The College Board is expanding its regional leadership team with the opening of a Director, K-12 Strategic Account Manager position specifically for the state of Illinois. This role, designed to bridge the gap between national educational standards and local classroom implementation, focuses on managing high-level partnerships with state agencies and school districts to increase student access to advanced coursework and college readiness tools.
While the position is designated as fully remote, the organization has established a strict residency requirement: the successful candidate must reside within the state of Illinois. This geographic constraint ensures that the Director can maintain a tangible presence and a nuanced understanding of the specific educational landscape, legislative environment, and district needs unique to the Prairie State.
The role sits within the State & District Partnerships division, a critical arm of the College Board. The organization, known primarily for the SAT and Advanced Placement (AP) programs, is shifting its focus toward deeper, more strategic integrations with K-12 systems to ensure that educational equity is addressed at the systemic level rather than just the individual student level.
Defining the Strategic Mandate in Illinois
The Director, K-12 Strategic Account Manager is not a traditional sales role, but rather a relationship-management position that requires a blend of diplomacy, data analysis, and educational advocacy. The primary objective is to cultivate long-term alliances with Illinois school superintendents, state board members, and curriculum directors to embed College Board programs into the core academic fabric of the state.
A central component of this mandate involves the expansion of the Advanced Placement program. By working directly with district leadership, the Director aims to remove barriers that often prevent underrepresented student populations from enrolling in rigorous college-level courses while still in high school. This involves analyzing district-wide data to identify “opportunity gaps” and collaborating with administrators to implement sustainable solutions.
Beyond AP courses, the role oversees the integration of broader college readiness initiatives. This includes ensuring that districts are effectively utilizing tools for college planning and that the transition from secondary to post-secondary education is seamless for students across diverse socioeconomic backgrounds.
Key Responsibilities and Operational Focus
The operational scope of the position is broad, requiring the Director to navigate both the macro-level policy of the state and the micro-level needs of individual school districts. The core duties are centered around three primary pillars:
- Strategic Account Planning: Developing comprehensive growth plans for Illinois districts, identifying key stakeholders, and aligning College Board resources with the specific goals of the Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE).
- Relationship Management: Serving as the primary point of contact for senior district leaders, ensuring that their feedback reaches the national organization and that their needs are met through tailored support.
- Performance Tracking: Monitoring the adoption rates of programs and the academic outcomes of students within the territory to measure the effectiveness of partnership strategies.
The Impact of Remote Operate with Residency Constraints
The decision to list the role as “fully remote” while requiring Illinois residency reflects a modern hybrid approach to educational administration. By removing the need for a centralized office, the College Board allows the Director to spend more time in the field—visiting schools and meeting with district leaders—rather than commuting to a corporate hub.
This structure is particularly vital in a state as geographically and demographically diverse as Illinois. The needs of a large urban district in Chicago differ significantly from those of rural districts in the southern part of the state. A resident Director can more effectively pivot their strategy to meet these varying needs while maintaining the flexibility of a remote work environment.
| Category | Requirement/Detail |
|---|---|
| Location | Must reside in Illinois (Remote) |
| Department | State & District Partnerships |
| Primary Goal | K-12 Strategic Account Management |
| Core Focus | College Readiness & AP Expansion |
Navigating the K-12 Educational Ecosystem
To succeed in this role, the candidate must possess a deep understanding of how funding and policy flow through the Illinois education system. The intersection of state mandates and local district autonomy creates a complex environment where the Director must act as a consultant, helping districts navigate the logistics of program implementation.
The role also requires a high degree of proficiency in data-driven decision-making. The College Board relies on metrics to determine the success of its partnerships; the Director must be able to translate complex data sets into actionable insights for school boards. So not only reporting on how many students took an exam, but analyzing why certain demographics are underrepresented and how to shift those trends.
the position demands an ability to manage “strategic accounts,” which in this context refers to the large-scale districts that have the most significant impact on student outcomes. Managing these accounts requires a sophisticated approach to communication, ensuring that the College Board is viewed as a partner in student success rather than merely a service provider.
Candidate Qualifications and Expectations
While the specific internal grading for the position is managed via the Workday recruitment system, the expectations for a Director-level role typically include extensive experience in educational leadership, account management, or public policy. The organization seeks individuals who can operate independently in a remote capacity while remaining tightly aligned with national organizational goals.
The ideal candidate is expected to bring a network of existing relationships within the Illinois educational community or a proven track record of building such networks from the ground up. The ability to influence high-level decision-makers without having direct authority over them is a critical soft skill required for this specific strategic account management framework.
As the College Board continues to evolve its digital offerings and assessment models, the Director in Illinois will also be responsible for guiding districts through these transitions, ensuring that technology does not become a barrier to access but rather a bridge to opportunity.
The next phase for interested candidates involves the formal application process through the organization’s career portal, where residency verification and professional credentials will be vetted. Further updates regarding the selection process and the official start date for the Illinois territory lead will be managed through the College Board’s internal hiring timeline.
We invite readers to share their thoughts on the intersection of remote work and regional residency requirements in the comments below.
