Director of Strategic Partnerships

Alliance for Decision Education•Bala Cynwyd, PA

2d•Hybrid

About The Position

The Alliance for Decision Education is a national nonprofit focused on improving lives by empowering K–12 students with skills and dispositions for better decision-making. The Director of Strategic Partnerships will lead the organization’s partnership pipeline and portfolio, turning strategic opportunities into structured, well-managed partnerships that advance the Alliance’s mission and expand the reach and adoption of Decision Education. The Director will identify and develop opportunities, including those generated by senior leaders and Board members, and oversee the Strategic Partnerships Department and its team. The role leads a complex portfolio of partnerships at scale. It involves evaluating and prioritizing opportunities, allocating organizational resources, setting shared measures of success, coordinating internal expertise, and maintaining a clear view of portfolio health and performance. The Director will ensure partnerships move from agreement to action through account plans, clear expectations, mutual accountability, progress tracking, and follow-through. The team will provide partners with a consistent point of contact as their questions, needs, and implementation efforts evolve. The Director will establish the processes, account planning, governance, measurement, and internal coordination for a disciplined partnership program. Over time, success will be assessed through the strength and performance of the portfolio, the reach of Decision Education, the number of students served, and evidence that partnerships advance the Alliance’s mission at scale. The role requires a strong understanding of the U.S. K–12 education landscape and the evolving role of AI in K–12 education, including how Decision Education can support human judgment, critical thinking, and decision-making. This is a full-time, salaried, exempt position reporting to the Deputy Executive Director and Chief Strategy Officer. Local employees follow a hybrid schedule, working onsite at the Bala Cynwyd, Pennsylvania headquarters on Tuesdays and Wednesdays and remotely on Mondays, Thursdays, and Fridays. Fully remote arrangements may be considered only in rare cases. The role requires 30–50% national travel. The stated annual salary range is $140,000–$180,000, commensurate with experience and qualifications.

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 managing a complex portfolio of strategic partnerships at scale.
Demonstrated experience leading a partnership or account management team and building processes, tools, and operating disciplines for consistent portfolio management.
Deep understanding of the U.S. K–12 education ecosystem and 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.
Authorization to work in the United States without current or future visa sponsorship.
Successful completion of the pre-employment screening process and compliance with organizational policies and procedures.
Ability to understand and demonstrate safe work practices.
Ability to complete special projects and other duties as assigned.
Ability to perform primarily desk-based work, including sitting at a workstation, occasional walking or standing, occasional lifting or carrying up to 10 pounds, frequent hand and finger dexterity, and reviewing written materials and participating in meetings and presentations, with or without reasonable accommodation.

Nice To Haves

Experience with emerging AI-related standards, frameworks, guidance, or implementation efforts in U.S. K–12 education, including state and district approaches to 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 potential strategic partners.
Experience with standards-based initiatives, credentialing, professional learning, curriculum integration, or other education models requiring adoption across multiple organizations or distribution channels.
Familiarity with decision science, behavioral science, or related fields and ability to translate research-based concepts into practical education partnerships and implementation strategies.
Strategic, systems-level thinking and strong analytical judgment.
Accomplished relationship-building skills and executive presence.
Collaborative, collegial, and highly professional approach.
Detail-oriented, organized, and operationally disciplined work style.
Data-driven and results-focused approach.
Adaptability, intellectual curiosity, and comfort with ambiguity.
Strong communication and interpersonal skills.
Proactive leadership, independence, and initiative.
Alignment with the Alliance’s values of humanism, rationality, education, conscientiousness, initiative, and mission alignment.

Responsibilities

Develop and maintain processes, tools, and operating rhythms for managing the strategic partnership pipeline and portfolio.
Establish criteria and processes to evaluate, triage, and prioritize partnership opportunities in alignment with organizational priorities, mission, and capacity.
Assess prospective and existing opportunities and recommend which to advance, defer, reshape, or decline.
Develop strategic account plans and recommendations covering objectives, partner roles, Alliance commitments, resources, success measures, and decision points.
Lead the Strategic Partnerships team in executing approved priorities and tracking progress, risks, dependencies, and next steps.
Establish portfolio-level reporting on partnership health, pipeline movement, resource demands, performance, and emerging opportunities.
Identify portfolio-wide patterns and lessons and recommend improvements to strategy, processes, resourcing, and partner support.
Oversee account planning for priority partners, with clear goals, workstreams, roles, timelines, and measures of success.
Guide the team in setting shared expectations, commitments, decision-making processes, and mutual accountability with partners.
Oversee partnership agreements in coordination with legal, finance, communications, and other internal teams.
Ensure priority partnerships have meaningful joint KPIs and lead regular account reviews of progress, risks, barriers, and growth opportunities.
Hold the team accountable for consistent execution, follow-through, and high-quality documentation; coach and develop team members.
Coordinate Alliance expertise and resources—including content, research, policy, professional learning, and communications—to support priority partnerships.
Translate partnership commitments into internal workplans with owners, timelines, dependencies, and deliverables.
Balance partner needs with organizational capacity and surface resource constraints, risks, and competing priorities for leadership consideration.
Ensure partners receive technical assistance and implementation support to advance agreed goals and integrate Decision Education into their work.
Establish clear internal communication and coordination so partnership progress, needs, and decisions remain visible and aligned.
Capture and share implementation lessons to strengthen future partnership strategy and execution.

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, with 100% of the premium paid.
Long-term disability insurance, with 100% of the premium paid.
Employee Assistance Program.
401(k) retirement plan with up to a 5% employer match, 100% vested, and an additional Roth option.
Healthcare and dependent-care Flexible Spending Accounts.
Up to 20 days of paid time off per calendar year, prorated during the first year based on hire date.
Unlimited paid sick time.
Hybrid work schedule.
Paid lunch stipend while working onsite.
Equipment, supplies, and resources necessary to perform work effectively.