Senior Director of Governance & Growth

Senior Director of Governance & Growth

Location: Remote (Southeast or Texas preferred) Reports To: CEO

About Second Mile Education

Second Mile Education (SME) is a mission-driven education management organization dedicated to transforming outcomes for high-risk youth who have been underserved by traditional school systems. We partner with governing boards to operate alternative education programs that meet students where they are — delivering rigorous, individualized learning in environments designed for young people who need a second chance.

We are a for-profit company that believes business excellence and social impact are not in conflict — they are complementary. Our model works because we invest heavily in the systems, relationships, and leadership that make schools effective, stable, and trusted by the communities they serve. As SME expands into new states and markets, we are building the next generation of leadership to ensure that growth doesn't come at the cost of quality, credibility, or mission.

About the Role

SME is seeking a Senior Director of Governance & Growth to serve as a senior external affairs leader responsible for stakeholder strategy, governance support, legislative affairs, and growth enablement across our expanding portfolio. This role is critical to SME's multi-state expansion and will serve as the planned successor to our VP of Community & Customer Relations — absorbing institutional knowledge, deepening key relationships, and ensuring continuity of trust with the boards, authorizers, and community partners that make our work possible.

This is a high-visibility, high-impact role for a seasoned external affairs professional who thrives at the intersection of policy, relationships, and growth strategy.

Key Roles & Responsibilities

Governance Support & Partner Board Relationships

• Serve as SME's senior relationship manager with partner school governing boards, providing strategic guidance, support, and continuity across SME's portfolio
• Assist partner boards in strengthening their governance practices, board composition, and long-term sustainability in alignment with authorizer expectations
• Support early-stage governance development for new schools and jurisdictions, helping ensure partner boards are well-positioned for authorization and long-term success

Growth Enablement & Stakeholder Strategy

• Assess the political, regulatory, and stakeholder landscape of prospective markets to inform entry strategy, application timing, and risk mitigation
• Build and maintain senior-level relationships with authorizers, regulators, policymakers, lobbyists, and community leaders
• Lead stakeholder engagement strategies supporting applications, renewals, expansions, acquisitions, and programmatic innovations

Advocacy, Risk Awareness & External Affairs

• Monitor and anticipate political, policy, regulatory, and stakeholder risks affecting current operations and future growth
• Design and execute proactive response strategies in coordination with partner boards, regulators, lobbyists, and executive leadership
• Support legislative and government affairs efforts that advance business stability and favorable policy conditions for alternative education models

Experience

• Bachelor's degree required; advanced degree in public policy, political science, business, law, or education leadership preferred
• 10–12+ years of progressively senior experience in external affairs, government relations, charter schools, education policy, or complex regulated environments
• Demonstrated experience advising or supporting governing boards, nonprofit entities, or public-sector oversight bodies
• Proven track record leading stakeholder strategy for growth initiatives (new jurisdictions, market entry, expansions, public approvals)
• Experience navigating political, regulatory, and legislative environments with authorizers, policymakers, lobbyists, or government agencies
• Prior experience in education or charter schools helpful but not required

Knowledge & Skills

• Deep political acumen in regulated or quasi-public environments
• Sophisticated relationship-builder with credibility across board members, regulators, elected officials, executives, and community leaders
• Exceptional written and verbal communication skills; ability to shape narratives and represent the organization with executive presence
• Strategic thinker who balances growth ambition with regulatory discipline and long-term organizational credibility
• Comfortable with ambiguity, competing stakeholder interests, and exercising sound judgment under pressure
• Entrepreneurial mindset with a proactive orientation toward growth and problem-solving
• Genuine alignment with SME's mission — a belief that high-quality, for-profit education management can be a meaningful force for good in the lives of high-risk youth