Common App is hiring a Senior Director, Access Partnerships to lead our efforts to connect more students to vital college access resources. This role will establish, maintain, and expand partnerships with community-based organizations, K-12 systems, and state agencies, with a strategic focus on reaching students from communities underserved by higher education.
What You'll Do
- Establish, maintain, and expand partnerships with community-based actors and leaders from K-12 to transfer and other postsecondary opportunities.
- Develop and establish partnerships that leverage technology solutions to reduce friction and increase access to post-secondary opportunities.
- Create new ways for Common App to reach many more students, especially from communities below the national median income.
- Set strategic goals and collaborate across the organization to position Common App for effective partnerships.
- Build and lead a team to ensure great collaboration and maintenance of partnership efforts.
- Collaborate internally to ensure engagements with states, CBOs, and large districts are highly impactful.
What We're Looking For
- Candidates must live in the United States.
- Willingness 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.
Nice to Have
- 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.
Technical Stack
- Microsoft Office Suite
- Google Suite
- Salesforce
Team & Environment
You will be a member of the Network Growth division, reporting to the VP of Network Growth, and working within Common App's diverse, collaborative, and mission-driven culture.
Benefits & Compensation
- Compensation range: $176,640 - $198,720
- Performance-based bonus
- Market-based salaries
- 403(b) retirement plan with 5% company contribution and additional 5% company match
- 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
- 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
- Work-Life balance
- Virtual-first office
- Paid Time Off (PTO)
- Seven company-wide holidays
- Nine floating holidays
- Sick leave
- Monthly mental health day
- Budgeted annual funds for professional development
- Growth opportunities within the company
- Choice of PC or 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
- 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
Work Mode
This is a U.S. based remote opportunity. Candidates must live in the United States.
Common App is a mission-driven non-profit dedicated to access, equity, and integrity in college admission. We are an equal opportunity employer committed to a diverse, collaborative, and team-oriented environment.
