Director of Strategic Partnerships

Who We Are The Alliance for Decision Education (the Alliance) is a national nonprofit and field builder with the mission of improving lives by empowering K-12 students with essential skills and dispositions for making better decisions. Founded in 2014 and backed by experts in decision sciences, business, and education—including several Nobel laureates—the Alliance believes that better decisions lead to better lives and a better society. As a field builder, the Alliance partners with teachers, academic and business leaders, families, and community members to raise awareness and lead the growing call to have Decision Education taught in schools across the country. The Alliance is committed to an inclusive, supportive, and collaborative culture. Our diverse team comprises educators, researchers, subject matter experts, and other professionals dedicated to our mission. We are proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer. What We Offer The Alliance offers a comprehensive total rewards package, inclusive of competitive compensation. Annual Salary: $140,000 - $180,000 per year, commensurate with experience and qualifications* Benefits: Medical, dental, and vision insurance (100% employer-paid) Basic life insurance and AD&D (100% employer-paid) Voluntary Life Insurance (100% employee-paid) Short-Term Disability Insurance (100% premium paid) Long-Term disability insurance (100% premium paid) Employee Assistance Program 401(k) retirement plan with up to a 5% employer match (100% vested); additional Roth option Flexible Spending Accounts (healthcare and dependent care) Up to 20 days of Paid Time Off per calendar year (prorated the first year based on hire date) Unlimited paid sick time Hybrid work schedule Paid lunch stipend while working on-site *Salary range is a good‑faith estimate based on external benchmarking, internal equity, and industry standards and may vary based on qualifications and experience. Benefits are subject to change at the organization’s discretion. Job Overview The Alliance is entering an important next stage of growth. After more than a decade building the foundation for Decision Education, including K–12 standards and learning progressions, research and evidence, instructional resources, implementation models, and early proof points, the organization is increasingly focused on scaling Decision Education through high‑leveraged partnerships. The Director of Strategic Partnerships will lead the Alliance’s partnership pipeline and portfolio, turning strategic opportunities into well‑structured, well‑managed partnerships that advance the organization’s mission and expand the reach and adoption of Decision Education. The Director will identify and develop new partnership opportunities while also advancing opportunities generated by the Executive Director, senior leadership, Board members, and others across the organization. The Director will oversee a team that manages strategic partner relationships across the portfolio and ensures each partnership moves from agreement to action. This includes developing and maintaining partner plans, aligning expectations and commitments across both organizations, tracking progress against shared goals and milestones, and ensuring that follow‑through happens on both sides. The team will serve as a consistent point of contact for partners, giving them a clear place to bring questions, ideas, opportunities, and implementation needs as the relationship evolves. A primary focus of the role will be managing a complex portfolio of partnerships at scale. The Director will evaluate and prioritize opportunities, decide where the Alliance should invest its time and resources, set shared measures of success, and ensure the right internal expertise supports each partnership. The Director will coordinate resources across the Alliance so partners can access the technical assistance, content expertise, implementation support, research, policy, communications, and other capabilities needed to make the partnership successful. The Director will also ensure the Alliance has a clear view of the overall portfolio’s health and performance, including where partnerships are progressing, where expectations or resources need adjustment, where opportunities should expand, and where the organization may need to pause or redirect effort. First-year success will include establishing the processes, account planning, governance, measurement, and internal coordination needed for a disciplined Alliance partnership program. Over the following 18–24 months, success will increasingly be measured by the strength and performance of the partnership portfolio, including the number and quality of strategic partnerships, the reach of Decision Education through those partnerships, the number of students served, and evidence that partner efforts are advancing the Alliance’s mission at scale. The Director will bring a strong understanding of the U.S. K–12 education landscape, including how new ideas, standards, frameworks, and instructional priorities move through states, districts, curriculum providers, professional networks, and other education channels. They should also understand the rapidly evolving role of AI in K–12 education, including how states and districts are developing AI‑related guidance, frameworks, and implementation approaches, and where Decision Education can strengthen human judgment, critical thinking, and decision‑making within that changing environment. The Director of Strategic Partnerships reports to the Deputy Executive Director and Chief Strategy Officer, serves as a senior leader, and oversees the Strategic Partnerships Department. Location & Schedule This full‑time role requires an 8-hour workday and a 40-hour workweek. It is a salaried, exempt position under the FLSA, meaning it is not eligible for overtime pay. Local employees follow the Alliance’s hybrid work schedule, working onsite at our Bala Cynwyd, PA headquarters every Tuesday and Wednesday during standard business hours (EST), with flexibility to work remotely on Mondays, Thursdays, and Fridays. Fully remote employees must maintain a productive home‑based work environment and remain actively engaged in team operations during East Coast hours. The company may consider fully remote arrangements only in rare cases where a candidate’s experience and qualifications significantly exceed the role's requirements. Additionally, the role requires 30-50 percent national travel, including stakeholder engagements, events, and internal team meetings. All employees—local and remote—receive equipment, supplies, and resources necessary to perform their work effectively. Job Responsibilities Partnership Portfolio Strategy and Leadership Develop and maintain the processes, tools, and operating rhythms needed to manage the Alliance’s strategic partnership pipeline and portfolio effectively. Establish clear criteria and processes to evaluate, triage, and prioritize partnership opportunities aligned with the Alliance’s strategic priorities, mission, and organizational capacity. Assess prospective and existing partnership opportunities and recommend to senior leadership which opportunities to advance, defer, reshape, or decline. Develop strategic account plans and partnership recommendations for priority opportunities, including proposed objectives, partner roles, Alliance commitments, required resources, measures