Partnerships Manager (Fractional)

COMPANY OVERVIEW

Leanlab Education is a nonprofit organization dedicated to building a more equitable and effective education ecosystem through evidence-based research and innovation. Leanlab partners directly with schools and education technology companies to co-design and rigorously test solutions that address the real needs of students and educators. With a focus on usability testing, rapid-cycle evaluation, and scaling proven innovations, Leanlab is a trusted bridge between classrooms and the broader education technology marketplace.

POSITION OVERVIEW

Leanlab Education is seeking a fractional Partnerships Manager to recruit forward-thinking edtech companies to participate in Leanlab’s Codesign Product Research program.

Knowledge of the edtech landscape, pipeline development and management, and sales experience are essential to success in this position.

This individual contributor is responsible for supporting Leanlab’s pipeline of education technology companies. The Partnerships Manager will source and cultivate leads for Leanlab’s Codesign research portfolio, manage opportunities in the pipeline, and close contracts with a high degree of autonomy.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

VENTURE RECRUITMENT AND SALES

  • Cultivate a pipeline of K12 education technology companies to engage in Codesign Product Research

  • Manage daily responsibilities related to sales, including but not limited to:

    • Responding to prospect emails

    • Taking meetings with prospects

    • Updating the CRM

  • Proactively update the Leanlab team on progress towards sales goals and high-level insights

  • Update and maintain a customer profile aligned to Leanlab values, program offerings, and school needs

  • Support iteration and refinement of Leanlab’s sales process, including prospecting and proposal writing

  • Prospect and identify education technology companies aligned to the ideal target profile

  • Collaborate with the Leanlab team to identify marketing opportunities and promote Leanlab Education products and services to K12 entrepreneurs

  • Maintain an understanding of technology business development, venture capital networks, and the support organizations that help edtech companies achieve growth and scale 

COMMUNICATION & RESEARCH ORIENTATION

  • Clearly and persuasively communicate Leanlab’s mission and approach to Codesign Product Research

  • Speak with confidence to relevant research methodologies and frameworks appropriate for the evaluation of education technology in public school settings (i.e. ESSA Tiers of Evidence)

  • Diagnose the right type of research aligned to an education technology product’s stage of development (market research vs usability research vs quasi-experimental studies, for instance)

KEY QUALIFICATIONS

  • Passion for education, research, and the potential of education technology

  • Ambitious and results-driven

  • Ability to build strong, authentic relationships quickly

  • Ability to foster trust and communicate clearly with diverse partners

  • Interact comfortably with multiple stakeholders

  • Confidence and humility to ask questions, admit and address challenges, and “fail forward”

  • Ability to prioritize, plan, organize, and schedule efficiently 

  • Generate new and innovative approaches to solve problems

  • Willingness to give and receive affirming and adjusting feedback within the Leanlab team

  • Alignment with Leanlab’s mission, vision, and values

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

  • 3+ years of experience in edtech sales or an aligned field

  • Experience working directly with prospects and some experience with strategy development/sales leadership

  • Knowledge of outbound marketing strategies 

  • Experience in a startup or similar fast-paced, high-growth environment preferred

  • Proficient with Google Suites

  • Experience with Airtable

  • Experience with CRM platforms (e.g., Salesforce, Copper)

  • Strong analytical skills with the ability to collect, organize, analyze, and disseminate complex data with attention to detail and accuracy

  • Exceptional written and verbal communication skills; an adept copywriter that can modify communications to match diverse audiences (funders, researchers, entrepreneurs, general public, etc.)

CONTRACT DETAILS

  • This is a fully remote, hourly contractor role

  • Hours will average 10–15 hours/week

  • Expected availability: Weekdays during standard business hours (ET or CT)

  • Duration: January to June 2026, with possibility of extension

  • Compensation: $40–$50 per hour, commensurate with experience; eligible for performance bonuses

  • Contractor must be authorized to work in the United States

HOW TO APPLY

Please fill out this application. If our team feels that your experience is aligned with the role, we will reach out to schedule a 30-minute Zoom meeting to discuss your background and answer any questions you might have.