Senior Director, State Partnerships - U.S. Based Remote Opportunity

About Us Do you have a passion for higher education? Do you want to make a positive impact on the college admissions process? Our staff help to remove barriers and encourage students to forge their path to a better future. Common App is a national not-for-profit organization dedicated to the pursuit of access, equity, and integrity in the college admission process. Each year we support more than 1 million students, one-third of whom are first-generation, as they apply to our more than 1100 diverse member colleges & universities using the Common App's free online application. If you are an experienced strategic partnerships professional and want to be part of a mission-driven non-profit that uses innovative technology to advance the college admission process, Common App may be a great match for you. Common App is currently searching for a Senior Director, State Partnerships. Responsibilities Reporting to the VP, Network Growth, the Senior Director of State Partnerships leads the organization's strategy and execution for building and expanding partnerships with state higher education systems, government agencies, and policy stakeholders through public-sector collaboration. A leader with deep relationships and understanding of the access, affordability, and attainment agendas of states, the person in this role is responsible for driving organizational growth and impact by cultivating and securing state-level agreements to implement Common App products and services. This leader will position Common App as a trusted voice and a preferred partner in state and national higher education access initiatives. The Senior Director provides leadership in setting state partnership goals, overseeing government relations work, ensuring retention of current state partnerships and aligning state partnership portfolio needs and opportunities with organizational strategy. They work cross-functionally to design and execute initiatives that advance Common App's reach, and they represent the organization in high-level engagements with state education leaders (e.g. SHEEOs and CSSOs), elected officials, and non-profit executives. Requirements QUALIFICATIONS This role requires: Candidates must live in the United StatesWilling to travel to attend twice annual Common App Retreat and approximately 40% travel for external meetings to secure state partnerships and attend conferences. Bachelor's degree in Business Administration, Education, non-profit management or related field; or an equivalent combination of experience and education10+ years of experience leading complex programs in higher education, with an emphasis on strategic partnerships, cross-sector collaboration, and systems-level impact8+ years of experience as a people managerDemonstrated ability to lead strategic evaluation and continuous improvement efforts by applying data-driven methodologies to assess program effectiveness, inform policy alignment, and drive organizational learningSkilled in convening diverse stakeholders and translating feedback into actionable strategies that enhance program design, align with strategic goals, and demonstrate measurable impactProven experience engaging executive leaders in higher education, including Presidents, Provosts, and system heads, to build strategic partnerships and influence policy. Skilled at representing organizational priorities in public forums, including policy discussions, state convenings, and national conferencesDemonstrated ability to lead complex, cross-functional initiatives that align with organizational strategy, driving execution through influence and collaboration across departments and with external stakeholdersDeep knowledge of the higher education landscape, including state and system-level policy, college access trends, and technology-driven solutions shaping the future of enrollmentAbility to interpret and apply enrollment data and policy research to inform strategic decision-making, shape partnerships, and influence organizational directionDeep commitment to access and equity in education, with a demonstrated ability to translate these values into scalable strategies, partnerships, and innovations that expand opportunityProven success in developing business cases, strategic growth models, or policy alignment plans to support organizational expansion and external partnership goalsAdvanced relationship-building and stakeholder engagement skills, with a proven ability to influence and align diverse internal and external partners toward shared goalsDemonstrated ability to lead in highly collaborative, matrixed environments; fosters inclusive decision-making and proactively drives strategic outcomesExceptional communication, analytical, and presentation skills, with the ability to convey complex ideas to senior stakeholders, government partners, and cross-functional teamsStrong organizational and execution skills with the ability to manage high-impact initiatives across multiple stakeholders, balancing strategic vision with operational excellence The ideal candidate will possess: Graduate degree in MBA, MA, or doctoral degree in relevant field of studyEducation technology and market/competitor analysis experience. Organizational membership experienceProficiency in SalesforceA passion for higher education is a plus. PAY RANGE $174,480 - $196,290 Benefits Common App is a virtual first environment. We value our employees' time and efforts. Our commitment to your success is enhanced by our competitive salary and an extensive benefits package including: Work-Life balanceVirtual-first officePaid Time Off (PTO)Seven company-wide holidaysNine floating holidays*Sick leaveMonthly mental health dayfloating holidays prorated depending on start dateVirtual-first supportChoice of PC of MAC laptopMay choose an external monitor, keyboard, mouse, and/or headsetOne-time office set-up stipendMonthly remote work stipendMonthly mobile stipendFinancial securityMarket-based salariesPerformance-based bonus403(b) retirement plan5% company contributionadditional 5% company match3-year vesting scheduleParticipation may begin immediatelyHealth & wellnessChoice of two health insurance plansHealth Savings Account, depending on health plan selectionMedical Flexible Savings Account, depending on health plan selectionVision insuranceDental insuranceInsurance coverage begins on the date of hireDependent Care Flexible Spending AccountMaven virtual clinic for women's and family healthCompany provided life and ad&d insuranceOpportunity to purchase additional life insurance for self, spouse, and dependentsCompany provided short and long-term disability insuranceCareer developmentBudgeted annual funds for professional developmentGrowth opportunities within the companyAdditional perksMutual of Omaha Employee Assistance ProgramMutual of Omaha will preparation servicesMutual of Omaha travel assistancePayroll dedication pet insurance through PinPaws1Password family account We work to maintain the best possible environment for our staff, where people can learn and grow. We strive to provide a diverse, collaborative, team-oriented, creative environment where each person feels encouraged to contribute to our processes, decisions, planning, and culture. How Do i Apply To apply for this opportunity, send your resume and cover letter with salary expectations. PROTECTING YOUR PERSONAL INFORMATION: During the recruiting process, please note that Common App will never: Provide a job offer without an interviewAsk for payment to process documents, purchase equipment or for any other reasonRequest banking or credit card informationDirect you to third-party services to obtain visas or other documentation As we work alongside you through our recruitment process, please remain alert and never provide financial information or payment to anyone claiming to offer a job opportunity. If you believe you're a victim of a job scam, report it to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) or your state attorney general. To learn more about job scams, read the FBI's public service announcement or visit the FTC site.