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

Common App•Arlington, VA

1d•Remote

About The Position

Common App is a national not-for-profit organization dedicated to advancing access, equity, and integrity in college admission. The Senior Director, State Partnerships leads the organization’s 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, positioning Common App as a trusted voice and preferred partner in state and national higher education access initiatives. Reporting to the VP, Network Growth, 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. The role collaborates across functions to design and execute initiatives that advance Common App’s reach and represents the organization in high-level engagements with state education leaders, elected officials, and nonprofit executives. Candidates must live in the United States. The position is virtual-first and requires attendance at the twice-annual Common App Retreat and approximately 40% travel for external meetings and conferences.

Requirements

Must live in the United States.
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, with an emphasis on strategic partnerships, cross-sector collaboration, and systems-level impact.
8+ years of experience as a people manager.
Demonstrated ability to lead strategic evaluation and continuous improvement efforts using data-driven methodologies.
Experience convening diverse stakeholders and translating feedback into actionable strategies.
Proven experience engaging higher education executive leaders, including presidents, provosts, and system heads, to build partnerships and influence policy.
Ability to represent organizational priorities in public forums, including policy discussions, state convenings, and national conferences.
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 and ability to translate these values into scalable strategies, partnerships, and innovations.
Proven success developing business cases, strategic growth models, or policy alignment plans to support organizational expansion and external partnership goals.
Advanced relationship-building and stakeholder engagement skills, with the ability to influence and align diverse internal and external partners.
Ability to lead in collaborative, matrixed environments, foster inclusive decision-making, and 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 the ability to manage high-impact initiatives across multiple stakeholders.
Willingness to attend the twice-annual Common App Retreat and travel approximately 40% for external meetings and conferences.

Nice To Haves

Graduate degree such as an MBA, MA, or doctoral degree in a relevant field of study.
Education technology and market/competitor analysis experience.
Organizational membership experience.
Proficiency in Salesforce.
A 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 the organization in high-level engagements with state education leaders, elected officials, and nonprofit executives.
Lead strategic evaluation and continuous improvement using data-driven methods to assess program effectiveness, inform policy alignment, and drive organizational learning.
Convene stakeholders and translate feedback into strategies that improve program design, align with strategic goals, and demonstrate measurable impact.
Lead complex cross-functional initiatives through influence and collaboration across departments and external stakeholders.

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 support
Choice of PC or Mac laptop, with optional external monitor, keyboard, mouse, and/or headset
One-time office setup stipend
Monthly remote work stipend
Monthly mobile stipend
Market-based salaries
Performance-based bonus
403(b) retirement plan with 5% company contribution and an additional 5% company match
Two health insurance plan choices
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
Option to purchase additional life insurance for employees and dependents
Company-provided short- and long-term disability insurance
Budgeted annual funds for professional development
Growth opportunities within the company
Mutual of Omaha Employee Assistance Program
Mutual of Omaha will preparation services
Mutual of Omaha travel assistance
Payroll-deduction pet insurance through PinPaws
1Password family account