Today, 67% of students and 82% of low-income students can’t read at grade level by the end of third grade. That’s when students are supposed to go from learning to read to reading to learn. It’s America’s number one education crisis and we know how to fix it.
Ignite Reading delivers one-to-one virtual tutoring that teaches every student the foundational skills they need to become a confident, fluent reader. We pair students who need extra support with expert reading tutors who provide daily, 15-minute, Science of Reading-based instruction that rapidly closes their decoding gaps. We focus on the foundational reading skills—phonics, phonemic awareness, and sight words—kids need to master so they can decode a sentence. Students in Ignite Reading’s program achieve over 2 weeks of reading skills growth per week of instruction, and notably all students achieve the same outstanding results including students with IEPs, multilingual learners, students of color and those receiving free or reduced-price lunch.Ignite Reading is a mission-driven public benefit corporation.
We believe we can do well for our team members and shareholders while we solve one of the nation’s biggest challenges. We believe we will be more successful with a diverse team and are seeking candidates who have lived experience related to social justice, diversity, equity, and inclusion.
Your Role (We are looking for folks who have partnerships experience in the following territories: WI/MN, IL/IN, NC/SC, CO/KS/MO, TN/KY, AL/MS, NV/AZ/UT, PA/NJ, OH/MI)
The Director of Partnerships reports to the Chief Revenue Officer (CRO) and is responsible for growing an assigned regional territory in service of our goal of teaching at least 1 million students per day to read. You will work with an incredible team of educators and EdTech leaders to scale Ignite Reading, achieving quarterly and annual growth targets in service of scaling our mission, and will do so by renewing and expanding existing district partners in addition to identifying and securing net-new district partners in your assigned region. Role Responsibilities Include:
- In partnership with the CRO, develop and own a strategic growth plan for your regional territory to drive awareness of our program and secure new district partnerships
- Leverage your existing senior district leader network to land and expand new district partnerships across the territory
- Collaborate closely with your Customer Success and Literacy Specialist colleagues to ensure excellent implementations and maximum value delivery for district partners, while actively managing senior district leader relationships in order to secure strong renewal and expansion performance.
- Manage and develop partial year district pilots to ensure high probability of eventual conversion and expansion into full year partnerships
- Assist with developing and executing regional marketing plans, inclusive of formal and informal showcase events featuring existing district partners
- Regularly prospect prospective partners and secure in-person and virtual meetings aligned with the Ignite Reading sales process and playbook
- Manage the partnership cycle and sales process to achieve company and individual goals in assigned territory
- Maintain a high standard of CRM (Hubspot) usage, including account and contact, activity, pipeline, and forecast accuracy
Competencies
We are seeking candidates that care deeply about our mission, are motivated by the connection between sales success and student impact, and are ready for an opportunity to provide kids with the highest quality reading instruction available in the marketplace. Candidates with the highest probability of success selling at Ignite Reading have:
- An existing network of senior district leadership contacts (Superintendent, CAO, Assistant Superintendents) in the territory that can be leveraged to build brand awareness and open doors to pilots and net-new opportunities in Year 1. (Note: We are recruiting for the following territories: WI/MN, IL/IN, NC/SC, CO/KS/MO, TN/KY, AL/MS, NV/AZ/UT, PA/NJ, OH/MI)
- Success in consultative sales of non-core/textbook products in the ESSER expiration era (2022-present)
- In-depth knowledge of the Ed Tech market, including emerging trends, competitor landscape, and funding opportunities within the education sector
- Demonstrated success in working with districts of all sizes--rural, suburban, and urban--and deep understanding of the unique challenges and needs of each type
- Proficiency in using CRM systems, such as HubSpot, to manage and track partnerships and sales activities
- Ability to build strong, authentic partnerships with district leaders, grounded in a passion around ensuring students are grade-level readers by the end of 1st grade
- Excellent interpersonal, written, and oral communication skills
- Ability to manage multiple tasks and prioritize appropriately in a fast-paced, startup environment
- Organizational skills, high attention to detail, and superior time management
- Ability to work independently in a remote environment while being a pace setter
- Strong emotional intelligence and ability to work effectively with all types of people
- Strong presentation and conversational skills
- Command of Google Suite and other technology applications, including presentation software
- Willingness to travel at least 50% to build strong relationships and support district partnerships
- Bonus: Experience as a teacher is nice to have, although not required
At Ignite Reading, we’ve decided to embrace a transparent compensation structure for a few reasons:
To promote fairness and equity: This approach supports fairness within our structure. When everyone knows how compensation decisions are made, it reduces the likelihood of pay discrimination based on factors like gender, race, relationships, or negotiation skills.To provide accountability for our approach: The same role receives the same compensation, with no negotiation.To build trust within the organization: When employees understand how their compensation is determined, they are more likely to trust organizational structures and decisions, which can lead to overall better culture.To support legal considerations: Many states are moving to requiring compensation listed on job descriptions and we want to follow these rules. Salary: $115,000 / $230,000+ OTE (This is a full-time, exempt role)
We also ensure you have the tools you need to thrive both in and out of work.
- Employee Stock Options
- Medical, Dental, and Vision (80% employee coverage, 50% dependent coverage)
- Short-term disability (100% employer paid)
- Technology Stipend
- Unlimited PTO + 12 paid holidays
- Professional Development Stipend
- Wellness Reimbursement
- Internet Stipend
- 12 Weeks of Parental Leave
- Yearly Staff Retreat
- Voluntary Life Insurance
We believe in building and fostering a diverse and inclusive workplace environment. We are proud to be an equal opportunity employer where all applicants are considered for employment without attention to color, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, veteran or disability status. Research shows that candidates from underrepresented backgrounds often don't apply for roles if they don't meet all the criteria – unlike majority candidates meeting significantly fewer requirements.
We strongly encourage you to apply if you’re interested!We are seeking candidates who have lived experience related to social justice, diversity, equity, and inclusion. We are a virtual organization with headquarters in the California Bay Area.
