Posted: 16-Dec-25
Location: Southport, Connecticut
Type: Full Time
Preferred Education:
Additional Information:
The Organization
The Southport School (TSS), located in historic Southport Village, was founded in 1985 and enrolls up to 125 students with dyslexia and/or ADHD and related learning differences (LD). The school’s core values include excellence, cerebrodiversity, innovation, empowerment, and collaboration. Its mission is to provide transformative educational experiences and thought leadership that have a lifelong impact on students and the LD community.
The Southport CoLAB (CoLAB) is a division of TSS that was established in 2018. It serves as an open resource, clearinghouse, and incubator in the field of teaching and learning. Its mission is to integrate research, practice, and advocacy to effect positive outcomes by translating best practices from TSS to benefit all learners, whether in the LD community or general education.
As part of its mission, the CoLAB focuses on providing the highest quality training to educators, professionals, families, and students, ensuring impactful implementation and sustained growth. A key focus is translating cutting-edge research into practical, actionable strategies that can be applied directly in the field.
The CoLAB engages directly with leading researchers to further the science of learning by rigorously evaluating and refining teaching methods that have been proven effective for students. Another cornerstone of the CoLAB’s mission is advocacy with community partners, empowering all stakeholders by sharing knowledge and best practices to address shared goals.
The CoLAB provides incremental revenue streams to TSS while enhancing the overall reach and credibility of the school and its faculty. The TSS Board believes the CoLAB has significant potential as an integral resource and advocate to the education community and is investing significantly in its growth.
TSS and the CoLab are led by Executive Director Dr. Ben Powers, who is in his fourteenth year and leads a dedicated team of 64 staff members. The organization's positive culture attracts mission-focused professionals who are driven to find greater meaning in their careers. They enjoy a highly supportive environment that provides the opportunity to achieve an outstanding work/life balance.
The Role:
The CoLAB Director of Sales will lead national efforts to drive sustainable revenue growth through strategic sales leadership, partnership development, and market expansion. The Director of Sales will be responsible for defining and executing sales strategies that elevate the CoLAB’s impact and visibility in the education ecosystem.
This leader will play a critical role in positioning CoLAB as a Center of Influence, working cross-functionally to align sales with marketing, professional learning, and product development. They will build strong relationships with state education agencies, school districts, nonprofits, and community partners to increase adoption of CoLAB services and resources.
Job Responsibilities:
Strategic Leadership & Sales Development
- Develop and lead a comprehensive national sales strategy aligned with CoLAB’s mission, revenue goals, and market expansion objectives.
- Identify and prioritize new market opportunities through segmentation, research, and strategic outreach.
- Design and continuously refine the sales process, including lead generation, qualification, pipeline management, and deal closing.
- Establish and track key performance indicators (KPIs) to drive accountability, improve performance, and optimize the sales funnel.
- Build and lead a high-performing, data-driven sales team with clear goals, roles, and accountability systems.
- Foster a collaborative and adaptive team culture focused on innovation, continuous improvement, and mission alignment.
Client & Stakeholder Engagement
- Cultivate and manage strategic relationships with state and district education leaders, K–12 stakeholders, and key clients.
- Represent CoLAB in high-level partnership discussions, contract negotiations, funding conversations, and strategic alliances.
- Serve as a key spokesperson for CoLAB’s value proposition and vision across public and private sector platforms.
- Leverage professional networks to position CoLAB as a trusted advisor in implementation science and educational transformation.
Sales Execution & Consulting
- Directly sell CoLAB products and services; support team in advancing leads through the sales cycle.
- Lead client sales and expansion meetings, including planning, logistics, follow-up, and proposal development.
- Collaborate across teams to develop pricing, proposals, RFP responses, and procurement submissions.
- Use competitive analysis and market insights to inform sales strategies and identify growth opportunities.
Training, Coaching & Internal Collaboration
- Deliver coaching and training to sales staff to improve performance and support professional development.
- Collaborate with internal teams to align messaging and ensure cohesive go-to-market strategies.
- Partner with instructional leaders to support the development and delivery of scalable offerings.
Visibility, Branding & Representation
- Represent CoLAB at conferences, webinars, and industry events to increase brand visibility and generate leads.
- Support initiatives that enhance CoLAB’s brand positioning, service quality, and national impact.
Travel
- Travel nationally (up to 20%) for client meetings, conferences, and professional learning, as needed and appropriate.
Candidate Profile & Qualifications
The ideal candidate is mission-driven and possesses a minimum of 5 years of progressive experience in sales leadership, ideally within the K–12 education, edtech, or education services sectors. The role requires a deep understanding of sales strategy, revenue growth, and partnership development in complex educational ecosystems. A strong network of relationships with state education agencies, district leaders, or educational organizations is essential.
Candidates should be analytical, resourceful, and strategic, with a proven ability to build high-performing teams and execute against ambitious goals. They must demonstrate comfort operating in a fast-paced, entrepreneurial environment, with a hands-on approach to both leadership and execution. Strong skills in communication, relationship-building, and negotiation are critical for success in this role.
Equally important, the ideal candidate should be a collaborative and agile leader who brings a balance of confidence and humility, and who thrives in cross-functional teams committed to innovation and impact.
Compensation and Professional Development
The chosen candidate will earn a competitive base salary, be eligible for quarterly bonuses after the first year, participate in a generous benefits program, and will maintain a desirable work/life balance. Most importantly, the Director of Sales will provide the leadership and support to an organization on the cusp of a growth phase that will significantly benefit educators and students through the advancement of research- and evidence-based practices as well as sustainable systems. In the process, they will be making a significant contribution to that cause while enhancing their overall credentials in the marketplace.
How to apply
Please apply on our Careers site. Please note that all job offers are contingent on a satisfactory reference/background check and fingerprinting.