Manager of Marketing and Business Development

Job Description

Manager of Marketing and Business Development Location: National Office, Boston, MA
Organizational Overview: Founded in Boston in 2005, The Achievement Network (ANet) is an entrepreneurial, rapidly expanding nonprofit organization on the cutting edge of education reform. ANet partners with schools serving low-income students to build their capacity to use data effectively to dramatically improve student achievement. ANet recognizes that the effective use of student achievement data is critical to a school’s efforts to close the achievement gap. ANet offers a comprehensive solution to boost a school’s capacity to adopt a data-driven approach, involving three key strategies:
I. Implement standards-aligned quarterly assessments and user-friendly data reports to determine which standards students are mastering and also where there are gaps in student learning. II. Provide intensive coaching to help schools use the data effectively to create action plans to address gaps in learning and to re-teach concepts that students have not yet mastered. III. Facilitate a peer network of leaders and teachers for best practice sharing and collaboration to accelerate improvement in schools across the network.
ANet has experienced tremendous growth over the last four years, and now serves over 350 schools educating 100,000 students in Massachusetts, Chicago, Newark, New Orleans, New York City, Tennessee, and Washington, D.C. Across our national network, our partner schools are outperforming their peers, with schools in most of our networks achieving twice the gains of non-ANet schools. Our strategies and services have consistently helped schools – whether district or charter, new to ANet or long-time partners – achieve breakthrough results for their students.
ANet has received a prestigious Investing In Innovation grant from the federal government as well as New Schools Venture Fund’s “Organization of the Year” award in 2011. ANet is an innovative organization experiencing tremendous growth; by 2017 ANet expects to reach 250,000 students while continuing to deliver breakthrough results for schools. Position Overview: We are seeking a Manager of Marketing and Business Development to build ANet’s capacity for communicating our impact and value to school and district partners. This individual will play a leadership role in creating “pull” for ANet’s partnership among schools and districts, as well as equipping key ANet staff to communicate clearly and effectively about ANet. The position will require the Manager to draw logical insights from data and work with colleagues to develop those insights into persuasive documents and strategies to attract partners to our network. It will also require the Manager to deliver training to colleagues that help them utilize these materials. This role will report to the Managing Director of Business Development and work closely with colleagues in Business Development, as well as select colleagues outside of Business Development.
Responsibilities: Responsibilities include, but are not limited to:
Build the capacity of ANet’s staff to describe the value and impact of our work • Analyze student performance, teacher practice, school satisfaction, and other data to create descriptions of ANet’s value and impact • Develop presentations, one-pagers, artifacts, and other collateral that ANet’s Executive Directors and other staff can use to support sales conversations with potential school partners • Maintain marketing content so that it is up-to-date and consistently refreshed to reflect innovations in our program and the success stories of our school partners • Set up ANet staff to use marketing materials through training and by ensuring easy access through our intranet and other channels • Work with ANet’s Program Team to refine materials that ANet’s school-based staff use to introduce ANet to school partners and to describe our work; provide training on these materials
Help ANet’s Network Teams access new channels for connecting with potential school partners • Work with ANet Executive Directors to open new channels of communication with potential partner schools and innovate on the way we currently create and maintain those partnerships • Provide differentiated support to each of our geographic networks that will help them create more “pull” for ANet’s services and set them up for sustainable growth • Work with our Executive Directors and coaches to mobilize ANet’s existing partners and other key supporters to help build our network of schools
Work with colleagues to connect marketing activities with broader Business Development efforts • Work with colleagues in Business Development and across our geographic networks to ensure efficient execution, tracking, and reporting of our efforts to secure school partnerships • Support growth planning within existing networks by researching districts and schools, developing an understanding of school budgets, etc • Support special projects related to pricing, product design, market research, competitive intelligence and other strategic topics
Required Skills and Characteristics: In order to be successful in this role, the ideal candidate must be able to draw insights from data, communicate them crisply, and work closely with colleagues to support the effective use of materials. In particular, she or he will demonstrate the following: • Belief in The Achievement Network’s mission and strategy • Demonstrated track record of moving people toward action • Ability to synthesize key messages and build concise arguments that align with the interests of diverse stakeholders • Demonstrated skill composing sales and marketing collateral using media such as PowerPoint (graphic design skill not required; only communication skill) • Track record of successfully building the capacity of others to communicate key messages on behalf of an organization in a sales setting • Track record of working across organizational structures to build enthusiasm for new initiatives • Ability to manage time, organize multi-step projects, and collaborate with colleagues Experience and Educational Background: • Three to five years’ experience in marketing; experience in an education organization also preferred • Two to four years’ of relevant experience at a high-growth, multi-site organization • Bachelor’s degree required; advanced degree preferred
What We Offer: ANet is a dynamic, entrepreneurial, team-oriented organization that is committed to the professional development of all staff members. Individuals who join ANet have the opportunity to join an exceptional team of colleagues committed to helping schools to close the achievement gap. ANet offers a comprehensive benefits plan including health and dental insurance; a 401(K) plan; 10 paid holidays as well as paid days off between the Christmas and New Year’s holidays; three weeks vacation (four weeks after two years with the organization); and short and longterm disability coverage.
Salary: Salary for this position is highly competitive and is based on prior experience and qualifications.
How to Apply: The Achievement Network is soliciting applications for this position immediately. To apply, please visit our website, http://www.achievementnetwork.org/careers/ and click the “Apply Now” button. You can review our positions, create an application, and upload a resume and thoughtful cover letter, outlining how your skills and experience meet the qualifications of the position and stating how you heard about this opportunity. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling and urgent basis.
The Achievement Network is committed to maximizing the diversity of our organization. We are an equal opportunity employer and seek individuals of all ethnic and racial backgrounds to apply to this position.