Job Description:

• Meet Stride


• Success Stories


• Responsibility and Inclusion

Over 20 years ago, Stride was founded to provide personalized learning — powered by technology. We reached students where they were in their own journeys. We knocked down their barriers to great education. And we gave every learner equal opportunity to succeed — however they defined success. Stride innovated the learning experience with online and blended learning that prepared them for their lives ahead.

Stride is a community of passionate leaders.  Whether teachers, engineers, curriculum writers, or financial managers — whatever your expertise or role, we all work to empower futures through learning. And changing the trajectory of learning itself is one of our greatest missions.  Join us in developing more effective ways to learn and helping learners build the skills and confidence they need to make their way forward in life.

Summary: The Senior Director, Academics and Partner Relations maintains and grows business partnerships with schools, government entities, sports academies, professional groups, religious organizations and other organizations to effectively run the private school organization. This strategic role leads the private schools in areas including professional accreditation, management of school activities to ensure compliance and accountability to accrediting and governing bodies. In addition, the position is responsible for effective day-to-day operations, including successfully launching and running schools to meet key academic and financial performance indicators (KPIs).

Essential Functions:   

The below statements are intended to describe the general nature and scope of work being performed by this position.  This is not a complete listing of all responsibilities, duties and/or skills required; other duties may be assigned.  Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• Demonstrate an understanding of and support for Stride’s mission, vision, value statements, standards, policies and procedures, operating instructions, confidentiality standards, and the code of ethical behavior


• Drive the private schools’ effectiveness and accreditation activities, documenting that the private schools are achieving their mission and goals and continuously improving their programs and services.


• Accountable for multiple private school programs with bottom-line responsibility for both fiscal and academic performance


• Develop and lead Heads of Schools (HOS) in their roles as instructional leaders and school managers.


• Support HOSs in effective and efficient budget and human resource management.


• Successfully launch multiple new private school programs simultaneously.


• Liaise with corporate shared services to ensure school programs receive necessary support.


• Analyze and drive data-based refinement to the education design to improve student achievement.


• Recruit highly qualified HOS faculty and staff; Develop and appraise staff effectively.


• Attain enrollment and student renewal targets.


• Contribute to the on-going formulation of Stride’s strategy and implementation planning, and then work collaboratively with team members to realize the strategy.


• Provide ongoing relationship management and account support for existing and new partnerships.


• Ensure delivery and renewal of business contracts.


• Create and execute both internal and external compliance and reporting program for all relevant accreditation and agency relationships.


• Build personal relationships with key decision-makers at accreditation and agency institutions.


• Drive attainment of key academic and financial performance indicators (KPIs).


• Provide direct support and leadership to all Heads of Schools in the areas of policy formulation, school improvement plans, program planning, and evaluation of all private school programs.


• Collaborate with Private School Operations, Product Management, Marketing and Sales to plan and coordinate student handbooks, school year calendars, and course catalogs and program availability.


• Consult with academic units in developing, measuring, and analyzing learning outcomes and administrative units in developing, measuring, and analyzing student performance, parent satisfaction as well as instructor and coach feedback outcomes.


• Liaise with Stride’s product development team on issues pertinent to academic quality and improvement.


• Keep abreast of trends and changes in education; Serve as a catalyst to create a climate conducive of scholarly pursuit in relation to the mission of the private schools.

Supervisory Responsibilities: Directly supervise 5 to 20 Full-time Equivalent (FTE) regular employees and/or contractors.  Carries out supervisory responsibilities in accordance with the organization's policies and applicable laws. Responsibilities include interviewing, hiring, and training employees; planning, assigning, and directing work; appraising performance; rewarding and disciplining employees; addressing complaints and resolving problems.

Minimum Required Qualifications:   

• Bachelor’s degree in related field from a four-year college or university with 15+ years related experience; or


• Equivalent combination of education and experience

Certificates and Licenses: None required.

Other Required Qualifications: 

• Strong knowledge of K-12 education market, systems and networks


• Excellent interpersonal skills and ability to communicate effectively through various mediums (presentations, phone, email, web conferences, etc.)


• Team player approach, proven ability to work successfully with teams and individuals


• Ability to maintain multiple development projects in a fast-paced, results-driven environment


• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Outlook, Word, Excel; Web proficiency.


• Ability to travel up to 25% of the time


• Ability to pass required background check

Work Environment:  The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• This is an home-based position.


• This position is open to residents of, and may be performed remotely from Washington, D.C., and from any state in the U.S.

Compensation & Benefits: Stride, Inc. considers a person’s education, experience, and qualifications, as well as the position’s work location, expected quality and quantity of work, required travel (if any), external market and internal value when determining a new employee’s salary level.  Salaries will differ based on these factors, the position’s level and expected contribution, and the employee’s benefits elections.  Offers will typically be in the bottom half of the range. 

• The minimum annual compensation may be around $86,429.  The average annual maximum compensation may be around $164, 965.


• Stride, Inc. offers employees a robust benefits package, including medical, dental, vision, flexible spending accounts, disability and parental leave, voluntary life and AD&D insurance, accident and hospital supplemental plans and commuter benefits.  Employees may also be eligible for paid time off (PTO), 401(k) retirement plan, bonus, and generous professional development programs.

The above job is not intended to be an all-inclusive list of duties and standards of the position. Incumbents will follow any other instructions, and perform any other related duties, as assigned by their supervisor.  All employment is “at-will” as governed by the law of the state where the employee works.  It is further understood that the “at-will” nature of employment is one aspect of employment that cannot be changed except in writing and signed by an authorized officer. 

Stride, Inc. is a Federal Contractor, an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer and a Drug-Free Workplace. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability, protected Veteran status age, or genetics, or any other characteristic protected by law.

Equal Opportunity Employer/Protected Veterans/Individuals with Disabilities

The contractor will not discharge or in any other manner discriminate against employees or applicants because they have inquired about, discussed, or disclosed their own pay or the pay of another employee or applicant. However, employees who have access to the compensation information of other employees or applicants as a part of their essential job functions cannot disclose the pay of other employees or applicants to individuals who do not otherwise have access to compensation information, unless the disclosure is (a) in response to a formal complaint or charge, (b) in furtherance of an investigation, proceeding, hearing, or action, including an investigation conducted by the employer, or (c) consistent with the contractor’s legal duty to furnish information. 41 CFR 60-1.35(c)

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