How to apply for Vice President, Corporate Partnerships

About Educationsuperhighway

EducationSuperHighway is a mission-driven nonprofit that has already connected 99.7% of U.S. students to high-speed internet and 5 million low-income households to broadband. Now it's tackling the reading crisis with an innovative funding model through the Education Freedom Tax Credit, offering a rare opportunity to drive systemic change in education.

About the role

As the first corporate partnerships hire, you'll build and execute the employer partnerships strategy from scratch, focusing on direct employer outreach and payroll processor platform partnerships. This high-impact role involves developing the pitch, managing senior external relationships, and laying the foundation for long-term growth to fund literacy tutoring for millions of students.

A typical day

Start your day researching potential employer partners and payroll platforms, then draft outreach emails or prepare for a virtual pitch meeting with a VP of Benefits. Afternoon might involve analyzing partnership metrics, refining the pitch deck, and syncing with the CEO on strategy. You'll end the day by updating your pipeline and planning next steps for both tracks.

Who Educationsuperhighway is looking for

• An entrepreneurial self-starter with experience building partnerships or business development functions from the ground up, ideally in a nonprofit or education tech context.
• Proven ability to manage senior-level external relationships and negotiate complex partnerships, with a track record of closing deals.
• Deep understanding of tax-credit-eligible giving, payroll processing platforms, or employer benefits (e.g., charitable giving matching).
• Mission-driven with a passion for education equity and the resilience to operate independently in a fast-paced startup-like environment.

Tips for this application

• Tailor your resume to highlight any experience with tax-credit-based funding, payroll processors (e.g., ADP, Gusto), or employer giving programs.
• In your cover letter, explicitly state your comfort with ambiguity and building from scratch, as this is the first hire in this function.
• Showcase specific examples of partnerships you've built, including revenue or impact metrics (e.g., number of employers onboarded, funds raised).
• Research EducationSuperHighway's 3.0 mission and the Education Freedom Tax Credit to demonstrate your understanding of the policy and funding model.
• Emphasize your ability to work remotely and independently, with examples of self-directed projects that achieved measurable results.

What to cover in your cover letter

['Your alignment with the mission to end the reading crisis and your understanding of the EFTC as a funding mechanism.', 'Your entrepreneurial experience building a partnerships function or playbook from scratch, including specific outcomes.', 'Your ability to manage dual tracks (direct employer outreach and platform partnerships) and prioritize effectively.', 'Your comfort with senior-level relationship management and your approach to developing a pitch for a novel funding model.']

Research before applying

• Read EducationSuperHighway's blog and annual reports to understand their impact and 3.0 mission.
• Study the Education Freedom Tax Credit (EFTC) and how it works for employers and individuals.
• Research payroll processing platforms (e.g., ADP, Gusto, Paychex) and their current charitable giving features.
• Look into existing employer partnerships in education or literacy to understand the competitive landscape.

Likely interview topics

Based on the job description, expect questions about:

• How would you develop a pitch for employers to contribute to literacy tutoring via tax-credit-eligible giving?
• Describe a time you built a partnership from scratch—what steps did you take and what was the outcome?
• How would you prioritize between direct employer outreach and payroll platform partnerships?
• What experience do you have with tax credits or employer benefits programs?
• How would you measure success in this role in the first six months and first year?

Common mistakes to avoid

• Don't submit a generic cover letter—specifically address the EFTC and the dual-track partnerships strategy.
• Avoid downplaying the need for independence; this role requires comfort with ambiguity and self-direction.
• Don't focus only on direct outreach without acknowledging the platform partnerships track—both are critical.