Senior Director, State Partnerships - U.S. Based Remote Opportunity

Common App•Arlington, VA

2d•$174,480 - $196,290•Remote

About The Position

Common App is a national not-for-profit organization dedicated to expanding access, equity, and integrity in college admission. It supports more than 1 million students each year as they apply to more than 1,100 member colleges and universities through its free online application. The Senior Director of State Partnerships leads the strategy and execution for building and expanding partnerships with state higher education systems, government agencies, and policy stakeholders through public-sector collaboration. The role drives organizational growth and impact by cultivating and securing state-level agreements to implement Common App products and services, while positioning Common App as a trusted voice and preferred partner in state and national higher education access initiatives. The Senior Director sets state partnership goals, oversees government relations work, supports retention of existing state partnerships, and aligns portfolio needs and opportunities with organizational strategy. Working across functions, this leader designs and executes initiatives that advance Common App’s reach and represents the organization in senior-level engagements with state education leaders, elected officials, and nonprofit executives. The position reports to the VP, Network Growth. Candidates must live in the United States and be willing to travel to attend the twice-annual Common App Retreat. Common App describes its work environment as virtual-first.

Requirements

Must live in the United States.
Willingness to travel to attend the twice-annual Common App Retreat.
Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration, Education, nonprofit management, or a related field, or an equivalent combination of experience and education.
10+ years of experience leading complex programs in higher education, emphasizing strategic partnerships, cross-sector collaboration, and systems-level impact.
8+ years of experience as a people manager.
Ability to lead strategic evaluation and continuous improvement using data-driven methods to assess program effectiveness, inform policy alignment, and drive organizational learning.
Skill in convening diverse stakeholders and translating feedback into actionable strategies that improve program design, align with strategic goals, and demonstrate measurable impact.
Experience engaging executive leaders in higher education, including presidents, provosts, and system heads, to build strategic partnerships and influence policy; ability to represent organizational priorities in public forums.
Ability to lead complex, cross-functional initiatives aligned with organizational strategy and drive execution through influence and collaboration.
Deep knowledge of higher education, including state and system-level policy, college access trends, and technology-driven enrollment solutions.
Ability to interpret and apply enrollment data and policy research to inform decisions, shape partnerships, and influence organizational direction.
Commitment to access and equity in education, with ability to translate these values into scalable strategies, partnerships, and innovations.
Success developing business cases, strategic growth models, or policy alignment plans supporting organizational expansion and external partnership goals.
Advanced relationship-building and stakeholder engagement skills, including influencing and aligning diverse internal and external partners.
Ability to lead in collaborative, matrixed environments, foster inclusive decision-making, and proactively drive strategic outcomes.
Exceptional communication, analytical, and presentation skills for conveying complex ideas to senior stakeholders, government partners, and cross-functional teams.
Strong organizational and execution skills, including managing high-impact initiatives across multiple stakeholders while balancing strategic vision with operational excellence.

Nice To Haves

Graduate degree in an MBA, MA, or doctoral program in a relevant field of study.
Education technology and market/competitor analysis experience.
Organizational membership experience.
Proficiency in Salesforce.
Passion for higher education.

Responsibilities

Lead the strategy and execution for building and expanding partnerships with state higher education systems, government agencies, and policy stakeholders.
Cultivate and secure state-level agreements to implement Common App products and services.
Position Common App as a trusted voice and preferred partner in state and national higher education access initiatives.
Set state partnership goals and oversee government relations work.
Ensure retention of current state partnerships and align portfolio needs and opportunities with organizational strategy.
Work cross-functionally to design and execute initiatives that advance Common App’s reach.
Represent Common App in high-level engagements with state education leaders, elected officials, and nonprofit executives.

Benefits

Paid time off (PTO).
Seven company-wide holidays and nine floating holidays.
Sick leave and a monthly mental health day.
Virtual-first office and virtual-first support.
Choice of PC or Mac laptop; optional external monitor, keyboard, mouse, and/or headset.
One-time office setup stipend, monthly remote work stipend, and monthly mobile stipend.
Market-based salaries and performance-based bonus.
403(b) retirement plan with a 5% company contribution and an additional 5% company match; participation may begin immediately, with a three-year vesting schedule.
Choice of two health insurance plans; coverage begins on date of hire.
Health Savings Account, depending on health plan selection.
Medical Flexible Spending 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, with option to purchase additional life insurance for the employee, spouse, and dependents.
Company-provided short- and long-term disability insurance.
Budgeted annual funds for professional development and growth opportunities within the company.
Mutual of Omaha Employee Assistance Program, will preparation services, and travel assistance.
Payroll-deduction pet insurance through PinPaws.
1Password family account.