Sown To Grow (STG) is a K12 education technology platform that improves student social, emotional, and academic wellbeing -- ensuring every student is seen, supported and learning at their best.
Sown To Grow is seeking an Executive of District Partner Success & Strategic Account Management to join our team who is excited to join a fast-growing startup and is passionate about scaling impactful, evidence-based student support practices. The focus of this role will be to support, renew, and increase Sown To Grow’s depth of implementation in existing scaled districts and partnerships, with a focus on strategic relationships and top-line revenue/impact goals. This position will report to our CEO and collaborate with the broader Implementation, Training and Product teams.
About you
We're seeking individuals who embody the following qualities:
- Are passionate about social impact and driven to help empower the next generation.
- Thrive in ambiguity and can confidently navigate a fast-paced start-up environment.
- Have a strong sense of urgency and enjoy building with purpose.
- Aspire to grow, take on new challenges, and shape the future with a learning mindset.
Position Goals & Outcomes
A strong contributor to Sown To Grow in this role will:
As the Executive of District Partner Success & Strategic Account Management, you will be responsible for driving best-in-class revenue retention, expansion, and student impact at scale. You will cultivate meaningful relationships with key decision-makers, understand their needs, and provide tailored solutions to help them achieve their goals.
Your responsibilities will include executing/leading in a dynamic implementation and partner success team and crafting strategic/expansion initiatives to support and improve depth of practice. You will nurture connections with pivotal partners to develop thought leading insights and pedagogical practices. Consistent knowledge sharing of these insights will help Sown To Grow meet and exceed our growth goals and broaden our market footprint (for example, via conference presentations, webinars, hosted learning workshops, etc.).
We’re searching for a highly experienced education leader with a demonstrated track record of strategic thinking, execution to results, team leadership, outstanding communication abilities, and a fervent drive to achieve outcomes in a rapid-paced setting. Successful leaders in this role will be seen as a trusted advisor of both our district partners and within the leadership team of Sown To Grow.
Responsibilities
- Account/Partner Relationship Management
- Deeply understand the K-12 education context, build trust and credibility with district leaders, and develop a deep understanding of how Sown To Grow fits into and supports district initiatives, systems, and structures.
- Analyze data, identify trends, and support district leaders in presenting impact to key stakeholders (e.g., Board of Education, Cabinet, site leaders, teachers and staff members, parents, etc.).
- Build and maintain strong relationships with school/district leaders, understanding their needs and identifying opportunities for Sown To Grow implementation and expansion.
- Provide exceptional customer service and act as a trusted advisor to district partners, ensuring their satisfaction and driving retention. Address concerns or issues promptly and effectively, seeking resolutions to maintain trust and satisfaction.
- Serve as a primary point of contact to drive district partner engagement, depth of implementation, and demonstrable results. The key outcome of strong account/partner relationship management is superior rates of renewals, referrals, and thought leadership within district contracts.
- Drive Partnership/Account Strategy and Growth
- Develop and execute comprehensive account strategy in close conversation with CEO. Strategies are aligned with company objectives, market trends, and district needs, and drive revenue growth and deeper practice over time.
- Lead proposal/implementation/planning conversations with district partners, ensuring end-to-end success of the contracting process.
- Understand and demonstrate the impact of Sown To Grow, including interactive product demos in high-stakes / pitch environments with senior leaders of district partners (in-person and virtual).
- Monitor growth/renewal/scale performance metrics, analyze data, and identify areas for improvement or optimization. This includes a deep understanding of the Sown To Grow Implementation Journey and school-based thresholds for desired results.
- Collaborate with other functions, such as sales, marketing and product development, to align sales strategies with overall organizational goals.
- Own expansion and renewal targets for specific accounts; manage the entire sales/implementation/renewal cycle.
- Account Management Team Support/Leadership
- Provide best practices, modeling, and coaching in support of the growth team overall, accelerating our path to objectives and motivating team members to achieve targets.
- Foster and support a high-performance culture within the training and growth teams, promoting collaboration, accountability, and continuous improvement.
- Collaboratively work cross-functionally to execute against company strategic objectives and improve the experience and impact of school/district partners.
- As the Account Management Team grows over time, be prepared to extend into a coaching and/or supervisory role to ensure quality execution of all account management tasks and strategies.
