Senior Program Director, State Chief Liaison

ACT Education•Iowa City, IA

10d•$120,000 - $160,000•Remote

About The Position

At ACT, Your Work Makes a Difference Education has power a power that changes lives forever. It creates opportunities that lift up individuals, their families, and sparks societal change that echoes through generations to come. From our grassroots we have fought the good fight for equity in education, and we remain devoted to helping anyone who struggles to access that power. This is what matters to us and we must do better -- weve never been more sure of our purpose. ACT team members are part of an organization dedicated to a mission that has never been more important: Helping people achieve education and workplace success. Advancing that mission within our organization, by helping our team members achieve education and workplace success of their own, is core to our values. ACT values a diverse workplace and is committed to fostering an inclusive, equitable environment in which every team member has an opportunity to grow. We want our team members to have the well-being and confidence they need to do their best work, in an environment where both they and ACT thrive. To support this, our total rewards include company paid life insurance, medical, dental, vision, flexible health and dependent spending accounts, 401(k) retirement savings with company match, paid holidays, paid time off, and so much more. You can find a comprehensive list of our benefits here . We are seeking a Senior Program Director, State Chief Liaison to help us fulfill that mission. The Senior Program Director, State Chief Liaison will focus on connecting K-12 Commissioners, Deputy Commissioners, and Boards of Education to ACTs policy-driven strategies that influence revenue and long-term positioning. The finalist will be hired at the salary and level commensurate with their qualifications. For this position, we anticipate offering an annual salary in the range of $120,000 to $160,000. ACT manages salaries within the range based on relevant factors including, skills, experience, and internal equity. Location: This is a remote position, based in the United States. Applicants must be authorized to work in the U.S. without the need for visa sponsorship.

Requirements

At least 10 years of progressively responsible experience in education industry.
Experience serving in a leadership role at a State Department of Education, a State Higher Education Executive Officers (SHEEO) agency, or a State Department of Labor, in roles such as Commissioner, Deputy Commissioner, Assistant Commissioner, Chief of Staff, State Director, or equivalent executive leadership roles.
Demonstrated ability to engage and influence senior state officials.
Deep understanding of state education policy, accountability systems, and governance structures.
Proven experience translating complex policy landscapes into strategic organizational action.
Exceptional communication skills, especially in executive-level environments.
Ability to travel frequently (approx. 30%-40%) and manage executive relationships across multiple states.
Ability to gain and apply in depth product knowledge of ACTs products and services, including how the products and services are collectively used to provide solutions to state customers.
Demonstrated ability to influence and engage key state executives.
Ability to gather and use competitive intelligence to create strategies that advance and/or protect ACTs interests.
Ability to work effectively and build relationships with individuals within the organization.
Strong communication skills including ability to communicate effectively across all levels in the organization, as well as outstanding presentation skills.
Strong analytical abilities and the ability to determine logical solutions to complicated problems.
Ability to set goals and priorities and manage to completion.
Strong negotiation skills.
Skills and knowledge required for success in this position attained through experience and education (Bachelors degree in Education, Business, or related area of study), or a combination of both.

Nice To Haves

Assessment industry experience.
Account management or sales experience.
Previous experience and demonstrated success leading, managing, and building teams.

Responsibilities

Build and maintain relationships with state-level decision-makers (Commissioners, Boards of Education, Deputy Commissioners).
Advise on policy trends and accountability shifts impacting assessment and readiness programs.
Serve as ACTs policy liaison for executive-level discussions, ensuring ACT solutions align with state priorities.
Influence and guide RFP executive summaries and model frameworks to reflect policy priorities.
Provide strategic intelligence on state education policy changes and their implications for ACTs offerings.
Collaborate with Government Relations (GR) to ensure unified messaging without duplicating lobbying efforts.