University Relations Representative

Prodigy Finance - who are we?

Founded in 2007, Prodigy Finance is an international student lender that has helped over 43,000+ international master's students attend the world’s top universities. To date, Prodigy has disbursed over $2.3 billion in funding to students from more than 150 countries.

Prodigy Finance is fueled by impact investors and other privately qualified entities who invest in tomorrow's leaders while earning a financial and social return. Prodigy’s borderless lending model enables students to apply for a loan based on their future earning potential and not just their current circumstances and credit history.

Purpose of the Role

The University Relations Representative plays a critical role in supporting Prodigy Finance’s continued global expansion, with a primary focus on scaling NovaGrad, the company’s new product offering. The role is responsible for building, managing, and expanding university partnerships to drive NovaGrad adoption across supported institutions, while also strengthening engagement with Prodigy Finance’s core lending products.

Through direct engagement with enrollment, admissions, and partnership teams at universities, the role prioritizes increasing the number and depth of NovaGrad partnerships, expanding eligible programs and courses, and embedding Prodigy Finance solutions into university ecosystems. As partnerships mature, the role also supports sustainable growth in loan application volume by enabling universities to effectively promote Prodigy Finance offerings to prospective and enrolled students.

The University Relations Representative acts as a strategic connector between universities and internal teams, translating partner needs and market insights into actionable input for product development, go-to-market strategy, and future expansion initiatives.

Key Accountabilities and Associated Activities

University Partnership & Relationship Management

Build, manage, and grow long-term relationships with universities to support the adoption and expansion of Prodigy Finance and NovaGrad.

Own and manage a portfolio of NovaGrad university partners, serving as the primary institutional point of contact.

Expand eligible programs and courses by collaborating with universities to identify aligned academic offerings.

Support universities in integrating NovaGrad into their enrollment and admissions workflows.

NovaGrad Growth & Enablement

Drive awareness and understanding of NovaGrad among university stakeholders through targeted communication and enablement materials.

Develop and execute partnership-led strategies to increase NovaGrad adoption across supported institutions.

Plan and deliver informational webinars and virtual sessions for university teams and prospective students focused on NovaGrad.

Partner closely with internal product, marketing, and operations teams to support NovaGrad launches, enhancements, and scaling efforts.

Institutional Engagement & Communication

Develop and execute communication strategies to engage enrollment and admissions professionals at partner universities.

Equip university partners with consistent messaging, content, and resources to promote NovaGrad and Prodigy Finance offerings.

Manage ongoing institutional communications to ensure alignment on product updates, eligibility criteria, and positioning.

Insights & Strategy Contribution

Gather qualitative and quantitative insights from university partners to inform product development, policy refinement, and expansion strategy.

Monitor partnership performance and engagement metrics, identifying opportunities to deepen relationships and improve outcomes.

Collaborate cross-functionally to refine partnership models and strengthen institutional engagement strategies.

Qualifications Required

Undergraduate degree from an accredited university, preferably in a business-related or relevant field.

Experience Required

5+ years of experience in higher education partnerships, business development, or relationship management.

Strong familiarity with the higher education landscape, including academic calendars and enrollment cycles.

Demonstrated experience building and managing institutional partnerships.

Experience supporting product launches or scaling new initiatives in a partnership-driven environment.

Ability to work effectively across multiple time zones and manage a diverse portfolio of institutional partners.

Knowledge, Technical Competency, and Skills

Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to influence and engage institutional stakeholders.

Strong facilitation and presentation skills for virtual, partner-facing engagements.

Strategic relationship management and negotiation capabilities.

Data literacy, with the ability to analyze partnership performance and translate insights into action.

Content development skills, including partner toolkits, messaging guides, and webinar materials.

Familiarity with digital engagement strategies such as email marketing, webinars, and partner enablement platforms.

Proficiency in CRM systems and analytics tools to manage, track, and optimize institutional relationships.

Behavioural Competencies

Growth-Oriented: Motivated by scaling impact through new products and institutional partnerships.

Partner-Centric: Builds trusted, long-term relationships that deliver mutual value.

Curious & Adaptable: Thrives in evolving environments and proactively shapes new partnership models.

Strategic & Independent: Operates autonomously while aligning closely with company objectives.

Clear Communicator: Articulates complex products and strategies clearly to diverse external stakeholders.

Collaborative Team Player: Works cross-functionally to deliver cohesive, partner-first outcomes.

Flexible & Agile: Adapts to changing priorities and supports partners across geographies and time zones.

Performance Drivers

Growth in the number and quality of active NovaGrad university partnerships.

Successful onboarding and enablement of universities adopting and promoting NovaGrad.

Expansion of eligible programs and courses through institutional collaboration.

Increased engagement, advocacy, and retention among partner universities.

Contribution to sustainable growth in loan application volume as NovaGrad partnerships mature.

Join Prodigy Finance and play a pivotal role in expanding access to international education by strengthening our relationships within higher education and driving impactful engagement strategies.