Director of Parent Engagement & Advocacy, Alpha - $200,000/year USD

You excel in fast-moving startup environments. You've delivered exceptional service to high-net-worth clients who demand excellence. You're convinced AI can transform education and welcome the opportunity to defend that conviction against doubters. If any of this feels off‑putting, this position isn't the right fit.

Alpha operates outside the traditional school model. We're a technology startup demonstrating that every child has exceptional potential. Our students complete their core academic work in just two hours daily through AI-powered applications, then dedicate the remainder of their day to practical competencies: public speaking, critical thinking, collaborative challenges, and meaningful projects. No lectures. No filler work. Only accelerated learning that produces top 1% outcomes nationally. Parents anticipate concierge-quality service. You'll continuously advocate for this approach in the face of screen‑time objections, traditional education critics, and “this seems too good to be true” skepticism.

During year zero and year one, this functions as an enrollment sales position. You control the entire pipeline from initial inquiry through signed enrollment contract, including conversion metrics and CRM oversight. We will not launch a campus with fewer than 25 enrolled students. Reaching that threshold is your responsibility. You'll deliver compelling information sessions, lead individual tours, follow up persistently, and close agreements. After achieving 25 students and bringing on an admissions director, your emphasis transitions to serving as the campus's lead parent‑facing executive. You'll cultivate loyalty, address concerns with white‑glove attention, and convert satisfied parents into vocal advocates who bring in additional families.

This is a high‑trust, high‑autonomy position with explicit accountability. You'll operate independently without substantial administrative infrastructure, marketing resources, or proven playbooks. Strategies evolve based on evidence. Systems are still forming. You'll create them. Most of your time will be spent in the community (coffee conversations, lunch meetings, Chamber of Commerce gatherings) rather than at your desk. You'll maintain visibility during morning arrival and afternoon departure times. You'll participate in evening parent programs and periodic weekend student events. A single poorly‑matched family in a cohort of 25 can undermine everything, making the ability to decline wrong‑fit families as critical as enrolling the right ones.

The payoff? You'll observe transformations rarely seen by most educators: doubtful parents becoming passionate advocates, reserved students presenting with confidence to adults, families selecting your campus over prestigious private institutions. You'll create something from the ground up and take ownership of outcomes.

If you believe conventional schools are underserving children and a superior approach exists, this is your opportunity to demonstrate it.

Recruiting Locations

• CA: Santa Barbara, Palo Alto, Piedmont (East Bay), & Lake Forest (Orange Co.)
• MD: Bethesda
• TX: Austin, Fort Worth (DFW)
• WA: Kirkland (Seattle)

This is an on‑site position in the cities listed above, with local travel as required. Relocation support is available for candidates with confirmed relocation plans and timeline.

What You Will Be Doing

• Control the enrollment sales pipeline during year 0‑1, from initial inquiry through signed contract, including conversion metrics and CRM oversight until 25 students are secured
• Lead information sessions and campus tours that convert interested parents while strategically declining misaligned families (declining wrong‑fit prospects is as essential as accepting right‑fit ones)
• Function as the primary liaison for high‑net‑worth families investing $40K+ annually, delivering white‑glove service that converts parents into advocates
• Establish visibility through consistent on‑site presence during morning arrival (7‑9 am) and afternoon departure (2‑4 pm), while spending the majority of days in the community conducting coffee meetings, networking, and building partnerships
• Champion Alpha's AI‑powered approach to parents questioning screen time and non‑traditional education methods
• Mobilize parent champions by creating exceptional experiences that motivate families to recruit within their networks

What You Won’t Be Doing

• Maintaining standard 9‑5 schedules (early mornings, late afternoons, and evening programming are essential)
• Implementing pre‑existing playbooks and protocols (you'll construct systems within a startup context)
• Depending on administrative personnel, marketing departments, or enrollment support teams (you operate independently)
• Enrolling every applicant (selective admission is a fundamental capability)
• Working primarily from a desk (this position demands daily community engagement and relationship cultivation)

Director Of Parent Engagement & Advocacy Key Responsibilities

Control enrollment sales during year 0‑1, then transition to cultivating parent relationships that generate advocates and fuel word‑of‑mouth expansion.

Basic Requirements

• Currently reside within a commuting distance of one of these campuses OR willing to relocate within 60 days (preference for existing local connections): Santa Barbara, CA; Palo Alto, CA; Piedmont, CA; Lake Forest, CA; Bethesda, MD; Austin, TX; Fort Worth, TX; or Kirkland, WA.
• Legally authorized to work in the U.S. without sponsorship
• 5+ years in a role that involved working with high‑net‑worth clients in a consultative sales or high‑touch customer experience role (such as private school enrollment/admissions, luxury sales, hospitality, philanthropy, etc.)
• Demonstrated enrollment/sales funnel success with conversion metrics you can discuss
• Executive presence and communication skills to earn trust and guide sophisticated decision‑making with affluent families
• Entrepreneurial self‑starter comfortable as a solo operator in a startup environment
• Genuine enthusiasm for AI‑powered education, with comfort defending the model to skeptical parents who question screen time and non‑traditional approaches
• Availability for flexible hours: early mornings (7‑9 am), late afternoons (2‑4 pm), evening events (2‑3×/month), and weekend activities

Nice‑to‑have Requirements

Exceptional candidates will have at least one of the items below:

• Established network within the local affluent community with existing relationships
• Private school or independent school enrollment/admissions leadership experience with documented success
• Sales, business development, or fundraising history with high‑value clients
• Prior startup or early‑stage company experience managing ambiguity and accelerated change
• Event planning and community organizing background producing memorable experiences
• Real estate, development, or major gift fundraising experience engaging with UHNW individuals

About Alpha

Alpha School is on a mission to reshape education with a bold approach that harnesses AI to accelerate learning and unleash student potential.

They don’t play by the old rules.

Alpha is creating a new paradigm where students master core academics in just two hours a day, freeing up time for hands‑on, passion‑driven learning that truly prepares them for the real world.

Alpha School is rewriting the rules of education.

Sounds too good to be true? It’s not.

There is so much to cover for this exciting role, and space here is limited. Hit the Apply button if you found this interesting and want to learn more. We look forward to meeting you!

Working with us

This is a full‑time (40 hours per week), long‑term position. The position is immediately available and requires entering into an independent contractor agreement with Crossover as a Contractor of Record. The compensation level for this role is $100 USD/hour, which equates to $200,000 USD/year assuming 40 hours per week and 50 weeks per year. The payment period is weekly. Consult for more details on this topic.

Crossover Job Code: LJ-5598-US-Phoenix-DirectorofPare1.019

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