Principal Consultant

Education First is a trusted advisor to education funders and changemakers in all 50 states, uniquely bridging policy, practice and philanthropy to create more clarity and coherence across P-20 education initiatives and systems.

Education First is seeking an experienced leader to join the Accelerate Academic Coherence consulting team as a Principal Consultant. The Accelerate Academic Coherence team supports philanthropic, state, and district leaders in designing and implementing high-quality, coherent instructional, assessment, and accountability systems.

The Principal Consultant is expected to bring expertise gained by serving currently or recently as a national funder, or as a close advisor to philanthropy with strong relationships, to advance high-quality, coherent instructional, assessment and accountability systems, including how systematic, strategic use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and technology can accelerate academic coherence.

Reporting to the Managing Partner, the Principal Consultant will shape and set strategy, cultivate strong partnerships, lead individual client engagements and contribute to the firm's success and sustainability.

Key Responsibilities:
- Skillfully support executives in philanthropy, school systems, state education agencies and nonprofits
- Develop and use tools and strategies to assess client needs, lift up research and emerging practices and solve problems clients face
- Support and coach funders in developing investment strategies and plans
- Serve as project director on a variety of client engagements
- Travel to meet with clients approximately 20-30% of the time
- Oversee successful projects, including building capacity, advising clients, and ensuring project deliverables meet excellence standards
- Advance the firm's business development, thought leadership and field impact
- Mentor, guide and manage team members

Requirements:
- Extensive experience working within or alongside philanthropy to design, implement and/or advocate for successful education policies
- Recent experience as an engaged funder or in AI
- Ability to convert deep network of education leaders and content expertise to new work, sales and impact
- National view of the United States' K12 education system
- Committed to the vision of a more equitable education system in the U.S.
- Strong, inclusive project management and system-level strategy and planning experience
- Ability to lead through ambiguity to create clear structures delivering high-quality results

You may also have:
- Experience with consulting, providing technical assistance or leading strategy development
- Master's degree or equivalent experience in public policy, public administration, business, education, Juris Doctor or related fields

Benefits:
- 100% remote, U.S. based team
- Sales bonus opportunities
- Firmwide in-person engagements once a year
- Telework subsidy
- Professional development stipend
- Foundational Bonding and Parental Leave
- 20 PTO days, 11 holidays and two firmwide shutdown weeks
- Medical, dental, vision and life insurance
- 401(k) match

Compensation: The starting salary for this position is $175,000 annually. Employees living in cities with higher cost of living may receive a location-based supplement equivalent to 1-5% of the base salary. Principal Consultants' annual sales bonuses have a wide range, with an average of $32,000.

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