Executive Director, Partnerships

Summary

Join Instruction Partners as their Executive Director, Partnership! This full-time, remote position, based anywhere in the contiguous US, involves up to 60% national travel. You will lead a team of 40+ experienced educators, focusing on instructional improvement in school systems nationwide. The role demands strong leadership, relationship building with school system leaders, and strategic team management. You will be responsible for setting goals, monitoring impact, and coaching teams to enhance instruction and student outcomes. This position offers a competitive salary and benefits package.

Requirements

• 12+ years of educational experience
• 5+ years of system-level instructional leadership and/ or multiple years of non-profit experience consulting directly with school and system-level instructional leaders
• Experience leading improvements in student learning at the school level and across multiple schools

Responsibilities

• Establish goals for partner impact and strategies for data gathering and monitoring the quality and impact of service delivery
• Set clear expectations for all Partnership team members on instructional leader capacity building and the quality of partner delivery, resulting in improved instruction and student outcomes
• Manage multiple Managing Directors of Instructional Support who are responsible for the quality of partner delivery
• Build the capacity of Managing Directors to develop their team members around all aspects of service delivery
• Observe partner delivery and review partner-specific goals and action plans, providing feedback and coaching to team members
• Provide input and recommendations around topics for internal team professional learning and support your teams in regular practice and feedback ahead of partner delivery
• Develop trusting relationships with superintendents and senior leaders in our largest school system partners, serving as a thought partner to senior leaders and supporting renewal efforts with large partners
• Coach Managing Directors and their teams around partner renewals, monitoring partner progress and satisfaction and advising teams on partnership strategy and relationship management
• Support our Engagement team with the development of new partnerships - meeting with senior school system leaders, sharing examples of our work and impact, and meeting with local funders or state leaders as relevant
• Build and sustain a team of 40+ educators through effective hiring, development, and retention of team members
• Support Managing Directors in creating joyful and inclusive team experiences for team members, aligned to the Instruction Partners core values
• Manage team member capacity and allocation through equitable distribution of partner and deliverable assignments
• Provide ongoing learning and development experiences for team members, building their skills in facilitating and supporting school and system leaders, all in service of our partnership impact goals
• With your peer Executive Directors on the Partnership team, develop agendas and facilitation approach for meetings of all Managing Directors of Instructional Support and leaders from our Partnership Design and Support Team
• As a team, create plans for team development and monitor the quality of partnership delivery
• As a member of Partnership Leadership Group, set goals and policies for Partnership delivery and team experience and identify improvements in service design and delivery to increase impact for partner schools and students
• Serve as a member of Instruction Partners’ Leadership Team and inform and guide decisions and strategies that drive our collective work and impact

Preferred Qualifications

• Excellence in building the capacity of instructional leaders through vision/expectations setting, coaching, and professional learning - centering the needs of students in our priority groups
• Experience working in and managing multi-layered teams of managers while building the capacity, empowering culture, and independent leadership and decision-making of team members. Ability to nimbly strategize with and coach leaders “at the balcony level” and drive practical, timely execution of service delivery “on the dance floor.”
• Experience navigating the power structures within and across teams and organizations with an equity lens and knack for direct conflict resolution
• Deep knowledge of instructional excellence and instructional leadership practices at the school and system level. Able to understand the assets, needs, and personalities of a school system in order to develop plans that will work for their context
• Convincing public speaking and facilitation that engages and inspires; ability to articulate a compelling educational vision that leads others to follow
• Able to develop empathetic and trusting relationships with school and system-level leaders across a wide range of communities and contexts
• Excellent project management and operational leadership skills and experience with large-scale program delivery projects
• Data-driven orientation and a commitment to whatever works best rather than attachment to particular theories or ideologies
• Versatility and a total learner mentality; comfort learning about new content areas and approaches to work
• Willingness and ability to travel 60% of time each month for management and business development, with preference for individuals living in the Western United States

Benefits

• Salary: $192,000.00
• Competitive benefits
• Private retirement investment options
• Generous vacation policy
• Remote work