VP, Account Management & Policy Strategy

Acceleration Academies is passionate about improving student outcomes. We provide two capabilities that drive student success. Our dropout recovery and student re-engagement program (Acceleration Academies), is an innovative education partner helping young adults overcome real-life challenges to earn their high school diploma tuition-free through partnerships with state or local school districts across the country. Our technology platform (Incite®) enables data-driven teaching and learning. These offerings are both rooted in our belief that every student deserves access to the best instruction, tools and resources possible. 

Job Title: VP, Account Management & Policy Strategy

Employment Type: Full Time

Location: Remote, with up to 40% travel required

Reports To: CEO

Compensation & Benefits

Base Salary: $150,000+

Incentives: Bonus compensation plan

Benefits: 401(k) with 4% company match; Flexible Paid Time Off (subject to policy); Medical, Dental, Vision, FSA, Life, Disability, Hospital Indemnity, Critical Illness, & Accident insurance coverages available; Employer-paid financial wellness program; Employee referral incentives; Bonus opportunities and more!

Job Description

The VP of Account Management & Policy Strategy role requires a dynamic and resilient individual capable of problem solving, decision making, and navigating education policy while delivering on strategic objectives. As a people-based business, this role requires an individual who can effectively engage and motivate internal and external stakeholders, which will require exemplary people, organization and project management skills. The VP of Account Management & Policy Strategy will have a keen ability to strategically analyze and present data in an effort to influence educational policy and drive organizational KPIs, thereby enhancing partnership health and overall business strategy. 

Job Responsibilities

Account Management:

• Serves as the senior-most account manager for named accounts in assigned states
• Over time, supervises a team of account managers 
• Develops executive-level relationships with strategic functions within each client to understand and react to each client’s strategic needs
• Project manages account deliverables and drive toward key performance indicators
• High-level correspondence and communication with clients
• Oversees client program elements by directly and indirectly managing execution teams
• Provides strategic counsel and pitches recommendations to clients
• Displays high standards of client care at all times and always provide helpful and friendly guidance
• Provides new business support and helps drive client growth
• Leads meetings, ensuring attendance and participation, note taking, and record keeping
• Partners with executive management with respect to client strategy
• Partners with Business Development lead in new sales activities
• Ensures all Customer and Account Facing services are provided in a consistent and timely fashion
• Develops strong relationships with key senior-level and operational customers
• Owns overall account satisfaction for the accounts serviced
• Resolves escalated customer service issues in conjunction with operational and functional teams

Policy:

• Stays current on policy at the state, federal, and local level to drive adoption of and ensure funding for Acceleration Academies programs
• Provides policy strategy, influence, and support to help mitigate operational obstacles including funding policies in target states
• Helps the organization craft a strategic policy and advocacy plan to expand the reach of Acceleration Academy programming and drives action toward results
• Drives awareness of Acceleration Academies efficacy and success
• Project manages activities to effect legislative change where necessary (including managing external advocacy agencies and ICs)

Job Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree required
• 10+ years of senior-level account management experience in the education industry with demonstrable knowledge of educational policy and strategic advocacy
• 5+ years of direct supervisory experience
• Ability to lead projects and business processes that include leadership stakeholders
• Proven track record in managing and growing strategic client relationships
• Strong experience in project management and process improvement
• Strong negotiation skills
• Proven track record in strategy-building, implementation, and execution
• Proficiency/Demonstration of core and role-specific competencies below
• Ability to travel up to 40% of the time (school district partners, internal meetings)
• Background check required

Required Competencies 

The following core competencies define what the organization requires of its employees to succeed and how we expect overall goals to be accomplished each and every day.

• Communication & Interpersonal Skills
• Collaboration & Teamwork
• Caring & Inclusiveness
• Flexibility & Adaptability
• Honesty, Integrity & Reliability
• Results-Orientation

Role-Specific Competencies 

• Business Acumen 
• Strategic Analysis & Problem Solving
• Relationship Management
• Conflict Management & Resolution
• Creative Thinking
• Leadership & People Management
• Project Management

Physical Demands

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. While performing the duties of this job, the worker is regularly required to sit, talk and hear. The worker is frequently required to use wrists, hands, and fingers to touch, handle, feel and type.. The employee is occasionally required to stand, walk and reach with hands and arms and stoop, kneel, or crouch. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 20 pounds. The worker is required to have close visual acuity to perform an activity such as: preparing and analyzing data and figures; transcribing; viewing a computer; extensive reading.

Work Environment and Work Demands

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those a worker encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. While performing the duties of this job, the employee could occasionally be exposed to outside weather conditions. The noise level in the work environment is sometimes consistent with that of a collaborative school environment.

Acceleration Academies is an Equal Opportunity Employer

The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work to be performed and are not intended to be construed as an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties, and skills required of personnel so classified. It is understood that other related duties may be assigned. To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform all aspects of the position, described below satisfactorily. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.