Senior Director, Access Partnerships
Common App
full-time
Posted on:
Location Type: Remote
Location: Remote • Virginia • 🇺🇸 United States
Visit company websiteSalary
💰 $176,640 - $198,720 per year
Job Level
Senior
About the role
- Lead our efforts to establish, maintain, and expand partnerships with community-based actors and leaders.
- Develop and establish partnerships that leverage technology solutions to improve access to post-secondary opportunities.
- Set strategic goals and collaborate across the organization for impactful partnerships.
- Build and lead a team to ensure effective collaboration and maintenance of partnerships.
- Engage with stakeholders to ensure impactful engagements with states, CBOs, and large districts.
Requirements
- Candidates must live in the United States.
- Willing to travel to attend twice annual Common App Retreat.
- 10+ years of experience in K-12 education systems, with a strong focus on partnerships, strategy, or program implementation, preferably within or in collaboration with large school districts, state education agencies, or community-based organizations.
- 8+ years of experience as a people manager.
- Bachelor's degree in Education or relevant field; or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
- Experience with K-12 education relationship-building and/or advocacy.
- Deep understanding of the K-12 landscape, higher education, and postsecondary opportunities, including systemic priorities, operational structures, the role of data in supporting student outcomes, and how states and large districts establish partnerships.
- Familiarity with education data systems, pre-K to 16, technologies supporting student-level data integration, and approaches or issues related to student data.
- Knowledge and understanding of college access issues and current affairs.
- Demonstrated success in initiating, negotiating, and sustaining complex, strategic partnerships in the education sector.
- Proven ability to engage and influence senior-level stakeholders and decision-makers in education (e.g., superintendents, state officials, executive directors).
- Strong strategic thinking and analytical skills, with the ability to use insights from the field to inform product development and organizational direction.
- Demonstrated ability to collaborate with technical and product teams to translate field needs into scalable, roadmap-aligned solutions.
- Track record of centering equity, access, and inclusion in work with students and institutions serving those below the national median income.
- Results-oriented with mental flexibility, creativity, analytical ability, and sound judgment.
- Proficient with Microsoft Office Suite, Google Suite, Salesforce, or related software.
- Experience in change management, particularly transitioning from direct service models to scalable partnership-driven approaches.
- Experience bringing new solutions to market, especially in the K-12 space.
- Experience in a leadership role in the K-12 systems space.
- Existing network of trusted relationships in the K-12 ecosystem, including school district leaders, state agencies, and national or regional CBOs.
- Prior experience working at or with mission-driven nonprofits or education technology organizations.
- Knowledge of the Common App ecosystem or similar college access platforms and their integration into K-12 systems.
- Experience in the K-12 leadership space or in building relationships and establishing partnerships with states agencies, large school districts, and or CBOs of national scale.
- Professional experience or knowledge of K-12 and higher education state systems and organizations.
- Displays a deep understanding of technical concepts and industry trends.
- Exhibits leadership qualities by guiding and mentoring junior team members.
- Makes well-informed decisions based on experience and data analysis.
- A passion for higher education is a plus.
Benefits
- Work-Life balance
- Virtual-first office
- Paid Time Off (PTO)
- Seven company-wide holidays
- Nine floating holidays*
- Sick leave
- Monthly mental health day
- Choice of PC of MAC laptop
- May choose an external monitor, keyboard, mouse, and/or headset
- One-time office set-up stipend
- Monthly remote work stipend
- Monthly mobile stipend
- Market-based salaries
- Performance-based bonus
- 403(b) retirement plan
- 5% company contribution
- additional 5% company match
- 3-year vesting schedule
- Participation may begin immediately
- Choice of two health insurance plans
- Health Savings Account, depending on health plan selection
- Medical Flexible Savings Account, depending on health plan selection
- Vision insurance
- Dental insurance
- Insurance coverage begins on the date of hire
- Dependent Care Flexible Spending Account
- Maven virtual clinic for women’s and family health
- Company provided life and ad&d insurance
- Opportunity to purchase additional life insurance for self, spouse, and dependents
- Company provided short and long-term disability insurance
- Budgeted annual funds for professional development
- Growth opportunities within the company
- Mutual of Omaha Employee Assistance Program
- Mutual of Omaha will preparation services
- Mutual of Omaha travel assistance
- Payroll dedication pet insurance through PinPaws
- 1Password family account
Applicant Tracking System Keywords
Tip: use these terms in your resume and cover letter to boost ATS matches.
Hard skills
K-12 education systemspartnership developmentprogram implementationeducation data systemsstudent data integrationchange managementstrategic partnershipsdata analysisrelationship-buildingadvocacy
Soft skills
strategic thinkinganalytical skillscollaborationinfluencecreativitymental flexibilitysound judgmentleadershipmentoringresults-oriented