Senior Director, State Partnerships - U.S. Remote

Do you have a passion for higher education? Do you want to make a positive impact on the college admissions process? Our staff help to remove barriers and encourage students to forge their path to a better future. Common App is a national not-for-profit organization dedicated to the pursuit of access, equity, and integrity in the college admission process. Each year we support more than 1 million students, one-third of whom are first-generation, as they apply to our more than 1100 diverse member colleges & universities using the Common App's free online application.

If you are an experienced strategic partnerships professional and want to be part of a mission-driven non-profit that uses innovative technology to advance the college admission process, Common App may be a great match for you. Common App is currently searching for a Senior Director, State Partnerships.

Reporting to the VP, Network Growth, the Senior Director of State Partnerships leads the organization’s strategy and execution for building and expanding partnerships with state higher education systems, government agencies, and policy stakeholders through public‑sector collaboration. A leader with deep relationships and understanding of the access, affordability, and attainment agendas of states, the person in this role is responsible for driving organizational growth and impact by cultivating and securing state‑level agreements to implement Common App products and services.

This leader will position Common App as a trusted voice and a preferred partner in state and national higher education access initiatives. The Senior Director provides leadership in setting state partnership goals, overseeing government relations work, ensuring retention of current state partnerships and aligning state partnership portfolio needs and opportunities with organizational strategy. They work cross‑functionally to design and execute initiatives that advance Common App’s reach, and they represent the organization in high‑level engagements with state education leaders (e.g. SHEEOs and CSSOs), elected officials, and non‑profit executives.

This role requires:

• Candidates must live in the United States.
• Willing to travel to attend twice annual Common App Retreat and approximately 40% travel for external meetings to secure state partnerships and attend conferences.
• Bachelor's degree in Business Administration, Education, non‑profit management or related field; or an equivalent combination of experience and education.
• 10+ years of experience leading complex programs in higher education, with an emphasis on strategic partnerships, cross‑sector collaboration, and systems‑level impact.
• 8+ years of experience as a people manager.
• Demonstrated ability to lead strategic evaluation and continuous improvement efforts by applying data‑driven methodologies to assess program effectiveness, inform policy alignment, and drive organizational learning.
• Skilled in convening diverse stakeholders and translating feedback into actionable strategies that enhance program design, align with strategic goals, and demonstrate measurable impact.
• Proven experience engaging executive leaders in higher education, including Presidents, Provosts, and system heads, to build strategic partnerships and influence policy. Skilled at representing organizational priorities in public forums, including policy discussions, state convenings, and national conferences.
• Demonstrated ability to lead complex, cross‑functional initiatives that align with organizational strategy, driving execution through influence and collaboration across departments and with external stakeholders.
• Deep knowledge of the higher education landscape, including state and system‑level…