Director, Academic Strategy

• Develop, refine, and execute a K–12 academic strategy aligned with organizational priorities, student outcomes, and state accountability expectations.
• Own and continuously improve the K–12 School Playbook and annual school planning process, including planning requirements, quality standards, guidance, tools, and supporting resources.
• Manage the Academic Strategy function’s budget and staffing plan, allocating resources effectively to support strategic priorities and Playbook execution.
• Ensure academic planning is integrated across instruction, assessment, MTSS, professional learning, observation, graduation strategy, and related school priorities.
• Design and lead rigorous Playbook review and feedback processes that improve planning quality, consistency, and implementation across schools.
• Analyze academic, engagement, graduation, and accountability data to identify systemic trends, performance gaps, risks, and opportunities, translating findings into actionable priorities.
• Identify effective practices and recurring implementation challenges, codify successful approaches, and scale evidence-informed solutions across the portfolio.
• Lead proactive academic supports and instructional strategy implementation, with a particular focus on Tier 1 instruction, student academic supports, and implementation fidelity.
• Establish clear frameworks, expectations, tools, professional learning, and resources that enable schools to consistently implement effective academic practices.
• Partner with school and portfolio leaders to understand contextual challenges, strengthen execution, and ensure national strategies remain practical and responsive.
• Provide strategic oversight for national school counseling priorities, including graduation planning, on-track monitoring, course and credit completion, postsecondary planning, student engagement, and accountability outcomes.
• Direct program managers in translating strategic priorities into implementation plans, school-facing resources, professional learning, and operational support.
• Evaluate academic and counseling initiatives using implementation and outcome data, recommending adjustments and continuous improvements where needed.
• Collaborate with Accountability, Assessment, Research, Curriculum, School Services, Special Programs, Career Readiness, Transformation, and other functions to align academic strategies and organizational support.
• Lead and develop direct reports while fostering a culture of accountability, continuous improvement, strategic execution, and student-centered decision-making.

Requirements

• Master’s degree in education, educational leadership, curriculum and instruction, school administration, or a related field; an Ed.D., Ph.D., or other advanced degree is preferred.
• At least 10 years of experience in educational leadership, academic strategy, instructional leadership, school leadership, program leadership, or a comparable field, or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Demonstrated experience using academic and student performance data to establish strategy and improve outcomes across multiple schools, programs, or stakeholder groups.
• Deep knowledge of effective K–12 instructional practices, academic performance measures, graduation outcomes, and school accountability systems.
• Strong quantitative and qualitative analytical capabilities, with the ability to identify systemic patterns and translate complex findings into practical strategies.
• Proven ability to design coherent planning processes, quality standards, review mechanisms, and continuous improvement systems that strengthen implementation.
• Experience developing scalable academic frameworks, tools, resources, and operating practices across multiple schools or locations.
• Strong strategic thinking, problem-solving, project management, and execution skills, with the ability to move effectively from analysis to implementation.
• Demonstrated leadership and talent-development capabilities, including experience coaching, developing, and motivating teams through change.
• Outstanding written, verbal, presentation, and executive communication skills, with confidence engaging senior leaders and diverse stakeholders.
• Strong cross-functional collaboration skills and the ability to build alignment across complex organizations.
• Highly organized and results-oriented, with the ability to manage multiple high-priority initiatives in a deadline-driven environment.
• Experience as a school or district instructional leader, in virtual education, across multiple states or locations, or with school counseling, graduation, or student success functions is highly desirable.
• Experience developing organization-wide academic strategies, instructional frameworks, school planning processes, or continuous improvement systems is preferred.

Benefits

• Annual salary range of $122,073.75–$155,025, with compensation determined by factors including geographic location, experience, education, training, qualifications, and local market conditions.
• Eligible employees may receive a performance-based bonus.
• Robust benefits package that may include health benefits, retirement contributions, and paid time off.
• Fully remote position open to candidates located across all 50 U.S. states and Washington, D.C.
• Opportunity to influence academic strategy and student outcomes across a large, nationwide K–12 education portfolio.
• Senior-level visibility and the opportunity to collaborate with school leaders and multidisciplinary teams.
• Leadership and professional development opportunities through ownership of strategic initiatives and portfolio-wide programs.
• Opportunity to build scalable systems, frameworks, and evidence-based practices that can improve outcomes across diverse school communities.
• Inclusive environment focused on personalized learning, innovation, collaboration, and continuous improvement.