Manager - Learning Design -K-12 (Presales & Strategy)

About the Role
Are you an expert in K-12 learning design with a sharp commercial instinct? We are looking for a Manager Learning Designer who understands that great pedagogy and great business go hand-in-hand.
In this unique role, you will sit at the intersection of instructional strategy and sales. You will serve as our pedagogical subject matter expert in the presales process, crafting winning proposals, responding to high-stakes bids, and helping us secure partnerships with leading US educational publishers, charter school networks, and major EdTech organizations. If you know how to pitch pedagogy, understand the nuances of US state curricula, and thrive in a growth-oriented environment, we want you on our team.
Key Responsibilities
Presales and Proposal Leadership
Drive the Narrative: Act as the lead pedagogical voice in RFP, RFI, and vendor bids, translating customers’ education needs into compelling, commercially viable value propositions.
Pitch and Present: Collaborate directly with the Sales, Pre-sales and Marketing teams to design and deliver high-impact presentations and product demos for prospective clients.
Solution Architecting: Develop strategic prototype solutions, learning frameworks, and scope-of-work outlines tailored to the specific needs of prospective buyers.
K-12 Strategy and Ecosystem Expertise
Market Alignment: Leverage a deep understanding of the US K-12 EdTech landscape; including publishers, US charter schools, and large virtual learning organizations, to tailor our approach.
Curriculum Mapping: Ensure proposed solutions align seamlessly with varied US state standards (e.g., Common Core, NGSS, TEKS) and local district mandates.
Competitive Intelligence: Stay ahead of EdTech market trends, funding shifts, and pedagogical shifts to help position our solutions as industry-leading.
Cross-Functional Collaboration
Bridge the gap between our Pre-sales, Sales, Account Management, AI, Product, and Content Development teams to ensure that what we sell can be effectively and profitably delivered.
Mentor junior learning designers on the EdTech market trends and commercial implications of instructional design choices.
Qualifications and Experience
Experience: 15+ years of experience in K-12 Learning Design, Instructional Design, or Curriculum Strategy, with a mandatory 5 years (minimum) spent working within Pre-sales.
Commercial Acumen: Proven experience in proposal writing, presales consulting, or bid management. You must possess a "sales and consulting mindset" and a track record of contributing to revenue-generating wins.
US Curriculum Expertise: Exceptional, hands-on familiarity with US and European K-12 state curricula, assessment standards, and pedagogical frameworks.
Customer Insight: Deep understanding of how the K-12 business operates, particularly the pain points, buying cycles, and needs of educational publishers, charter networks, and large-scale digital schooling organizations.
Communication: Exceptional writing and presentation skills. You can explain the "why" and "how" of a learning strategy to both external and internal stakeholders.
Education: Master’s degree in Education, Instructional Design, Educational Technology, or a related field (or equivalent practical experience).
Why Join Us?
Impact at Scale: Your work will directly influence the learning experiences of millions of students by securing partnerships with top-tier education providers.
Cross-Functional Growth: This role offers unparalleled visibility into the business side of EdTech, making it perfect for ambitious learning designers looking to step into strategic leadership.
"Straive is an equal opportunity employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees. All employment decisions are based on business needs, job requirements, and individual qualifications, without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, veteran, or disability status."

Work arrangement
Hybrid