ETCH Jobs of the Week 3/22/24
Recruiter-speak
ETCH Jobs of the Week (JOTW) is a collaboration between ETCH, your home for EdTech news and information; and my recruiting practice, Tenzing, which helps orgs positively impacting education efficiently attract, source, vet and hire mission-aligned talent.
Every profession has its own set of specialized terms, and recruiting and talent acquisition are no exceptions. You might be wondering, “What’s the difference between recruiting and talent acquisition?”
Frankly, these terms are often used interchangeably. Insiders like myself tend to prefer ‘talent acquisition’ because it positions our firms at the vanguard of an organization’s comprehensive talent management strategy, whereas a “Recruiter” might be seen as filling a more transactional function filling job vacancies as they arise.
So, next time you hear from someone at a talent firm, a little nod to their role in talent strategy might earn you some brownie points. Try saying something like, “I appreciate the proactive outreach for what sounds like a pretty cool company,” instead of, “Oh, you’re the third recruiter to contact me today.”
Here’s some other talent acquisition (TA) jargon you might come across:
ATS (Applicant Tracking System): When people talk about their resumes getting lost in the abyss, they are often referring to this software, which is typically used by recruiters… err… TA consultants to manage job applications and track candidates throughout the hiring process.
Passive Candidate: Also known as the passive job seeker, this one can trip people up when I say, “For this role, we’ll have to engage in passive candidate sourcing.” A passive candidate is someone who is currently employed and not actively seeking a new job but might be open to new opportunities if approached. To simplify, it means proactively seeking out people who already have jobs. Got it? Good.
Active Candidate: If you see a green “Open to Work” badge on their LinkedIn profile picture, they’re an active candidate: a job seeker who is actively looking for a new job and is readily available for interviews and job offers.
Hiring Manager: Usually the person responsible for making the final decision and overseeing the new hire(s) chosen for the job opening.
Ideal Candidate Profile (ICP): A detailed description outlining the qualifications, skills, experience, and personal traits sought in candidates for a specific job opening, ensuring alignment between the TA consultant and hiring manager.
JD: When a recruiter says, “I’ll send you a JD later today,” they mean they’ll provide a job description, which often consists of position overview, responsibilities, and qualifications.
Job Ad: While JDs and Job Ads are often used interchangeably, it’s helpful to see them as distinct assets. From a recruitment marketing standpoint, it is better to promote job ads designed to attract candidates, then share the full, ADA-compliant JD with candidates once they are in the interview process.
CV (Curriculum Vitae) vs Resume: Though often used interchangeably, CV is more common in academic and international contexts. The CV is typically a more exhaustive outline of a candidate’s academic and professional history, while a resume is now being treated as a more “fluid” document, typically tailored to a specific job application.
Sourcing: The process of identifying and attracting potential candidates for a job opening, usually done through a combination of online platforms, networking, and referrals. When a decision-maker asks me, “How much candidate sourcing do you do?” they are really asking how much time I spend identifying, engaging, and cultivating interest from passive candidates.
Screening vs. Prequalifying vs. Shortlisting: These terms are often used interchangeably since they all aim to narrow down candidate pools to those who best fit the job requirements (see “JD” above). Screening might encompass broader activities like phone interviews and questionnaires, while prequalifying and shortlisting usually refer to reviewing candidates’ resumes and application materials to decide which candidates to advance further into the hiring process for further assessment.
Culture Fit: Ask two recruiters - ahem - TA Consultants what “culture fit” means and you’ll get three opinions, or something like that ;-). Some hiring processes emphasize hiring for culture fit, while HBR & SHRM are no longer fans. Essentially, culture fit refers to the degree to which a candidate's values, personality, and work style align with those of the company's culture.
These terms barely scratch the surface of TA jargon. More to come in future posts, but, for now, a test: Take a look at the opportunities below, and if you think you fit the ICP; click the link to the ATS; apply to make yourself an active candidate. And don’t forget to call the person who contacts you a Talent Acquisition Professional or Talent Acquisition Consultant - it just rolls off the tongue so much easier than Recruiter, right?
