Senior Director, Access Partnerships - U.S. Remote

ABOUT US

Do you have a passion for higher education? Do you want to make a positive impact on the college admissions process? Our staff help to remove barriers and encourage students to forge their path to a better future. Common App is a national not‑for‑profit organization dedicated to the pursuit of access, equity, and integrity in the college admission process. Each year we support more than 1 million students, one‑third of whom are first‑generation, as they apply to our more than 1,100 diverse member colleges & universities using the Common App's free online application.

If you are an experienced K‑12 professional and want to be part of a mission‑driven non‑profit that uses innovative technology to advance the college admission process, Common App may be a great match for you. Common App is currently searching for a Senior Director, Access Partnerships.

As a member of the Network Growth division, and reporting to VP of Network Growth, this position will lead our efforts to establish, maintain, and expand a new way of Common App reaching students through partnerships with community based actors and leaders in from K‑12 to transfer and other postsecondary opportunities. The Senior Director, Access Partnerships will be responsible for developing and establishing partnerships that leverage technology solutions to address the challenges of reducing friction and increasing access to post‑secondary opportunities.

A strategist with knowledge and experience in the K‑12 systems space and higher education, the Senior Director will be responsible for creating new ways for Common App to reach many more students, especially from communities below the national median income. With knowledge and experience in working with state agencies, large school districts, and community based organizations (CBOs), the person in this role will set strategic goals and collaborate across the organization to position Common App for effective partnerships that will rapidly and effectively grow the extent to which students are connected to and able to leverage what Common App has to offer them to access and pursue post‑secondary opportunities.

At Common App we have set an ambitious goal to reach many more students from communities underserved by higher education, and these partnerships are a critical component of this pursuit. As partnerships are established, the Senior Director, Access Partnerships, will build and lead a team to ensure great collaboration and maintenance of efforts. Internally, they will collaborate closely with others to ensure that Common App’s engagements with states, CBOs, and large districts are highly impactful.

This role requires:

• Candidates must live in the United States.
• Willing to travel to attend twice annual Common App Retreat.
• 10+ years of experience in K‑12 education systems, with a strong focus on partnerships, strategy, or program implementation, preferably within or in collaboration with large school districts, state education agencies, or community‑based organizations.
• 8+ years of experience as a people manager.
• Bachelor's degree in Education or relevant field; or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Experience with K‑12 education relationship‑building and/or advocacy.
• Deep understanding of the K‑12 landscape, higher education, and postsecondary opportunities, including systemic priorities, operational structures, the role of data in supporting student outcomes, and how states and large districts establish partnerships.
• Familiarity with education data systems, pre‑K to 16, technologies supporting student‑level data integration, and approaches or issues related to student data.
• Knowledge and understanding of college access issues and current affairs.
• Demonstrated success in initiating, negotiating, and sustaining complex, strategic partnerships in the education sector.
• Proven ability to engage and influence senior‑level stakeholders and decision‑makers in education (e.g., superintendents, state officials, executive directors).
• Strong strategic thinking and analytical skills, with the ability to use insights from the field to inform product development…