Who You AreReporting to the Executive Director, Business Development & Finance, the
Senior Director, District Partnerships leads a portfolio of complex K-12 district and education-agency opportunities from first conversation through signed contract. This is a hands-on role for an experienced business-development professional who writes persuasive proposals, develops pricing, and navigates public-sector procurement with confidence.
The Senior Director knows how districts buy professional services and how HR, academic, school, and procurement leaders each shape a decision. Working within the strategy set by the Executive Director, they own decisions within their portfolio, serve as the team's go-to resource on proposal strategy, pricing, and contracting, and build working fluency in NYC Public Schools procurement to support our work in New York City.
What You'll Do- Proposal and Procurement Leadership Leads assigned opportunities from early cultivation and scoping through proposal development, procurement, negotiation, and contract execution.
- Evaluates RFPs and other opportunities for strategic alignment, organizational capacity, financial viability, and likelihood of success.
- Develops persuasive, client-specific proposals that clearly articulate TLA's approach, deliverables, assumptions, and expected impact.
- Shapes proposal strategy based on an understanding of the district's context, decision makers, procurement requirements, and evaluation criteria.
- Develops project pricing and budgets and negotiates contract terms in partnership with Finance and other internal colleagues.
- Anticipates and addresses the documentation, approvals, timelines, and compliance requirements associated with complex district procurement processes.
- Builds and sustains productive relationships with district and education-agency clients and partners.
- Business Development Strategy Contributes market and client insight to TLA's business-development strategy and helps translate that strategy into action.
- Maintains a current understanding of the K-12 district marketplace, including funding conditions, purchasing patterns, decision-making structures, and procurement practices.
- Develops working fluency in NYC Public Schools procurement and vendor practices; prior NYC procurement experience is strongly preferred.
- Partners with the Executive Director and other Business Development colleagues to identify, assess, and prioritize complex and multi-year opportunities.
- Serves as an internal resource on proposal strategy, pricing, procurement, and contracting, sharing expertise that strengthens the team's collective practice.
- Contributes to targeted pipeline-building efforts for regional and national offerings.
- Cross-Functional Collaboration Collaborates across the organization to ensure opportunities reflect TLA's priorities and capabilities and are positioned for successful delivery.
- Works with Client Services and content colleagues to develop scopes that reflect current offerings, approaches, and organizational capacity.
- Partners with Staffing to align proposed scopes with available expertise and talent.
- Partners with Finance to develop accurate pricing, revenue-recognition schedules, invoice plans, and contract terms.
- Maintains accurate and current, prospect, proposal, and client information in TLA's business-development systems.
What You BringRequired:- Bachelor's degree.
- At least five years of progressively responsible experience selling professional services, programs, or solutions to K-12 school districts or education agencies.
- Demonstrated ownership of complex district sales and procurement processes.
- Experience developing and leading complex RFP responses, from initial opportunity assessment and proposal strategy through submission, negotiation, and contract execution.
- Demonstrated ability to understand the priorities of different district buyers and tailor positioning, proposals, and engagement strategies accordingly.
- Experience developing project pricing and budgets and contributing to contract negotiations.
- Knowledge of district operating environments, funding considerations, decision-making structures, and the work of school and system leaders.
- Exceptional proposal, business-writing, verbal communication, and relationship-management skills.
- Ability to produce polished, accurate, client-ready proposals and supporting materials.
- Sound judgment and the ability to make and own decisions while collaborating effectively across functions.
- Ability to manage multiple complex opportunities and deadlines simultaneously.
- Proficiency with business-development, project-management, and AI-enabled tools.
- Preferred Master's Degree or above. Experience working for a nonprofit or for-profit organization that serves K-12 districts (strongly preferred).
- Experience with NYC Public Schools procurement and vendor practices.
What We OfferBenefits highlights:Medical, dental, and vision coverage, including an employer HSA contribution
Paid time off and organization-wide holidays
Paid family leave, with bonding leave topped up to 100% of pay
Compensation & Benefits:HIRING RANGE $110,000 to $120,000 annual base salary
This range reflects TLA's good-faith estimate of the base salary we expect to offer for this role. Where a candidate lands within the range depends on their experience, skills, and internal equity.
