Partner Development Representative

About OpenEd At OpenEd, we’re opening the world to every learner. With over 100,000 students served and growing rapidly, families trust us as a partner to the most precious thing in their lives, their children. Our vision: a future where education is no longer constrained by geography, rigid models, or outdated systems. Our mission: to give every student customized, world-class education and resources, empowering families and opening millions of doors for learners across the country. Our Culture (The Foundation of Everything We Do) Culture at OpenEd is intentional. It’s defined by what we promote—and what we tolerate. Our latest eNPS (employee net promoter score) of 76 places OpenEd in the top .1% of technology companies. Our values aren't just words; they are non-negotiable principles that guide every decision: Customer First – Obsessed with delivering value; we fight tirelessly for our learners and families. Hard Choices, Easy Life – Face challenges directly, swiftly, and transparently. I Did > We Should – Action over theory; bring experiments, not just opinions. Learn Out Loud – Share your growth openly; feedback is a gift, ego is the enemy. Prioritize Ruthlessly – Excellence in the few critical areas over mediocrity everywhere. Fast AND World Class – Speed doesn’t compromise quality. Strong Opinions, Weakly Held – Advocate passionately, adjust readily. Make Others Famous – Elevate your colleagues, partners, and community. We're currently accepting applications from those living in: AR, AZ, CO, FL, GA, ID, IN, IL, IO, KS, MA, MD, MN, MO, MT, NC, NM, NV, NY, OH, OK, OR, RI, SC, TN, TX, UT, VA, WA, WI, WV. About the Role: Join our Partnerships team as the founding Partner Development Representative —the person helping OpenEd create momentum in new markets and open doors to future partnerships. This role sits at the intersection of outreach, relationship development, and growth operations. You’ll help identify potential district partners, manage lead pipelines, support outbound campaigns, and build relationships with organizations and individuals who can help expand OpenEd’s reach. This is not a boiler-room sales role and you’ll be reporting directly to the COO learning “nearbound tactics,” by the very author of Nearbound, the book. Success in this role comes from curiosity, consistency, organization, relationship-building, and the ability to create trust and conversations over time You won’t just generate lists—you’ll help identify where OpenEd should go next and who can help us get there and actively participate in the deal cycle. Your Immediate Impact: Work referrals and use nearbound tactics from existing district partners and other influences in the education industry Lead Generation & Market Research: Identify and research school districts, education leaders, associations, consultants, advocacy groups, and strategic partners across targeted markets CRM & Pipeline Management: Maintain accurate and actionable CRM records, lead tracking, and outreach pipelines Outbound Campaign Support: Support email, LinkedIn, conference, and referral outreach campaigns to generate conversations and meetings Strategic Partnership Identification: Help uncover partnership opportunities that can create downstream district relationships or enrollment growth in new and active states Sequence Coordination: Assist in developing, monitoring, and optimizing outbound outreach sequences and follow-up campaigns Cross-Functional Collaboration: Work closely with Partner Managers, Marketing, and Leadership to support market expansion efforts Outreach Operations: Help ensure follow-through, responsiveness, and organization across partnership outreach activities Success Metrics: Consistent generation of qualified partnership conversations and meetings CRM and outreach systems remain organized, actionable, and current Increased engagement and response rates across outreach campaigns Growth in strategic introductions, referrals, and partner relationships Expanded awareness and relationship development in target markets Reliable follow-through and execution across outbound initiative Who You Are: Relationship Builder: Comfortable starting conversations and building authentic connections Curious Researcher: Naturally digs deeper to understand markets, people, and opportunities Self-Starter: Proactively identifies opportunities and executes without constant direction Organized Operator: Can manage lists, pipelines, follow-ups, and details without things falling through the cracks Strong Communicator: Writes clearly, professionally, and conversationally Ownership Mindset: Takes responsibility for outcomes, not just assigned tasks Resilient: Comfortable with outreach, follow-up, and hearing “not right now” without losing momentum This Role Will Excite You IF: You enjoy connecting people and ideas You like finding opportunities others miss You want to grow, learn, and have a career defining role You get satisfaction from creating momentum and opening doors You enjoy relationship-driven work more than transactional sales You thrive in a fast-moving environment where priorities evolve quickly You want to help expand educational opportunities for families nationwide: Team & Autonomy: This role offers significant ownership over OpenEd’s outbound partnership development efforts. You’ll have the autonomy to identify opportunities, improve outreach systems, and help shape how OpenEd expands into new markets and partnerships. Reporting Line: This position reports to our Chief Operating Officer EEO Statement OpenEd is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, genetics, disability, age, or veteran status. OpenEd participates in E-Verify.