development Associate Location Open to Remote in ET or CT Locations ONLY About Us Clasp is a mission-driven, venture-backed startup transforming access to education and career pathways—starting with the healthcare workforce. By enabling employers to invest in future talent where it matters most—easing overwhelming student debt—our platform creates lasting bonds between employers and employees. We believe that when employers have a stake in the cost of education, we can create a more sustainable, equitable, and skilled workforce. Fresh off our Series B, we’re entering our next phase of growth. Clasp is a Forbes Fintech 50 company, an SHRM portfolio company, and has been named by Business Insider as one of the “Top 14 Healthcare Startups to Watch in 2026” and one of the “43 Startups to Bet Your Career On in 2025.” We’re not just building a fintech product—we’re driving economic mobility. If you’re excited to build, grow, and make a real impact, join us. What We Need The Business Development Rep at Clasp is responsible for building relationships with Universities to develop deep partnerships and build awareness for Clasp. You'll build and manage a portfolio of school and program partnerships — engaging program directors, career services contacts, and financial aid offices to secure active, ongoing communication of Clasp opportunities to their students. This is a true high-volume sales job: 60% of time to be spent on cold outreach, and 40% on building/developing/nurturing existing relationships – with clear weekly and quarterly targets. You'll spend most of your time on the phone and in virtual meetings with school contacts, managing a pipeline of partner institutions from first outreach through active distribution. The role is also up to 40% travel - with the expectation that you’ll go visit schools in person to meet with administrators and students, as well as attend career fairs. There is also a requirement to travel to full company meet ups 3x per year. What You’ll Do - Conduct one-on-one calls with school administrators, program directors, and career services contacts per week - Execute daily outbound outreach to schools and programs (calls, email sequences, follow-ups) to build new distribution partnerships, resulting in a targeted number of new applicants sourced per week - Create plans with schools to share Clasp opportunities with their students and follow through to confirmed distribution - Execute campus visits, career fairs and virtual lunch & learns - Secure testimonials per quarter from satisfied partner institutions - Explore deep, creative partnerships with schools to build a strong foundation for Clasp pathways - Maintain accurate records of all school and student interactions in CRM, tracking commitment status and distribution evidence - Partner with Marketing to develop role-based assets (landing pages, co-branded materials, social graphics) that improve school distribution and student conversion - Report on outreach activity, pipeline health, and application volume on a regular basis What You’ll Need - Scrappy, resilient, positive attitude - 2–3+ years of experience in outreach, business development, partnerships, or higher-ed engagement - Comfort with high-volume outreach and structured follow-up (calling + sequencing) - Excellent verbal and written communication skills, including storytelling and persuasion / sales skills - Strong relationship-building skills with school administrators, program directors, and career services contacts - Organized and data-fluent: able to use CRM dashboards to prioritize work, track outcomes, and report clearly - Familiarity with HubSpot or similar CRM - Experience partnering with marketing teams on conversion-driving assets and messaging What We Give In Return - Competitive cash and equity compensation - Health benefits (health, dental, & vision), 401k - Commuter benefits - Flexible PTO policy - Opportunities to grow and perform in a fast-paced environment alongside a stellar team. Salary The salary range for this position is competitive and will be commensurate with the candidate's experience, qualifications, and industry knowledge, ranging between $75,000 to $85,000 annually + incentive compensation. In addition to the base salary, we offer an attractive equity component as part of our compensation package, providing an opportunity for eligible employees to share in the success and growth of our company. We are committed to offering competitive compensation and benefits packages to attract and retain top talent. Closing If you are a highly driven individual with a passion for technology, and you thrive in a dynamic and fast-paced environment, we want to hear from you! Join us in revolutionizing the workforce solution industry and making a meaningful impact on businesses worldwide. Apply now to be a part of our growing team! We are committed to creating a diverse and inclusive workplace where all employees feel valued, respected, and empowered to contribute their unique perspectives and talents. Clasp is an equal opportunity employer and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any kind. We embrace diversity and are dedicated to providing equal employment opportunities to all individuals regardless of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law.