Director, Sales Partnerships

Participate Learning•Chapel Hill, NC

1d•Remote

About The Position

Since 1987, Participate Learning has partnered with schools and districts to prepare students for career success through cultural exchange, dual language programs, and global learning. We help students build bilingual fluency, problem-solving, and critical thinking skills to apply their learning in real-world settings and any career path. Participate Learning is seeking a goal-oriented, strategic, and mission-aligned Director of Sales Partnerships to accelerate the expansion of our K-12 education products to school districts beyond the organization’s current footprint. This role is responsible for generating, nurturing, and converting leads through a structured, multi-channel, and data-driven sales process. Focused on our Global Leaders framework, and with additional opportunities for dual language product sales, you will develop and close new district partnerships. You will report to the Senior Director of Partnerships, work closely with the marketing team, and lead your own sales cycle from outreach through close. Location: remote position with geographic preference for sales candidates with proven success in the following states - lL, IN, OH, PA, WI, MI, KY, TN, FL, GA Travel: Willingness to travel up to 40% for relationship-building, meetings, conferences, and deal closure

Requirements

At least 5 years of experience in K–12 education sales, preferably to public school districts
Proven ability to independently build and close complex district partnerships
Strong network within the K–12 education market
Comfort selling in mission-driven environments with evolving products
Excellent communication skills, with the ability to listen deeply and present persuasively
High standards of pipeline management, forecasting, and CRM discipline
Experience navigating long sales cycles and multi-stakeholder buying processes
Familiarity with education budgets, decision timelines, and procurement practices

Responsibilities

Build a new client base with districts and schools in priority states
Own the full sales cycle from lead generation to contract close
Lead structured outreach campaigns in collaboration with marketing, combining email, phone, social media, and in-person engagement to generate interest and build credibility
Engage in discovery conversations to uncover district goals and align product offerings
Customize messaging to match district priorities, including global citizenship, language learning, and college and career readiness
Develop proposals, support pricing discussions, and navigate district procurement cycles
Maintain a disciplined pipeline using Salesforce, with accurate forecasting and lead tracking
Build visibility and thought leadership through conferences, social media, and referrals
Respond to inbound leads quickly and strategically, evaluating fit and guiding qualified prospects forward
Analyze geographic performance, identify promising districts, and refine outreach strategies
Collaborate with marketing to shape campaigns and ensure message alignment
Share client insights with internal teams to inform product development and district experience