Senior Director, Strategic Partnerships

Senior Director, Strategic Partnerships for a 100+ employee (and growing) remote education non-profit providing professional learning to K-12 educators nationally

Type of Vacancy: Salaried, full-time

Start date: December 2024-January 2025

Location: Remote/home office anywhere in the continental United States

Report to: Managing Director, Strategic Growth and Finance

Supervises: Proposal Manager and others as assigned

Compensation: The full salary range for this position is $125,000 - $189,074 annually. There are two types of experience being considered for this role: Experience that is directly relevant to the role and Total Working Experience, in all fields. This includes: internships and consulting work. In collaboration with the hiring manager, the People and Culture team calculates experience based on the candidate’s most current resume. When calculating the offer, consideration is given to candidates that possess additional qualifications (i.e., desired qualifications). Teaching Lab will generally cap salaries for new employees at 105% of the midpoint to allow for continued growth in the role over time.

Teaching Lab is an equal-opportunity employer committed to reflecting the diversity of the students we serve. We pursue equity as both a means and an end and enthusiastically welcome candidates of all backgrounds to apply for this role.

WHO WE ARE

Teaching Lab is a nonprofit organization with a mission to fundamentally shift the paradigm of teacher professional learning to achieve educational equity. We envision a world where teachers and students thrive together in communities that enable life-long learning and meaningful lives. In partnership with teachers, we transform professional learning from the ground up to dramatically improve student outcomes. We also work with school, district, and state leaders to create the instructional systems necessary to support these changes. To learn more about Teaching Lab, explore our website at www.teachinglab.org.

SUMMARY OF POSITION

The Senior Director, Strategic Partnerships, with the Managing Director, Strategic Growth and Finance (MDSGF), Chief Operating Officer (COO), and Chief Executive Officer (CEO), helps set Teaching Lab’s earned revenue goals and executes on strategy to increase earned revenue from states and districts particularly when they require applying through RFP/RFA processes. They create the systems and processes for meeting the goals, delegate work to team members, and supervise the implementation of these systems and processes. They work directly with the MDSGF to create Teaching Lab’s business development strategy, execute on this strategy, and ensure efficient operational processes. 

• Primary responsibilities for the Senior Director, Strategic Partnerships include:

• Set goals and execute strategy
• With the MDSGF, COO, and CEO, develop and implement initiatives and projects to win school system RFPs, federal grants, and generate revenue through states, districts, and strategic partnerships, including strategies aligned with approved vendor list opportunities; define goals, and metrics of success, in alignment with other organizational goals, and strategies
• Work closely with the Senior Director, External Affairs, to align the earned revenue strategy with Teaching Lab’s foundation/corporate fundraising strategy. 
• Provide the executive leadership team with strategic direction and decision-making on cultivating new partnerships or federal grant opportunities 

• Develop and manage revenue-generating initiatives
• Write or manage the writing of federal grants, school system applications, proposals,  briefing materials for meetings and site visits, internal memos, and other funding-related documents and correspondence as needed.
• Identify and help to pursue opportunities to establish new relationships with state and district leaders. 
• Direct and track Teaching Lab’s targeted outreach to system leaders where we are an approved vendor or where identified as prioritized geographies to secure new revenue-generating opportunities. 
• Represent Teaching Lab at strategic outreach opportunities, including meetings, conferences, and events to cultivate and manage relationships with school system leaders as needed.

• Create and execute efficient and effective business operations
• Create and innovate on systems, processes, and tools to meet revenue goals from federal grants and school systems RFPs 
• Regularly update and review revenue pipeline data in Teaching Lab’s CRM
• Regularly prepare for and facilitate review of revenue pipeline data and address risks 
• Revise response content templates and response project management trackers to ensure Teaching Lab can efficiently and effectively apply to RFPs and federal grants
• Manage the resource and content repository of key or exemplar materials to support high-quality and successful RFP and federal grant responses 

• Engage in cross-functional collaboration
• Align key messaging with Teaching Lab’s external communication strategy to attract school system leaders and major donors.
• Collaborate with the Program, Learning & Research, Innovation Studio, Finance, and Strategy & Communications functions to submit compelling and winning proposals and reports, highlighting Teaching Lab’s unique value proposition, model, and impact

• Engage in continuous learning
• Develop  deep knowledge of Teaching Lab’s service and product offerings, current and past partnerships, and staff member expertise 
• Develop foundational knowledge in college and career readiness standards, early literacy, science of reading, writing instruction, ELA instruction, math, instruction, adult learning theories, multilingual learner support, support for students with disability
• Continuously develop skills and competencies to leverage AI to increase efficiency in responding to federal grants and RFPs
• Stay abreast of key research and guidance in the field, and engage in learning experiences to build skills and competencies in grant writing, project management, sales, or business development
• Engage in personal and organized learning opportunities as a team member at an organization that champions racial equity and centers anti-racism

• Perform other duties as assigned by the MDSGF and/or Executive Team.