of success, and key decision points. Lead the Strategic Partnerships team in executing approved partnership priorities and maintaining visibility into progress, risks, dependencies, and next steps across the portfolio. Establish and maintain portfolio‑level reporting that gives senior leadership a clear view of partnership health, pipeline movement, resource demands, performance, and emerging opportunities. Identify patterns and lessons across the portfolio and recommend improvements to partnership strategy, processes, resourcing, and partner support over time. Strategic Account Management and Partner Execution Lead and oversee strategic account planning for priority partners, ensuring plans are aligned to Alliance priorities and include clear goals, workstreams, roles, timelines, and measures of success. Guide the Strategic Partnerships team in setting shared expectations with partners, including commitments, decision‑making processes, and mutual accountability. Oversee the development and execution of appropriate partnership agreements, coordinating with legal, finance, communications, and other internal teams as needed. Ensure priority partnerships have meaningful joint KPIs, and lead regular account reviews to assess progress, risks, barriers, and growth opportunities. Hold the team accountable for consistent execution, follow‑through, and high‑quality documentation across the partner portfolio. Coach and develop partnership team members to strengthen strategic account management, partner planning, and senior‑level relationship skills. Cross‑Functional Orchestration and Implementation Support Coordinate expertise and resources across the Alliance to support priority partnerships, including content, research, policy, professional learning, communications, and other subject matter expertise. Translate partnership commitments into clear internal workplans with appropriate owners, timelines, dependencies, and deliverables. Work across teams to balance partner needs with organizational capacity, surfacing resource constraints, risks, and competing priorities for leadership consideration. Ensure partners receive the technical assistance and implementation support needed to advance agreed goals and successfully integrate Decision Education into their work. Establish clear communication and coordination across internal teams so partnership progress, needs, and decisions are visible and aligned. Capture lessons from partner implementation and share them across the organization to strengthen future partnership strategy and execution. These responsibilities may change or expand over time, consistent with the organization’s needs and initiatives. Job Qualifications Minimum Requirements At least eight years of experience in strategic partnerships, partner management, business development, or related roles within the U.S. K–12 education industry, including experience managing a complex portfolio of strategic partnerships at scale. Demonstrated experience leading a partnership or account management team and building the processes, tools, and operating disciplines needed for consistent portfolio management. Deep understanding of the U.S. K–12 education ecosystem, including how ideas, standards, products, programs, and initiatives move through states, districts, curriculum and edtech providers, nonprofits, associations, and other education channels. Proven experience developing strategic account plans, establishing joint goals and KPIs, prioritizing opportunities, and managing partnerships from opportunity through implementation, growth, and renewal. Experience structuring and managing complex partnership arrangements, including MOUs, contracts, licensing, co‑development, revenue‑sharing, brand attribution, and other commercial or noncommercial agreements. Proven ability to orchestrate cross‑functional teams, manage senior‑level partner relationships, and use data and performance measures to drive execution and inform recommendations. Preferred Requirements Experience with emerging AI‑related standards, frameworks, guidance, or implementation efforts in U.S. K–12 education, including an understanding of how states and districts are approaching AI literacy, human judgment, and responsible AI use. Established relationships across the K–12 education ecosystem, including state and district leaders, curriculum and EdTech providers, nonprofit organizations, professional associations, and other potential strategic partners. Experience working with standards‑based initiatives, credentialing, professional learning, curriculum integration, or other education models that require adoption across multiple organizations or distribution channels. Familiarity with decision science, behavioral science, or related fields and an ability to translate research‑based concepts into practical education partnerships and implementation strategies. Attributes We Value Strategic, systems‑level thinker with strong analytical judgment Accomplished relationship builder with executive presence Collaborative, collegial, and highly professional Detail‑oriented, organized, and operationally disciplined Data‑driven and results‑focused Adaptable, intellectually curious, and comfortable with ambiguity Strong communicator with excellent interpersonal skills Proactive leader who works effectively with independence and initiativeReflects the Alliance’s core values and standards: Humanism: valuing others as human beings Rationality: thinking and skills to help answer “What is true?” and “What to do?” Education: growth mindset; dedication to developing knowledge and skills Conscientiousness: diligent work ethic; professionalism; high‑quality work Initiative: owners’ and founders’ mentality; leadership skills Mission Alignment: dedication to the organization’s mission and goals ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS Employment is contingent upon completing Form I‑9 and verifying authorization to work in the United States, as required by federal law. Successful completion of the pre‑employment screening process. Compliance with all organizational policies and procedures. Ability to understand and demonstrate safe work practices to ensure a safe work environment. Ability to complete special projects and other duties as management assigns. PHYSICAL AND ENVIRONMENTAL DEMANDS Primarily desk‑based work involving sitting at a workstation Occasional walking, standing, or lifting/carrying up to 10 lbs Frequent hand and finger dexterity for typing, writing, and handling objects Ability to review written materials and participate in meetings and presentations, with or without reasonable accommodation. The Alliance is committed to providing reasonable accommodations to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions, including the use of assistive technologies. This role is based in the United States. Applicants must have authorization to work in the U.S. and must not require current or future visa sponsorship. The Alliance for Decision Education is an Equal Opportunity Employer committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment based on merit and without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, age, ancestry, or veteran status. Employment with the Alliance for Decision Education is at will, meaning either the employee or the organization may terminate the employment relationship at any time, with or without cause or notice. #J-18808-Ljbffr