Director of Strategic Acquisitions and Growth

Job Details: Job Location: LLAC [901] - Lancaster, CA, Position Type: Regular Full-Time, Salary Range: $120750.00 - $168000.00Hourly, Job Shift: Day, Job Category: Classified, Lifelong Learning Administration

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Full-time, Monday - Friday; occasional weekends as needed.

The role supports multiple school sites throughout the region and requires regular travel, with travel expected up to 50% of the time.

The Lifelong Learning Advantage

At Lifelong Learning, our mission is to support our client schools so they can concentrate on improving educational outcomes and student success. We continue to be a strong, positive force, pioneering the way education is delivered to all students.

Learn more about us at https://llac.org/  

How You Will Make an Impact

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. This position is responsible for identifying, developing, evaluating, negotiating, and facilitating new business opportunities and strategic acquisitions that align with the LLAC’s mission, vision, and long-term growth objectives. The role requires a unique blend of business development expertise, mergers and acquisitions experience, strategic thinking, financial analysis, and relationship management. The ideal candidate possesses a proven track record of generating new business opportunities, growing revenue, building strategic partnerships, and participating in or leading acquisition-related activities. Experience in private equity, mergers and acquisitions, business brokerage, education services, healthcare services, or other growth-focused industries is highly desirable. This individual serves as a key representative of LLAC and will play a critical role in expanding access to high-quality services for students and families nationwide. This position reports to the Senior Vice President of Student Services or their designee. 

LLAC and its affiliated organizations are committed to expanding educational opportunities and services for students, particularly those experiencing disabilities, educational barriers, or difficult life circumstances. The Director of Strategic Acquisitions and Growth will actively champion this mission while advancing strategic growth initiatives that strengthen services, expand access, and maximize positive outcomes for students and families nationwide. 

RESPONSIBILITIES/DUTIES

This job description is intended to accurately reflect the position's duties, responsibilities, and requirements. It is not intended to be and should not be construed as an all-inclusive list of all the responsibilities, skills, or working conditions associated with this classification. Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of the job.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

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 o Contract development
Acquisition pipeline status
Key performance indicators

Meet established reporting requirements, project timelines, and strategic growth objectives.

Supervisory Responsibilities: Manage, coordinate, supervise, coach, and direct the hiring, training, timely performance evaluations of team members, oversee their daily activities and oversee the daily workflow of the department. 
Qualifications: KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, ABILITIES

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. 

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

Required Qualifications

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, including sourcing opportunities, financial evaluation, due diligence, negotiation, or integration planning.
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.
Experience negotiating with business owners, executives, consultants, brokers, and professional advisors.
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
Ability to travel up to 75% in performance of job duties is required.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS

 Vision: Ability to read small print and view a computer screen for prolonged periods, prepare, or inspect documents and operate office equipment.
 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, to speak with a level of proficiency and volume to be understood over a telephone or computer.
 Mental Demands: Ability to read, write, understand, interpret, and apply information at a moderately complex level essential for successful job performance; math skills at a high school proficiency level; judgement and the ability to process information quickly; learn quickly and follow verbal procedures and standards; give verbal instruction; rank tasks in order of importance; copy, compare, compile and coordinate information and records. Frequent multi-tasking, changing of task priorities, repetitious exacting work. Understand how to manage stress. high workflow management, high project coordination, and high people engagement.
 Upper Body Mobility: Ability to use fingers to make small movements such as typing, picking up small objects, or pinching fingers together, use hands to grasp, and manipulate small objects; twist and bend at wrist and elbow; extend arms to reach outward and upward; use hands and arms to lift objects; turn, raise, and lower head.
 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. Prolonged periods sitting at a desk and working on a computer.  Work in a moderate  to high noise environment with frequent deadline pressures.