• The Senior Director, Strategic Partnerships is accountable for achieving goals set in collaboration with their manager, aligned with Teaching Lab’s Annual Goals, and especially, Key Success Indicators (KSI) for their function specific goals. Additionally, if assigned direct reports, this role would have Home Manager goals. Additional information will be shared with candidates during the recruitment and selection process.

• As applicable, within the role, model the radical commitments for our values. 

• Bachelor's degree
• Over ten (10) years of experience in grant writing, development, or a related field
• Over five (5) years of experience leading development functions, setting goals, creating the systems and processes for meeting the goals for educational programming
• Experience leading relationships with diverse stakeholders and revenue decision-makers
• Experience managing a process to apply for federal, state, LEAs, or school network-level RFPs
• Exceptional grant writing skills, particularly the ability to align responses directly and compellingly to the specifications of the federal grant or RFP 
• Experience in building and developing essential components of a development function

• Working experience in K-12 education

• Ability to work a flexible schedule to support operational needs
• Ability to perform the essential project, duties and responsibilities with or without accommodation
• All team members are expected to support program/project needs which could mean that you play multiple roles at Teaching Lab Ventures (i.e., project lead, support, subject matter expert, etc.). 
• Travel could be required for the role.  Travel is determined based on business needs and can vary depending on partnership/contract requirements.

• Teaching Lab seeks to fundamentally shift the paradigm of teacher professional learning by reaching more educators every year with the highest impact programming.

• Educators learn more than they would without us
• Students learn more than they would without us, in a way that cannot be predicted by race, gender, or family income
• Educators we serve say they love our approach, and they want to keep doing it to advance educational equity

• Collaboration & Responsive Service
• Resilient Solution-Finding
• Research & Learning With Humility
• Accountable Excellence
• Equity & Justice

• This position opened on November 14, 2024 and will close on November 21, 2024. All applications received between November 14, 2024 and November 21, 2024 will be reviewed by the hiring team.

Application Terms & Conditions:

I understand that any falsification or omission of information from this Employment Application can disqualify me from employment (includes rescinding an offer of employment or if hired, employment termination). 

I understand that this Employment Application is not an offer of employment.  If employed, employment is at will, and either party can terminate the employment relationship at any time. 

I understand that if I am offered a conditional offer of employment, it would be contingent upon successful pre-work checks, which include references and verifications/checks for a social security number, education, employment, criminal records search (national and county), global watch list, and sex offender status.  Depending on a specific partnership/contract requirement, the criminal background check process could include fingerprinting.  At Teaching Lab’s discretion and with an individual’s signed consent, other checks could be completed based on the nature of the position.  Moreover, I understand that Teaching Lab participates in a background monitoring service that provides updates for criminal records and sex offender status.   

I understand that if I am offered and accept an offer of employment, I will be required to complete an Employment Eligibility Verification Form (I-9), and provide supporting documents within three days of my hire date.  Non-compliance will result in termination of employment.  Teaching Lab participates in E-Verify and will provide the federal government with your Form I-9 information to confirm that you are authorized to work in the U.S. If E-Verify cannot confirm that you are authorized to work, Teaching Lab is required to give you written instructions and an opportunity to contact the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) or Social Security Administration (SSA) so you can begin to resolve the issue before any action is taken against you, including terminating your employment.  Teaching Lab can only use E-Verify once you have accepted a job offer and completed the Form I-9.  EVerify and Right to Work posters.

I understand that if I am offered and accept an offer of employment, if I have a need for an accommodation related to a disabling (medical) condition that the request must be communicated to People & Culture for review and approval.  All requests will be considered as part of the Americans with Disabilities Interactive Process.  

I understand that if I am offered and accept an offer of employment, Teaching Lab has an expectation to be the primary employer for all employees.  Specifically, having another full-time employer in addition to full-time employment at Teaching Lab is not permitted, and no other employment or outside contracting relationship of any kind is permitted unless otherwise disclosed on the Outside Work Disclosure form and approved by the Chief Executive Officer (CEO).  Employees who are found in violation of this expectation will be subject to disciplinary action up to and including separation from employment.

I understand that if I am offered and accept an offer of employment, I must undergo a 90 day introductory period.  During this time, appropriateness for the role and performance are evaluated.  At the end of the 90 day introductory period, Teaching Lab and/or the employee can end the employment relationship at will.

Teaching Lab has a payroll direct deposit program.  I understand that if I am employed, I am not required to enroll in Teaching Lab’s payroll direct deposit program, and I would be paid via a paper check.

I understand that if I am employed, all work materials/resources that are provided by Teaching Lab are considered property of Teaching Lab, and are solely for the use of work for Teaching Lab.

I understand that if I am employed, I will be required to sign acknowledgment of receipt and abide by all policies and procedures, requirements, and expectations as outlined in the Employee Handbook.

In relation to the position that I am applying for, I voluntarily give Teaching Lab consent to make a thorough investigation of my background, and release from liability all parties in connection with the supply and use of such information. 

The submission of my application serves as acknowledgment and agreement to the above terms and conditions.