Remote
Director, Strategic Affairs - Higher Education
About this role
At Instructure, we believe in the power of people to grow and succeed throughout their lives. Our goal is to amplify that power by creating intuitive products that simplify learning and personal development, facilitate meaningful relationships, and inspire people to go further in their education and careers. We do this by giving smart, creative, passionate people opportunities to create awesome. And that's where you come in: About the role As the Director, Strategic Affairs for Higher Education, you will help lead Instructure’s Higher Education initiatives in North America through the Strategic Affairs team.
In this role, you will shape Instructure’s presence with state and local policymakers and business leaders, translating influence into revenue opportunities. You will develop the go-to-market strategy for Higher Education, help lead Government Affairs for the team, and contribute to global public policy efforts. You’ll serve as a crucial link between Sales, Marketing, Customer Success, and Product, ensuring policy insights inform critical business functions and product development.
This role will report directly to the VP, Strategic Affairs. What you’ll do - Help lead Government Affairs and go-to-market strategy for Instructure’s Higher Education business in North America across state, provincial, and federal opportunities. - Develop statewide deal pipelines by connecting education and workforce funding sources with Canvas, Mastery, and Parchment opportunities. - Monitor and analyze education and technology legislation and regulatory changes, translating them into actionable guidance for Sales, Marketing, Customer Success, and Product teams.
- Build and maintain trusted relationships with policymakers, agency leaders, and education associations. Represent Instructure in public forums. - Oversee and manage advocacy partners, including lobbying firms—set clear goals, measure results, and ensure advocacy spend supports business outcomes. - Shape procurement strategies (e.g., cooperative contracts and alternative purchasing vehicles) to increase win rates without relying solely on RFPs.
- Advise senior customer leaders on digital transformation, skills development, and technology adoption strategies. - Own attribution by demonstrating how policy and government engagement drives revenue, market share, and customer impact. - Contribute to international public policy initiatives, supporting Instructure’s voice and influence globally. - Maintain efficient sales and delivery processes. What you’ll bring - 5+ years’ experience in government affairs, public policy, or public sector sales, with a proven track record of achieving revenue or pipeline targets.