Managing Director, District & Strategic Partnerships

OVERVIEW

Leanlab Education is a nonprofit research organization that specializes in connecting edtech companies and school communities to codesign learning resources for students. Unique to Leanlab’s research process is the focus on Codesign—a research framework that emphasizes the co-creation of research objectives, methodologies, data collection, and dissemination among researchers, educators, and developers.

Leanlab Education has developed strong connections with educators and districts. In partnership with school communities in our AGILE Network, we have conducted research projects in school districts across the country. These projects range in scope from single-day, immersive focus groups to year-long correlational studies. 

Our research team represents leading thinking on implementation science and learning engineering. Dr. Bror Saxberg (Kaplan, Chan Zuckerberg Initiative), Dr. Edith Gummer (NSF, Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation, ASU), and Dr. Sean Talamas (Character Lab) guide research strategy from our board of directors, while Dr. Lynne Harden (former EdPuzzle) and Dr. Akila Raoul (Loyola University Chicago) lead our research practice. Our clients have included venture-backed startups and NSF/SBIR award winners like Subject, Sown To Grow, Boddle, and range to established companies and leaders in innovation, like Logitech, Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, and Chan Zuckerberg Initiative. 

POSITION OVERVIEW

The Managing Director, District & Strategic Partnerships will lead Leanlab Education’s strategic evolution of our research network of innovative and diverse school districts, charter schools, learning environments, and educators across the country.  This network of administrators, educators, and school staff collaborate, share ideas, problem-solve to co-construct, trial, and evaluate new education technologies. This position will lead recruitment of school districts, design programming to enroll and retain district leadership, and develop and lead strategic partnerships and programming domestically and internationally that amplifies Leanlab’s approach and findings. This position reports to the CEO and manages the Director of School R&D & Strategic Partnerships as well as other contract or part-time staff, as necessary.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

AGILE Network Evolution Strategy & Execution (50% )

  • In alignment with an evolved strategy focused on AI R&D, craft and execute a plan for growing and developing the AGILE Network. The AGILE Network is an exclusive group of innovative and diverse school districts, charter schools, learning environments, and educators across the country conducting research in collaboration with new and growing edtech companies that seek to solve real problems in their classrooms, directly contributing to the development of evidence-based learning solutions.

    • Identify, recruit, onboard, and retain learning environments (districts, charter schools, micro-schools ,etc)into our AGILE Network with enhanced focus on the profile of school districts that will strengthen our R&D efforts. 

    • This process should be relational and holistic in nature (rather than transactional), and include community building tactics such as identifying stakeholders, conducting needs assessments, building communities of practice, aligned professional development, and networking opportunities across school systems

  • Understand and lead all operational steps necessary to implement semester-long pilot research projects of edtech tools including managing IT integration, data share agreements, data management and data security, curriculum and instruction leadership, and coordination of school principals and instructional coaches.

  • Retain and grow the AGILE Network. Currently, there are 22 districts completing the first year of the Network with the goal to reach 100 districts by the end of the 2027-28 school year. This growth will prioritize national expansion with a focus on key markets and profiles that will enhance cutting-edge R&D. 

Strategic Partnerships (30%)

  • Identify, develop, and maintain relationships with adjacent partner organizations that source and support innovative school districts, and that act as strategic allies within the R&D community.

  • Support CEO with maintaining a global presence within the edtech R&D field through GETN and GETN-US and through engaging in coalition-building work within the national and international edtech R&D community.

    • Build and maintain relationships with national and international entities that serve as thought and practice leaders. 

    • Represent Leanlab Education on national and international platforms and stages through cohort engagement, workshop and conference presentation, collaborative working groups, and other public-facing engagements.

Team Leadership

  • Lead the Schools Team to achieve a high level of satisfaction (NPS Score of 70) from AGILE members and research participants through: 

    • Events/engagement opportunities and menu of benefits that add value to all network members and create a strong sense of community.

    • Cultivating strong matches and successful, efficient R&D implementations.

    • Consistent engagement from district staff and high levels of district retention.

  • Consistently achieve all school research targets and goals, as defined by the Leanlab team. 

KEY QUALIFICATIONS

  • Proven track record of an ability to create strong overarching strategy and aligned detail-oriented plans that lead a team to successful execution.

  • Proven track record of an ability to create engaging and professional presentation materials for high-stakes situations and high-profile audiences.

  • Proven track record of building, managing, and growing a collaborative professional community.

  • Exceptional written and oral communication skills; ability to present with confidence, clarity, and enthusiasm to high stakes audiences, including superintendents, funders, board members, etc. that conveys credibility.

  • Ability to negotiate high stakes and sensitive agreements, including data share agreements for ongoing R&D with school districts.

  • Advanced experience in program design and project management. 

  • Ability to communicate complex ideas clearly and effectively in written and verbal communications.

  • Enthusiasm for education R&D and knowledge of cutting-edge trends in education, innovation, and edtech.

  • Knowledge of the national landscape of education innovation. 

  • Ability to work in a nimble environment. 

Minimum requirements

  • 5+ years of direct experience in or with public school districts; Demonstrated experience in navigating, communicating, and building partnerships within bureaucratic school systems.

  • 5+ years in leadership roles at aligned organizations with strategy, budget and people management responsibilities.

  • Ability to travel nationally and internationally to execute the responsibilities of the role, up to 25% of the time.

  • Master’s or advanced degree in education and/or education administration preferred.

  • Proficient with Microsoft, Google suites and Airtable.

BENEFITS AND SALARY

This is an exempt, fully remote position with up to 25% national and international travel. Candidates must be authorized to work in the United States and be based in the United States. Anticipated salary range for this role is $136,000 - $167,000 annually, exclusive of performance-based bonuses. This range is negotiable and commensurate with experience, but must remain aligned with our internal compensation philosophy. This role is eligible for full benefits (health, dental, vision) and retirement plan with company match. 

HOW TO APPLY

Please complete this questionnaire.

If our team feels that your experience is aligned with the role, we will reach out to schedule a call to discuss next steps, as well as answer any questions you may have.