Now, let’s get to the Jobs of the Week:
Customer Success & Technical Writing Associate | Canopy
Location: Remote (Baton Rouge or New Orleans-based preferred)
Education Focus: K12
Mission: Canopy is an all-in-one learning platform that combines a Learning Management System, student engagement tools, and teacher collaboration features into a single intuitive application. Their mission is to Leverage the power of technology to enhance learning and development in K12 education and beyond.
Job Summary: This role requires a problem-solving individual with excellent technical writing skills, who is comfortable working independently in a startup environment. The main responsibility involves creating Knowledge Base content through articles and videos, collaborating with the team to understand user needs, and responding to customer inquiries via Freshdesk. Additionally, the role involves participating in team meetings, adapting to fluid responsibilities, and potentially assisting with other tasks such as project management and marketing. Experience with graphic design, video editing, CRM systems like Freshdesk, and project management tools is a plus.
Compensation: The initial compensation for this role is $25,000 for a 6-month contract with the expectation to transition to a full-time permanent role at the end of the 6-month period.
Inside Sales Representative | Kiddom
Location: Remote
Education Focus: K12
Mission: Kiddom builds technology enabling teachers and learners to unlock their full potential. They believe technology should be utilized to close the achievement gap and level the playing field for all students.
Job Summary: As the Inside Sales Representative you’ll engage with potential clients through phone calls and emails, introducing educational products and services. Responsibilities include prospecting, conducting needs analysis, presenting products, and closing sales to achieve targets. The ideal candidate has 3+ years of sales experience, especially in K-12 sales and curriculum, proficiency in Salesforce and Salesloft, strong communication skills, customer focus, and knowledge of the educational industry.
Compensation: The base salary for this role is 60,000 and offers up to 110,000 with OTE. Kiddom also offers benefits including medical, dental, vision, disability and life insurance, PTO, and parental leave, in addition to equity.
Technical Support and Knowledge Manager | BrainPOP
Location: NYC (Hybrid)
Education Focus: K-12
Mission: BrainPOP is an online educational solution that makes rigorous learning experiences accessible and engaging for all students. BrainPOP engages kids' curiosity through short animated movies that make complicated ideas simple, helping them experience the sudden burst of understanding called a "brain pop."
Job Summary: The Technical Support and Knowledge Manager will drive the technical performance of the Customer Support team at BrainPOP. This role involves leading resolution efforts for escalations, training new support agents, maintaining a knowledge management program, and enhancing customer self-service capabilities. Key responsibilities include acting as a point of escalation, collaborating with QA teams, managing internal and customer-facing knowledge bases, leading agent training, and analyzing customer satisfaction trends. Ideal candidates are empathetic communicators with a passion for technology, have 3+ years in customer or technical support roles, and possess experience in support content creation, technical escalations management, and using tools like Zendesk, JIRA, and Confluence.
Compensation: $75,000—$90,000 USD (geo-neutral within the US)
Senior Product Owner | PowerSchool
Location: Remote
Education Focus: K12
Mission: PowerSchool is the leading provider of cloud-based software for K-12 education in North America. Its mission is to power the education ecosystem with unified technology that helps educators and students realize their full potential, in their way. PowerSchool connects students, teachers, administrators, and parents, with the shared goal of improving student outcomes
Job Summary: The Senior Product Owner will collaborate with the product manager to define and prioritize product features for implementation by the Scrum Team within PowerSchool’s Administration product portfolio. Responsibilities include developing the product backlog, refining user stories, and ensuring alignment with customer needs and Agile principles. The role involves leading scrum ceremonies, coordinating between departments, communicating product vision, and providing status reports to senior management. Qualifications include 3-5 years of product owner experience, strong Agile and Scrum understanding, excellent communication skills, and a bachelor's degree in business or computer science.