- Subject Matter Expert (SME)
- Deep Knowledge & Consultation: Have deep expertise in school systems and the Sown to Grow tool, as it will allow you to provide valuable insights and guidance to your team. Be open to joining sales calls to answer questions, provide guidance, and offer constructive feedback to contribute to the overall success of the team. Stay abreast of industry trends, market developments, policy/funding shifts, and competitor activities to identify opportunities and gaps.
- Problem Solving: Be adept at analyzing complex problems, identifying root causes, and devising innovative solutions for schools and district teams. Leverage competitive analysis to differentiate Sown To Grow's offerings and position the company as a market leader.
- Adaptability: Be flexible and adaptable, able to quickly pivot in response to new challenges or opportunities. This may involve presenting at a conference, facilitating on-site training, adjusting plans, or re-evaluating strategies as needed.
- Continuous Learning: Be committed to continuous learning and staying up-to-date with the latest developments in the education landscape and in our tool. Gather customer feedback to inform product development and sales strategies.
Key Qualifications
The skills and mindsets that will enable success in this role include:
- Bachelor's degree or equivalent training/experience in Business Administration, Sales, Marketing, Education, or a related field.
- 3+ years of experience in business development and/or sales in K-12 education.
- Proven track record of meeting or exceeding sales targets and driving revenue growth.
- Strong execution skills with the ability to deliver results independently and consistently meet objectives.
- Demonstrated ability to build and maintain relationships with key clients and stakeholders.
- Excellent communication, negotiation, and presentation skills in a variety of contexts (e.g., large group, small group, one-on-one, in-person, virtual, etc).
- Proficiency in Hubspot (CRM system) or other sales productivity tools.
- Demonstrated ability to build and maintain relationships with key clients and stakeholders.
Benefits
- Competitive compensation coupled with performance-based incentives, recognizing your contributions and motivating you to excel.
- Comprehensive health and wellness package, ensuring you have access to the care and support you need to thrive both in and out of the workplace.
- Pathways to growth with opportunities for career advancement and professional development.
- Flexible work arrangements and initiatives aimed at promoting work-life balance, enabling you to manage your commitments and priorities effectively while excelling in your role.
Compensation Range
- Base salary range = $110,000 - $130,000 + revenue-based / performance-based bonuses and significant equity compensation (incentive stock options / ISOs).
More about Sown To Grow
Sown To Grow (STG) is a K12 education technology platform that empowers schools to improve student social, emotional, and academic well-being through an easy and engaging reflection and feedback process. Sown To Grow’s foundational product is a simple weekly emotional check-in, where students pick emojis and write short reflections on how they are feeling at school. They start with a focus on emotional well-being and sense of belonging, and expand to social-emotional learning (SEL) competencies and academic goal-setting over time. School & district leaders access real-time reporting and technology-enabled insights on students’ emotional strengths/needs, allowing them to provide proactive support. The system also includes built-in SEL assessment, supporting curriculum, and powerful artifacts of growth.
STG has received seed funding from highly selective, innovative funds including Imagine K12 (now Y Combinator Edtech), January Ventures, OneWorld Investments, the National Science Foundation, US Department of Education, NewSchools Venture Fund, Impact Assets, Digital Promise and others. The company currently serves schools in 40 states and has large-scale contracts with organizations such as Metro Nashville Public Schools (TN), Stockton Unified School District (CA), KIPP (various regions), and more.
About Us
At Sown To Grow:
- We understand the challenges schools face - We intimately understand the challenges faced by schools because our founding team spent years working in schools/districts. We take pride in our team, which includes dedicated educators, social workers, and experienced administrators from diverse backgrounds. Together, we work closely with schools every day, aiming to maximize our impact.
- We are dedicated to impact - We're supported by renowned, impact focused organizations such as the National Science Foundation, the US Department of Education, NewSchools Venture Fund, and Digital Promise. With their support and our unwavering commitment, we've invested significantly in research to ensure that our product creates a meaningful and positive impact within schools and classrooms.
- We are passionate about equity - The majority of STG’s school and district partners serve predominantly low-income and historically underserved communities. Our product is thoughtfully designed to close gaps rather than widen them, and we work to ensure that every student has an equal opportunity to thrive.
- We’re small, but mighty - Our tight-knit, agile group is driven by a shared aspiration to make a difference while building a successful and sustainable business. Our team brings a range of experiences and skills across the private, public, and nonprofit sectors. We anchor on our diverse strengths and lean-in to fill gaps and grow as a team.