Head of Business Development and Partnerships

EdSurge; United States; Remote; USD 160,000 - 175,000; Full time

Job summary

A nonprofit organization focused on merging education and technology seeks a Head of Business Development and Partnerships to enhance their strategic partnerships and drive revenue growth. This fully remote role offers the chance to build a business development function from the ground up while supporting educational upskilling through innovative online courses.

Benefits

Health Insurance: 100% employee premium covered

401K with match

20 days PTO

100% paid parental leave

Qualifications

• 7+ years in higher education-related sales or business development.
• Strong network in higher education and continuing education.
• Successful track record in launching partnerships.

Responsibilities

• Develop and close strategic partnerships with universities.
• Collaborate with the CEO to develop processes and strategy.
• Maintain partner relationships to ensure mutual success.

Skills

Sales experience

Strategic partnerships

Relationship management

Executive presence

Self-starter

Education

MBA or equivalent graduate-level business training

Job description

Head of Business Development and Partnerships

Ed3 DAO is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that operates at the intersection of education and emerging technology. Our mission is to upskill one million educators through online learning and our global community of practice. We strive to operate as an organization aligned with living systems, guided by the eight principles of regenerative economies. We create practical, pedagogically-grounded courses in artificial intelligence (AI) and other emerging technologies — all built to serve K-12 and higher education institutions.

We are a fully remote, asynchronous, and globally distributed organization that blends the impact of a nonprofit with the agility, ambition, and innovative spirit of a startup.

THE ROLE

We are seeking a Head of Business Development & Partnerships to join our lean, high-impact team. This person will lead revenue strategy and execution across our core vertical: online courses for educators delivered through strategic partnerships with universities, professional learning organizations, and school districts.

To date, business development at Ed3 DAO has been led by our founder. This is our first dedicated hire in business development, offering you the chance to build the function from the ground up — with close support from our founder and CEO — to drive sustainable growth and expand our impact.

RESPONSIBILITIES

• Develop and close strategic partnerships with universities, continuing education programs, and professional learning orgs.
• Represent Ed3 DAO in external-facing conversations — including at conferences, on calls, and during partnership pitches.
• Collaborate with our CEO and learning team to develop scalable business development processes and GTM strategy.
• Build and maintain a robust partnership pipeline, either by enhancing the founder’s existing tracking system or implementing a lightweight CRM of your own design.
• Partner with marketing to develop messaging, collateral, and partnership enablement materials to support growth.
• Manage inbound interest and partnership inquiries, ensuring timely follow-up and qualification.
• Maintain partner relationships over time to ensure alignment and support mutual success.
• Collaborate with the content team to ensure course offerings are aligned with partner and market needs.
• Identify and explore new market opportunities that align with Ed3 DAO’s mission and product offerings.
• Contribute to the foundation of a future business development and partnerships team by hiring and mentoring junior staff.

QUALIFICATIONS

Requirements:

• 7+ years of experience in higher education-related sales, strategic partnerships, and/or business development.
• Strong network within and knowledge of higher education and continuing education spaces.
• Relationship-first approach to business development with strong executive presence.
• Track record of successfully launching partnerships and driving earned revenue.
• Self-starter who thrives in ambiguity and can build systems from scratch.

Bonus-points:

• Experience serving in a leadership role within a university (e.g., former Dean or department head)
• Prior experience in a lean or startup environment.
• Experience working with rev-share models.
• Demonstrated interest in pedagogy, education innovation, and the impact of AI in education.
• MBA or equivalent graduate-level business training

COMPENSATION & BENEFITS

• Salary Range: $160,000–$175,000 (commensurate with experience)
• Benefits: Health Insurance: 100% employee premium covered + 50% dependent, Dental, Vision, Life Insurance, 401K with match, 20 days PTO, 100% paid parental leave
• Work Style: Fully remote; async-first culture with high autonomy, and weekly team meetings

Ed3 DAO is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that operates at the intersection of education and emerging technology. Our mission is to upskill one million educators through online learning and our global community of practice.

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