Director, Corporate Partnerships

Role Overview + Responsibilities 

InStride is looking for an experienced Director, Corporate Partnerships to fuel new corporate partner growth and revenue. As a pivotal member of InStride’s commercial organization, the Director, Corporate Partnerships has the exciting opportunity to help shape leading employers’ workforce education programs, guiding them from legacy tuition assistance models to a new, innovative approach that delivers value for both the corporate partner and the employee. This role will report to the GVP, Corporate Partnerships.   

Here on InStride’s commercial team, we are passionate about building tailored solutions that drive towards relevant outcomes and further our corporate partners’ business, talent and community objectives. We aim to provide a best-in-class experience for our corporate partners – from the pre-sale process through to launch and beyond – as well as for our learners. The Director, Corporate Partnerships plays a critical role in these efforts by:

• Leading a deal team, composed of a business development representative and marketing support, that is focused on prioritizing, targeting, creating and closing net new and expansion opportunities within the assigned territory.  
• Developing a deep understanding of InStride’s offerings, our mission, and the competitive landscape
• Leveraging business acumen and strategic thinking to define a clear value proposition for each prospect, creating tailored approaches for each account
• Gaining buy-in from potential partners through relationship building and consultative partnership, aligning on desired outcomes and how InStride can help deliver on them.
• Collaborating effectively with internal stakeholders throughout the selling process as you design, present, and close complex solutions.
• Communicating effectively with an ability to influence executive and C-staff leaders both internally (e.g. InStride Advisory Board) and externally.
• Utilizing Salesforce to maintain accurate and timely corporate partner, pipeline and forecast data.
• Traveling as necessary.

Ideal Profile

• A minimum of 10+ years of related business development/corporate partnership experience, preferably selling tech-enabled services, education, edtech, SAAS, benefits, or HCM solutions to C-level executives.
• Track record of achievement - consistently meeting or exceeding quota.  
• Proficiency in consultative / value based selling with demonstrated ability to deliver results through this sales philosophy.
• Strong strategic thinking skills.
• Experience managing long, complex deal cycles, including the ability to work multiple deals at once (including both late- and early-stage opportunities.)
• High emotional intelligence , adept at establishing rapport in diverse settings, and  deeply empathetic.
• Exceptional storytelling and communication skills.
• Ability to navigate tough situations, internally and externally, and to negotiate the best outcome for all. 
• Experience partnering with internal stakeholders on account strategies throughout the prospect journey.
• Driven by a desire for excellence in the sales craft, constantly striving to improve and demonstrating learning agility.
• Comfort with ambiguity and a “no job too small” startup mentality.
• Proficient in leveraging Salesforce as a CRM.
• Excited by the challenge of building a world-class business that delivers not only high revenue growth, but also has a meaningful impact on society.