Account Executive - Partnerships

Position: Account Executive, Partnerships

Location: Flexible within the US (~20% travel)

Type: Full-time

Team: Partnerships

Summary

Relay Graduate School of Education (Relay) is an accredited not-for-profit institution of higher education serving thousands of educators from across the country, from pre-service teachers to system-level leaders. Our mission is to ensure that all students are taught by excellent educators, in order to build a more just world where every student has a clear path to a fulfilling life.

The Partnerships team at Relay is responsible for expanding Relay’s reach by cultivating strong relationships with PK–12 schools and systems and securing new opportunities for enrollment growth across our offerings. The team plays a vital role in advancing our mission by connecting educators and school systems with high-impact programming.

Reporting to the Vice President, Professional Education Partnerships, the Account Executive will lead new business development for Relay’s teacher preparation and professional education programs. This role manages the full sales cycle—from lead generation through closing—while collaborating with internal teams to ensure partner satisfaction and successful onboarding. This is a highly strategic, externally-facing role that contributes to Relay’s growth and long-term impact.

Key Responsibilities

The essential responsibilities of this position, while not limited to the following, will include: 

Sales & New Business Development (70%)

• Own and grow a regional or vertical portfolio of prospective district and network partners aligned with Relay’s mission and growth priorities

• Identify independently and pursue high-leverage opportunities in the PK-12 education market using external insights and internal data to shape outreach, messaging, and partnership structures

• Manage the full sales cycle: prospecting, needs assessment, solution positioning, proposal development, negotiation, and closing

• Collaboratively develop and implement improvements to sales and engagement systems including lead nurturing flows, partnership collateral, and CRM optimization in collaboration with Marketing, Data, and Operations teams

• Meet or exceed quarterly and annual goals related to revenue, enrollment, and partner acquisition

• Track and manage pipeline activity using CRM systems (e.g., Salesforce), maintaining accuracy and transparency for internal forecasting

• Deliver tailored presentations and proposals that articulate Relay’s value proposition to multiple stakeholder levels (district leaders, charter networks, state education agencies).

• Use market insights and partner feedback to inform outreach strategies and continuously improve conversion rates

• Other (duties, projects, tasks) as assigned in support of the team’s sales and new business development goals

Partner Engagement & Relationship Management (20%)

• Build and steward high-impact relationships with senior-level stakeholders including district superintendents, charter network leaders, and state education officials

• Support the onboarding of new partners to ensure successful implementation and a strong partner experience

• Lead cross-functional proposal development with academic and operational teams to craft customized partnership solutions that meet local needs and align to Relay’s operational model

• Maintain long-term, trust-based relationships with stakeholders at all levels (e.g., district leaders, state agencies, charter networks)

• Identify and develop opportunities for renewal, upselling, and program expansion, ensuring long-term alignment between partner goals and Relay’s services

Internal Collaboration & Market Intelligence (10%)

• Proactively work to become deeply familiar with Relay’s programs, approach, and unique value proposition

• Collaborate with Marketing to support lead generation campaigns and refine messaging to target audiences

• Represent Relay at key external events and conferences to build brand awareness and deepen market understanding

• Provide timely market and partner feedback to internal teams (Product, Program, Strategy) to support continuous improvement and innovation

• Lead cross-functional collaboration to ensure a seamless and consistent partner experience across Relay teams

QUALIFICATIONS

First and foremost, the Account Executive must share the Relay community’s commitment to working together to improve student growth and achievement through phenomenal educator preparation grounded in diversity, equity, inclusion, and anti-racism.

For this position, we are looking for candidates who possess a combination of the following skills and experiences:

• Experience

  • 3-5 years of experience in sales, business development, or account management in the education sector is required

  • Proven track record of meeting or exceeding sales goals in a consultative or solution-based sales environment

  • Experience working toward goals that advance educational equity and align with Relay’s mission.

• Skills and Knowledge

  • Skilled in communication, presentation, and relationship management with experience engaging and influencing senior decision-makers at relevant organizations or institutions

  • Proficient in CRM platforms (e.g., Salesforce) and able to use data to track performance and inform decisions

  • Demonstrated ability to manage multiple priorities accurately and meet targets in a dynamic, data-informed setting

  • Knowledge of PK–12 education systems, challenges, and trends 

• Travel Requirements - Able to travel up to 20% of the time.

Relay prepares teachers and school leaders to teach students of all identities and backgrounds in order to push toward a time when this country no longer faces stark educational inequities. We recruit, develop, support, and retain a diverse staff, faculty, and graduate student body because we are committed to creating a diverse, inclusive, and actively anti-racist institution. We know, and the data supports, that diversity, equity, and inclusion cultivate an environment in which people of all backgrounds can thrive and this is critical to achieving our mission of educational excellence and equity.

To fulfill that commitment, Relay encourages applicants of all backgrounds and identities to apply for roles that align with their own interests and career trajectory. If you meet a majority of the qualifications and see yourself in this role, we would love to see your application!

COMPENSATION

Relay is committed to creating and maintaining a compensation and benefits system that supports our ability to recruit and retain a diverse and talented team. As we make decisions about compensation, we will be guided by the following values: clarity, consistency, and internal equity. The salary range for this role is $96,525 - $135,135. New hires will be offered a salary at the starting point of the range, $96,525 to allow for an equitable starting salary process and continual salary growth during an employee’s time at Relay GSE.

To ensure internal pay equity:

• Relay does not currently differentiate starting salary offers based on years of experience,

• All staff salaries will be capped at the salary range maximum, and

• Relay does not negotiate salary offers.

Relay offers a comprehensive total rewards package. For full-time roles, this includes health insurance benefits, disability and life insurance, retirement plan, professional development, gym reimbursement, adoption assistance, paid time off (PTO), parental leave, etc. To learn more about Relay’s benefits, please visit here.   

WORK LOCATION POLICY

Employees must have a primary work location within the U.S., where they are legally authorized to work. Relay is a registered employer in the following states: California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Louisiana, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, Washington State and Washington DC. Please note that Relay Graduate School of Education's headquarters are in New York City. Employees who choose to perform work from states not listed here will be subject to NYC state withholdings.

Relay Graduate School of Education provides equal employment opportunity for all applicants and employees.