State Initiatives Specialist

      ***INTERNAL POSTING - MUST BE A CURRENT REGULAR EMPLOYEE OF SOLUTION TREE***

Position Summary

The State Initiative Specialist reports to the Director of Business Development and supports efforts across the organization to scale Solution Tree and Marzano Resources IP and services within states across the country so that more educators receive coherent, comprehensive, equitable, and effective professional learning which improves educator practice and, as a result, student outcomes. The Specialist will facilitate (and continuously improve) the 6 State Phases, designed to strengthen partnerships with state agencies and/or state professional organizations within and across all 50 states. 

The Solution Tree Strategic Plan identifies state engagement as a Growth Driver. State Initiatives was created to help lead these efforts. The State Initiative Specialist is someone who is deeply committed to supporting educators, improving education, and transforming education worldwide to ensure learning for ALL. The State Initiative Specialist will support the efforts of State Initiatives by looking for and responding to state-level opportunities to deliver services, building and strengthening state-level partnerships, and designing and supporting state-level and national projects to increase the scope and scale of implementation of high-quality educational practices within and across states. 

Primary Duties

• Maintain deep commitment to education, educators, and students, as well as Solution Tree’s vision: Transform education worldwide to ensure learning for all.
• Acquire deep knowledge and understanding of Solution Tree and Marzano Resources products and services 
• Build, maintain, and strengthen partnerships with external stakeholders at state agencies and state professional organizations
• Support the research of educational trends within and across states
• Support the research of partnership opportunities (e.g,. grants and RFPs)
• Support the research of state and national legislation and policies that may impact (positively or negatively) partnerships at the state level
• Utilize tools, such as SalesLoft/SalesForce to secure new state level interest and partnerships
• Apply knowledge of educational trends, educator needs, company products and services to design plans for proposals, grants, or RFPs
• Support the drafting of technical documents (e.g., RFPs, grant proposals, client proposals, etc.)
• Present proposals to external partners, such as state agency representatives, to secure contracts
• Support the design, planning, and implementation of new state level projects collaboratively with other company teams/departments, as well as associates and external state-level partners
• Brainstorm ways to improve the design and implementation of existing state level projects collaboratively with other company teams/departments, as well as associates and external state-level partners
• Support the design and use of new project management processes for numerous complex projects, including a detailed workflow for the complex state-level work that identifies key roles and responsibilities for tasks occurring internally and externally 
• Maintain (or improve) existing databases documenting status and impact of state-level projects
• Represent Solution Tree and Marzano Resources and support state agency representatives at company events (e.g., Summits, Institutes)
• Help continuous improvement efforts at the team, department, and organization level
• Participate in meetings with and support the efforts of the broader department (i.e., Business Development)
• Perform all other duties as assigned by supervisors.

Required Education and Experience

• MUST be a current regular employee of Solution Tree.
• BA required; degree in education or policy preferred
• 5+ years of experience in the education field (e.g., teaching, administration, professional development and/or policy); experience at a state agency and/or in educational sales preferred
• Ability to research educational trends and needs within and across states to inform conversations or proposals with state clients
• Ability and willingness to acquire knowledge of Solution Tree and Marzano Resources products and services to support informed conversations with clients or writing proposals for state initiatives
• Ability to excel in social environments with key state-level stakeholders/clients
• Ability to prioritize and manage workload while adhering to critical project timelines and quality standards in a fast-paced environment
• Ability to work independently, as a team, and across teams/departments to support effective implementation of State Initiative tasks
• Superior communication, collaboration, organization, and problem-solving skills
• Strong analytical skills
• Strong technical writing skills
• Detail-orientated, with ability to see the “big picture” and plan accordingly
• Experience in SalesLoft/SalesForce (preferred) 

Work Environment/Travel

• 40 hours a week, primarily between 8 – 5 EST (some flexibility, as necessary), Monday through Friday
• Occasional travel (less than 10%) to attend annual company ReTREEt, quarterly department-level meetings, key company conferences, and other prioritized conferences/events
• Travel may occasionally require time commitments on weekends 

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 employee is regularly required to talk or hear. The employee frequently is required to stand; walk; use hands to finger, handle or feel; and reach with hands and arms.

Remote Work Environment and Personal Obligation Management

As a remote-first company, we are committed to providing our team members with the flexibility to work from anywhere. However, to maintain our standards of excellence and ensure uninterrupted productivity, we have specific expectations regarding the remote work environment.
Dedicated Workspace: Employees are expected to establish a dedicated, quiet workspace that is free of distractions. This environment should be conducive to professional activities and mirror the focus and privacy one would expect in an in-office setting.

Personal Obligations: While we recognize the challenges of balancing professional responsibilities with personal obligations, including childcare, we rely on our team members to manage these aspects effectively during work hours. It is essential that personal obligations do not impede work commitments. Employees are responsible for arranging appropriate care or support to ensure they can dedicate their full attention to their work tasks without interruption.

We believe these practices are key to fostering a productive and respectful remote working culture, where every team member can contribute their best work. We evaluate candidates based on a holistic view of their qualifications, including but not limited to their skills, experience, and education. Our goal is to offer a competitive compensation package that reflects the value we believe each employee brings to our team. The final salary for the position will be determined after a thorough evaluation of the successful candidate's relevant qualifications in relation to our compensation structure, which is designed to reward contributions and performance.

Our Company's Rooted Commitment to Attractive Benefits

• Employee Discounts
• Paid Vacation and Holidays (including generous personal time to celebrate holidays not listed on the company calendar)
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
• 401k Retirement Plan with Employer match
• Health Insurance Plans (medical, dental, vision)
• HSA and Flexible Spending Accounts (ie. childcare and many more)
• Employer-paid Short-Term Disability (STD) and Basic Life Insurance. 
  • Optional Long-Term Disability (LTD) and additional coverage for Life and AD&D
• Compliance with FMLA and state-specific leave laws for necessary time off

Request for Reasonable Accommodation:
If you need a reasonable accommodation to fulfill an application due to a recognized disability under applicable law, kindly email [email protected]. Please be aware that this email is intended solely for responding to specific requests for assistance related to completing the application as an accommodation for a disability. Other inquiries will not be addressed.

Disclaimers:
The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by people assigned to this position. They are not to be construed as an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties, and skills required of personnel so classified. All personnel may be required to perform duties outside of their normal responsibilities from time to time, as needed.

Solution Tree is an Affirmative Action - Equal Employment Opportunity Employer.