CTE State Adoption Expert — Advanced Specialist

Pearson; Lansing (MI); Remote; USD 70,000 - 90,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical benefits

Bonus plan (not guaranteed)

Vacation policy

Employee Recognition Program

Job summary

Pearson is seeking a State Adoption Advanced Specialist to own strategy, interpretation of state requirements, and post-adoption execution for CTE state adoptions. You will analyze state enrollment data, competitive landscapes, and district needs to guide product readiness and bids, collaborating closely with Sales and Product teams while ensuring alignment with state-specific cycles.

You will also serve as a primary district liaison during reviews, manage timelines, and help steer post-adoption

Qualifications

• 3+ years of experience in K-12 state adoptions, curriculum procurement, or CTE program strategy.
• Experience with the Texas state adoption process is especially helpful.
• Demonstrated expertise navigating state adoption bid processes—knowing not just how to comply, but how to strategically position for success.
• Strong cross-functional collaborator, able to work closely with a Bid Management/RFP team without duplicating their function.
• Self-starter with strong research and analytical skills; comfortable building expertise independently.
• Excellent communicator, able to translate complex, state-specific requirements into clear, actionable guidance for internal teams.
• Bachelor's degree and 3+ years of experience in the K-12 or CTE education market.
• Experience serving as a customer- or district-facing point of contact during a formal review, procurement, or compliance process is a plus.

Responsibilities

• Serve as internal SME on CTE state adoption processes, requirements, and timelines.
• Research state enrollment data and the competitive landscape for a given state adoption, informing (not determining) title/product decisions that Product ultimately owns.
• Interpret nuanced, state-specific submission requirements and translate them into clear guidance for the teams executing the bid.
• Dig into state submission paperwork and requirements, and relay back to Product exactly what's needed in our courseware to clear a given state's review hurdle — capturing the nuance and requirements rather than defining the resulting edits.
• Monitor state adoption calendars, legislative activity, and regulatory changes affecting CTE curriculum adoption.
• Provide strategic context, requirements interpretation, and subject-matter guidance to the RFP/Bid Management team as they prepare and submit bids.
• Ensure submission strategy reflects accurate understanding of each state's adoption process — while partnering with the Bid Management to support deliver on the submission mechanics themselves (forms, compliance tracking, documentation).
• Continuously monitor state purchasing contracts and vendor agreements to ensure our standing remains current and up to date.
• Track and maintain a centralized, up-to-date understanding of active state and district purchasing contracts, available RFPs, and cooperative purchasing agreements (co-ops) — serving as the go-to resource who coordinates with the appropriate internal teams on actual responses, even where this role isn't the one responding directly.
• Serve as a customer-facing point of contact for individual districts throughout a state's adoption review process.
• Manage official presentation and review dates and events with individual districts.
• Navigate individual district communication rules, including "cone of silence" requirements common to certain adoption states like Texas.
• Develop execution strategy following a successful adoption, including how to structure roadshows and state/district engagement.
• Advise on considerations and requirements for partnering with districts during sell-in following an adoption win.
• Build relationships and maintain lines of communication with relevant state agencies to stay ahead of adoption cycle changes.
• Partner with Curriculum and Product teams — relaying the state-specific nuance and requirements uncovered during adoption research — while Product retains ownership of product fit, requirements, and edits.
• Document and share adoption process knowledge to build durable institutional expertise across the organization.

Skills

State adoption strategy

Research & analytics

Communication

Cross-functional collaboration

Education

Bachelor's degree in K-12 or CTE education

Tools

RFP/Bid Management software

Job description

Pearson is seeking a State Adoption Advanced Specialist to own strategy, interpretation of state requirements, and post-adoption execution for CTE state adoptions. You will analyze state enrollment data, competitive landscapes, and district needs to guide product readiness and bids, collaborating closely with Sales and Product teams while ensuring alignment with state-specific cycles.

You will also serve as a primary district liaison during reviews, manage timelines, and help steer post-adoption