[Hiring] Director of Strategic Acquisitions and Growth @LIFELONG LEARNING ADMINISTRATION CO

Role Description

The Director of Strategic Acquisitions and Growth is responsible for leading and executing organic and acquisition-based growth strategies for Lifelong Learning (LLAC). This role drives the expansion of LLAC’s impact, services, and revenue through strategic partnerships, contract development, market expansion, and acquisitions.

• Identifying, developing, evaluating, negotiating, and facilitating new business opportunities and strategic acquisitions.
• Requires a unique blend of business development expertise, mergers and acquisitions experience, strategic thinking, financial analysis, and relationship management.
• Serves as a key representative of LLAC and plays a critical role in expanding access to high-quality services for students and families nationwide.

Responsibilities/Duties

• Strategic Business Development and Growth
  • Develop and execute comprehensive business development strategies that increase revenue, market presence, and organizational impact.
  • Identify and pursue opportunities to establish new partnerships, contracts, and service agreements with:
    • Public school districts
    • Charter schools
    • County offices of education
    • Educational agencies
    • Private schools
    • Parochial schools
    • Nonpublic Agencies (NPAs)
    • SELPAs
    • Educational institutions
    • Community-based organizations
    • Other organizations supporting students with disabilities or specialized educational needs
  • Develop and maintain a national pipeline of qualified business opportunities.
  • Generate, qualify, and successfully convert new business opportunities into long-term contracts and partnerships.
  • Collaborate with executive leadership to establish annual growth goals, revenue targets, and strategic priorities.
  • Identify new markets, service offerings, and expansion opportunities that align with LLAC's mission and growth objectives.
  • Monitor industry trends, legislative developments, funding opportunities, and competitive market conditions to support strategic planning.
  • Attend conferences, industry events, networking opportunities, and educational forums to promote Company services and establish strategic relationships.
  • Maintain accurate pipeline, forecasting, and business development activities within Company-approved CRM and reporting systems.
• Strategic Acquisitions and Expansion
  • Identify acquisition opportunities involving small to medium-sized businesses that complement, enhance, or expand LLAC’s service offerings.
  • Develop and maintain a robust acquisition pipeline through industry relationships, broker networks, market research, referrals, and direct outreach.
  • Locate acquisition opportunities through public and private channels.
  • Conduct preliminary evaluations of acquisition targets including:
    • Strategic alignment
    • Market opportunity
    • Growth potential
    • Financial viability
    • Operational compatibility
    • Scalability
  • Analyze financial statements, operational metrics, valuation considerations, and market data related to potential acquisitions.
  • Participate in or lead acquisition discussions, negotiations, due diligence activities, and transaction management efforts.
  • Coordinate with legal counsel, accountants, business brokers, investment professionals, lenders, and other advisors involved in acquisition processes.
  • Prepare acquisition recommendations, financial analyses, and business cases for executive leadership.
  • Support acquisition integration planning and post-acquisition implementation efforts.
  • Maintain strict confidentiality regarding acquisition targets, strategic initiatives, negotiations, and sensitive business information.
• Relationship Management
  • Build trusted relationships with educational leaders, business owners, brokers, referral partners, strategic partners, and other stakeholders.
  • Serve as a key ambassador for LLAC’s mission, values, and growth initiatives.
  • Foster collaborative partnerships that create long-term value and increase educational opportunities for students and families.
  • Establish credibility and trust with executive-level decision-makers and organizational leaders.
  • Represent LLAC with professionalism and integrity in all external interactions.
• Performance Accountability
  • Meet or exceed annual business development, revenue, and strategic growth goals established by executive leadership.
  • Maintain a qualified growth pipeline sufficient to achieve annual organizational objectives.
  • Demonstrate measurable year-over-year improvement in:
    • Revenue growth
    • Contract volume
    • Strategic partnerships
    • Geographic expansion
    • Market penetration
    • Acquisition opportunities sourced and evaluated
    • Completed acquisitions
  • Prepare and deliver regular reports regarding:
    • Sales and growth activities
    • Revenue forecasting
    • Contract development
    • Acquisition pipeline status
    • Key performance indicators
  • Meet established reporting requirements, project timelines, and strategic growth objectives.

Qualifications

• Proven ability to identify, develop, and execute growth opportunities.
• Strong sales, negotiation, and deal-structuring capabilities.
• Knowledge of acquisition processes, due diligence, valuation concepts, and transaction management.
• Ability to evaluate markets, competitive landscapes, and strategic opportunities.
• Strong business acumen and financial literacy.
• Exceptional relationship-development and networking capabilities.
• Ability to influence executive leaders and decision-makers.
• Strong organizational, project management, and prioritization skills.
• Demonstrated commitment to innovation, continuous improvement, and strategic growth.
• High degree of initiative, professionalism, discretion, and confidentiality.
• Passion for mission-driven work that improves educational outcomes for students and families.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in Business Administration, Marketing, Finance, Entrepreneurship, Economics, or a related field.
• Minimum seven (7) years of progressively responsible experience in business development, strategic partnerships, sales leadership, mergers and acquisitions, private equity, business brokerage, or related growth-focused roles.
• Demonstrated experience participating in or leading merger, acquisition, business sale, investment, or strategic transaction activities.
• Proven success generating new contracts, strategic partnerships, and measurable revenue growth.
• Experience developing and managing business development pipelines and revenue forecasts.
• Experience locating acquisition opportunities and managing acquisition processes from prospecting through negotiation and closing.
• Strong financial analysis, strategic planning, and business evaluation capabilities.
• Excellent communication, presentation, negotiation, and relationship-building skills.
• Ability to work independently and effectively in a remote environment.
• Ability to travel nationally up to 75% of the time.

Preferred Qualifications

• Master's degree in Business Administration (MBA), Finance, Management, Entrepreneurship, or a related field.
• Ten (10) or more years of experience in business development, mergers and acquisitions, private equity, investment banking, strategic consulting, or business brokerage.
• Experience serving as a buyer-side acquisition professional, business broker, private equity professional, or corporate development leader.
• Experience in the special education, behavioral health, healthcare, human services, or educational services sectors.
• Knowledge of K-12 education systems, special education services, alternative education, and related educational environments.
• Experience developing relationships with school districts, charter schools, SELPAs, educational agencies, or specialized service providers.
• Understanding of the unique needs and challenges faced by students with disabilities and students experiencing adverse life circumstances.
• Advance level of skills in MS Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook) and other technology applications.

Physical Requirements

• Vision: Ability to read small print and view a computer screen for prolonged periods.
• Hearing: Ability to hear average or typical conversations and receive ordinary information.
• Speech: Ability to be understood in face-to-face communication, in person or remote.
• Mental Demands: Ability to read, write, understand, interpret, and apply information at a moderately complex level.
• Upper Body Mobility: Ability to use fingers to make small movements such as typing, picking up small objects, or pinching fingers together.
• Strength: Ability to lift, carry, push, and pull objects weighing up to 10 pounds.
• Environmental Requirements: Ability to encounter constant work interruptions; work cooperatively with others; work independently; work indoors.