Managing Director, Research & Development

Description

POSITION SUMMARY

The Managing Director of Research and Development (R&D) is the senior leader responsible for leading, growing, and representing the organization's solutions development in both R&D and industry. This role involves deeply understanding real-world problems, developing and testing potential solutions, and bringing those solutions to the market. The Managing Director works closely with the Managing Director of Strategic Partnerships, the grants team, and other product/program teams to leverage R&D and industry practices, identify new research areas, foster partnerships, and validate business models to support the development of new learning programs and products. This role also serves as a thought leader, working closely with members of the executive team to implement and grow research and development initiatives across the organization. In addition to R&D responsibilities, this role has ultimate responsibility for these industry-facing offerings: Solution Summit at ISTE ASCD annual conference, ISTE ASCD Seal, EdTech Index, and sponsored content for EL magazine and EdSurge.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS AND RESPONSIBILITIES

• Thought Leadership and Vision Setting (20%):
  • Contribute to organizational strategic decisions, particularly those related to edtech market dynamics, industry initiatives, and research & development trends.
  • Expand the organization's influence in improving K-12 system-level procurement, evaluation practices, and product validations.
  • Represent the organization’s industry programs and research & development agenda externally among major partners and at events.
  • Set the vision and priorities for industry-focused systems-change work, leading vendor and corporate-facing programs.

• Team Leadership and Administration (30%):
  • Oversee and lead a department focused on edtech systems-change, industry programs, research & development, and vendor and corporate-facing programs.
  • Lead a team of senior managers and program managers to ensure alignment with the department's vision and goals.
  • Support the growth and development of the department, partnering with organizational leaders to develop strategies that engage the member base with industry partners and R&D.
  • Work closely with events and membership divisions to ensure seamless and coordinated implementation of cross-functional partnerships.

• Business and Partnership Development (30%):
  • Develop and foster relationships with strategic partners, potential collaborators, and philanthropic funders in support of industry innovation and R&D goals.
  • Maintain and grow relationships with existing and prospective funders, including proposal development, delivery of promised deliverables, and renewals.
  • Explore new business development opportunities and funding channels.
  • Oversee and ensure the sustainability and execution of R&D projects and the portfolio of industry-facing projects and programs within the Innovation Division.

• Organizational Product/Program R&D Support (20%):
  • Support the Chief Innovation Officer and the Innovation Division by advising on the analysis of existing products and programs, due diligence, product development planning, and go-to-market strategies for new products.
  • Develop organization-wide strategy and processes around solutions development, working closely with IT and product teams to implement these processes.
  • Contribute to the overall executive direction and strategy for vetting and launching new products and programs across the organization.

SALARY RANGE: $160,000.00 to $165,000.00

PRIORITY WILL BE PROVIDED TO CANDIDATES LIVING IN THE DC METRO AREA (MD, DC, or Northern VA); you will be REQUIRED to come into the Arlington, VA office one day per week.

Qualifications

Knowledge

• Master’s Degree with 10-15 years of experience in education technology, business, and partnership development, or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
• In-depth knowledge and experience in the education technology field, including working with small and large organizations with contrasting missions related to education.
• Experience leading solutions development through research, incubation, testing, and go-to-market phases.
• Experience working in K-12 school systems and understanding of K-12 procurement processes.

Skills and Abilities

• Strong leadership and strategic thinking skills.
• Excellent communication and relationship-building abilities.
• Ability to manage complex projects and lead cross-functional teams.
• Proficiency in business development and partnership management.

Critical Success Factors / Leadership Attributes

• Can hire and cultivate talent who are strong contributors to the organization.
• Applies learning by seeking new learning from a variety of disciplines and addressing obstacles immediately and directly.
• Recognizes the importance of acting together by encouraging imagination and creating opportunities for others to step up and contribute.
• Executes accountably by creating clear plans to achieve goals and monitoring costs, progress, and results.

Experience

• 10-15 years of experience in education technology, business development, and partnership management.
• Proven experience in leading solutions development, product management, and business model validation.
• Experience working with edtech companies and understanding the dynamics of the edtech market.

WORK ENVIRONMENT

• Normal demands associated with a deadline-driven office environment.
• The noise level is generally quiet to moderate.
• Daily contact with external customers, vendors, colleagues, associates, supervisors, and staff at all levels of the organization.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS

• Ability to remain at a desk for extended periods of time.
• Ability to communicate and exchange information with others.
• Ability to move about to coordinate work in areas of varying heights.
• Ability to perceive and inspect records in a document management system.
• Ability to operate general office equipment.
• Ability to travel to off-site meetings.
• Ability to lift, carry, move, or position objects weighing up to 10 pounds.

Salary : $160,000 - $165,000