Director, Business Development and Strategy

Job Description:

Implement the development of models to expand market presence and grow revenue through oversight of go-to-market plans/pilots for key growth projects for Scholastic’s Fairs and Clubs businesses.

The Director will also be responsible for developing and executing the strategic vision of our organization through cross-functional project leadership of our strategic project management team.

The role will partner with the business and Managing Committee leadership on strategic planning, analyzing market dynamics, assessing competitive position, and leading the organization toward cross-functional implementation of growth and innovation opportunities.

Reporting to the Vice President of Business Development and Strategy, this role will play a pivotal part in shaping the future direction of our Book Fair and Book Club offerings, leveraging innovation and building new product and model strategies to enhance the customer experience and expand our impact on literacy and education.

Responsibilities:

Business Development and Innovation 

• Conduct market analysis and competitive research, identifying emerging trends, opportunities, and challenges in the education and school-distribution markets.
• Develop comprehensive plans for new strategic initiatives, including business case, market entry strategy, revenue forecasts, project resource allocation and implementation plans for new strategic initiatives in collaboration with Business Dev & Strategy VP/SVP.
• Work closely with cross-functional teams (marketing, sales, operations, finance, and product) to pilot these new models and concepts, overseeing pilot planning, execution, and evaluation / tracking.

• Responsibilities:

  Business Development and Innovation 

• Conduct market analysis and competitive research, identifying emerging trends, opportunities, and challenges in the education and school-distribution markets.
• Develop comprehensive plans for new strategic initiatives, including business case, market entry strategy, revenue forecasts, project resource allocation and implementation plans for new strategic initiatives in collaboration with Business Dev & Strategy VP/SVP.
• Work closely with cross-functional teams (marketing, sales, operations, finance, and product) to pilot these new models and concepts, overseeing pilot planning, execution, and evaluation / tracking.
• Develop and maintain relationships with external partners, vendors, and technology providers to stay informed about best practices, emerging technologies, and potential collaboration opportunities to drive tech-enabled initiatives.

• Strategic Planning and Implementation

• Work with VP to organize, track and execute of cross-functional projects across the organization.
• Build and mentor a high-performing team of strategic Project Managers, providing guidance, support, and development opportunities to team members, while fostering a culture of collaboration, innovation, and excellence.
• Lead process, workflow optimization and project management systems implementation across the team of strategic project managers.
• Identify technology solutions and processes that facilitate, cross-departmental collaboration, operational and communication efficiencies, and growth and direct the implementation of these systems and process.
• Drive continuous improvement of Strategy project management processes by identifying opportunities in existing processes, working with teams to enhance efficiency and effectiveness, and designing new processes as needed.
• Develop key performance indicators (KPIs) to measure project success and business impact, including leading post-launch project reviews with relevant stakeholders.

Qualifications

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

• Strong analytical skills, with the ability to leverage data and insights from the to develop actionable strategies and recommendations.
• Excellent communication, collaboration, and interpersonal skills, with the ability to influence and align stakeholders at all levels of the organization, with a specific focus on communicating tech-enabled strategies and initiatives.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint) and data analysis tools; experience with project management software, CRM systems, and tech platforms is a plus.

Experience:

• 10+ years of experience in strategy consulting, corporate strategy, business development, digital agency or related roles, with a track record of driving successful cross-functional projects and initiatives.

• Proven leadership experience, including the ability to build and develop high-performing teams and foster a culture of innovation and excellence.
• Experience managing complex projects from conception to execution, with a focus on delivering tech-enabled results on time and within budget.

Education:

• Bachelor’s degree in Business or related field or equivalent work experience

Time Type:Full timeJob Type:RegularJob Family Group:MarketingLocation Region/State:New YorkEEO Statement:

Scholastic is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Our policy is clear: there shall be no discrimination on the basis of race, religion, color, sex, pregnancy, national origin, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, non-disqualifying physical or mental disability, or status as a disabled veteran or Vietnam veteran. Those factors shall not influence the determination of qualifications for a job or other opportunity within the company. Further, all personnel actions (such as compensation, tuition aid, benefits, transfers, promotions, and dismissals, company-sponsored training, social and recreational programs) shall be administered without discrimination.

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