Director of Partnerships

Posted:
10/30/2024, 11:44:47 AM

Location(s):
Ohio, United States ⋅ North Carolina, United States ⋅ Hulhulé, Maldives

Experience Level(s):
Senior

Field(s):
Finance & Banking

Workplace Type:
Remote

Today, 67% of students and 82% of low-income students can’t read at grade level by the end of third grade. That’s when students are supposed to go from learning to read to reading to learn. It’s America’s number one education crisis and we know how to fix it.

Ignite Reading delivers one-to-one virtual tutoring that teaches every student the foundational skills they need to become a confident, fluent reader. We pair students who need extra support with expert reading tutors who provide daily, 15-minute, Science of Reading-based instruction that rapidly closes their decoding gaps. We focus on the foundational reading skills—phonics, phonemic awareness, and sight words—kids need to master so they can decode a sentence. Students in Ignite Reading’s program achieve over 2 weeks of reading skills growth per week of instruction, and notably all students achieve the same outstanding results including students with IEPs, multilingual learners, students of color and those receiving free or reduced-price lunch.

Ignite Reading is a mission-driven public benefit corporation. We believe we can do well for our team members and shareholders while we solve one of the nation’s biggest challenges. We believe we will be more successful with a diverse team and are seeking candidates who have lived experience related to social justice, diversity, equity, and inclusion.

Your Role (We are looking for folks who have partnerships in the following territories: WI/MN, IL/IN, NC/SC, CO/KS/MO, TN/KY, AL/MS, NV/AZ/UT, PA/NY, OH/MI)

The Director of Partnerships reports to the Chief Revenue Officer (CRO) and is responsible for identifying, engaging, and securing new district partnerships in service of our goal of teaching at least a million students a day to read. You will work with an incredible team of educators to scale Ignite Reading in your assigned region, achieving quarterly and annual growth targets in service of scaling our mission.

  • In partnership with the CRO, develop and own a strategic growth plan for your regional territory to drive awareness of our program and secure new district partnerships
  • Manage and develop district pilots, including critical steps in service of successfully launching a new district partner and supporting them through expansions and renewals
  • Liaise with key stakeholders within the assigned territory to identify new partnership opportunities; scale our program by developing relationships, networking, and fact finding to drive the achievement of targets and objectives
  • Collaborate closely with Customer Success Managers and Literacy Specialists to support partnership onboarding and ongoing nurturing of relationships to ensure program implementation success
  • Maintain accuracy in organization records such as ensuring all partnership activity is  meticulously logged in Hubspot and all partnership pipeline reporting is accurate
  • Assist with developing regional and local marketing plans on a monthly basis
  • Organize and attend site visits with prospective partners
  • Manage the partnership cycle to achieve company and individual goals in assigned territory
  • Respond to pertinent Requests for Proposals (RFPs) and manage all components of the RFP cycle

Competencies

We are seeking Science of Reading enthusiasts with exceptional relationship management skills who are ready for an opportunity to provide kids with the highest quality reading instruction. The ideal candidate is a mission-driven self-starter with an energetic passion for transformation and equity within education, a strong early literacy background, and superb organizational and emotional intelligence skills.

  • Professional network of contacts at schools and districts is highly desirable in the following territories: WI/MN, IL/IN, NC/SC, CO/KS/MO, TN/KY, AL/MS, NV/AZ/UT, PA/NY, OH/MI
  • In-depth knowledge of the Ed Tech market, including emerging trends, competitor landscape, and funding opportunities within the education sector
  • Demonstrated success in working with urban school districts and understanding their unique challenges and needs
  • Proficiency in using CRM systems, such as HubSpot, to manage and track partnerships and sales activities
  • Ability to build strong, authentic partnerships with district leaders, grounded in a passion around literacy equity and a keen understanding of the realities and opportunities within the system; ability to navigate the system in order to enable a successful implementation of the Ignite Reading program
  • Excellent interpersonal, written, and oral communication skills
  • Ability to manage multiple tasks and prioritize appropriately in a fast-paced, startup environment
  • Proven organizational skills, high attention to detail, and superior time management
  • Ability to work independently in a remote environment
  • Strong emotional intelligence and ability to work effectively with all types of people
  • Strong presentation skills
  • Command of Google Suite and other technology applications, including presentation software
  • Willingness to travel at least 50% to build strong relationships and support district partnerships
    • Bonus: Experience as a teacher is nice to have, although not required

At Ignite Reading, we’ve decided to embrace a transparent compensation structure for a few reasons:

To promote fairness and equity: This approach supports fairness within our structure. When everyone knows how compensation decisions are made, it reduces the likelihood of pay discrimination based on factors like gender, race, relationships, or negotiation skills.

To provide accountability for our approach: The same role receives the same compensation, with no negotiation.

To build trust within the organization: When employees understand how their compensation is determined, they are more likely to trust organizational structures and decisions, which can lead to overall better culture.

To support legal considerations: Many states are moving to requiring compensation listed on job descriptions and we want to follow these rules. 

Salary: $115,000 / $230,000+ OTE (This is a full-time, exempt role)

We also ensure you have the tools you need to thrive both in and out of work.

  • Employee Stock Options
  • Medical, Dental, and Vision (80% employee coverage, 50% dependent coverage)
  • Short-term disability (100% employer paid) 
  • Technology Stipend
  • Unlimited PTO + 12 paid holidays 
  • Professional Development Stipend
  • Wellness Reimbursement
  • Internet Stipend
  • 12 Weeks of Parental Leave
  • Yearly Staff Retreat
  • Voluntary Life Insurance

We believe in building and fostering a diverse and inclusive workplace environment. We are proud to be an equal opportunity employer where all applicants are considered for employment without attention to color, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, veteran or disability status. Research shows that candidates from underrepresented backgrounds often don't apply for roles if they don't meet all the criteria – unlike majority candidates meeting significantly fewer requirements. We strongly encourage you to apply if you’re interested!

We are seeking candidates who have lived experience related to social justice, diversity, equity, and inclusion. We are a virtual organization with headquarters in the California Bay Area.