Compensation: The salary range for this role is $66,000 – $97,000. PowerSchool also offers Medical, Dental, Vision, Pharmacy benefits, Life Insurance and AD&D, Disability Insurance, 401(k), PTO, Parental Leave, Paid Volunteer Hours, Tuition Reimbursement, Wellness Programs, and more
Senior Manager, Program Implementation | iEducate
Location: Houston, TX
Education Focus: K12
Mission: iEducate’s mission is to educate today's children while elevating tomorrow's teachers. Their model embeds college and high school students alongside teachers to provide co-teaching instructional support to underserved elementary students, addressing the need for immediate high-impact tutoring while also cultivating a pipeline of homegrown future educators through direct classroom experience.
Job Summary: The Senior Manager, Program Implementation at iEducate plays a crucial role in overseeing the implementation of the organization's program across a cohort of schools. This includes managing the onboarding, training, and monitoring processes, as well as overseeing a team of at least 40 part-time tutors. Responsibilities involve collaborating with school leadership, conducting site visits, analyzing data on program implementation, providing coaching support to stakeholders and tutors, and managing tutor development efforts. The ideal candidate should have experience in managing program implementation in an education setting, familiarity with evidence-based tutoring programs, and strong leadership skills. This role requires occasional travel to school sites, evening and weekend work, and proficiency in technology tools. A Bachelor's degree is required, with a Master's degree preferred.
Compensation: The compensation for this role will be between $70,000 - $80,000 in addition to medical and dental for employees and their families
Location: Remote
Education Focus: Online Education
Mission: Coursera’s mission is to provide universal access to world-class learning to create a world where anyone, anywhere can transform their life through access to education
Job Summary: The Coursera Enterprise team facilitates global institutions in providing critical skills aligned with today's job market through enterprise-grade solutions. As a senior leader in this role, you'll spearhead the strategy to elevate Coursera for Business to a billion-dollar trajectory, collaborating with Product, Content, and Technology teams. Your responsibilities include showcasing Coursera's solutions to enterprise decision-makers globally, driving revenue growth, and serving as the expert advisor for Sales and Customer Success teams. With over 15 years of Enterprise SaaS experience, proven sales and management expertise, and a deep understanding of Enterprise business models, you'll lead the charge in transforming organizations through high-impact skill development and online education.
Compensation: The expected salary for this position is $104,550 to $150,650. Coursera also offers benefits including medical, dental, and vision insurance for you and your dependents. Free access to counseling and mental health services. Free, lifelong access to courses and certificates and tuition coverage for a master’s degree. PTO, flexible hours, 401(k) with company match, home office reimbursement, paid company holidays and rest days, paid parental leave, and more.
Vice President, Finance | National Math and Science Initiative
Location: Remote
Education Focus: K-12
Mission: The National Math and Science Initiative is a national nonprofit organization dedicated to transforming math and science education in today's classrooms and ensuring that all students have the knowledge and skills to thrive in the global economy of the 21st century.
Job Summary: The Vice President of Finance role at NMSI involves developing and executing fiscal strategies, overseeing financial operations, and ensuring timely reporting for a $20M nonprofit organization. Reporting to the COO, the VP will manage revenue streams, lead financial planning aligned with strategic goals, and facilitate board-level financial reporting. The position requires senior-level finance experience, preferably in nonprofits, strong leadership skills, inclusive and entrepreneurial mindset, and proficiency in organizational planning and technology utilization.
Compensation: The salary for this position is between $185,408-$213,219 based on experience. In addition, NMSI offers a comprehensive total rewards package including medical, dental, and vision benefits, 401(k) with up to a 6% employee match, referral and performance-based annual bonuses, telecommunications stipends, PTO, and a 2-week winter break
Hiring or looking for a role in EdTech? Check out the ETCH Jobs Community!
Need more hire power? Tenzing will do all the legwork (e.g., sourcing, vetting, and managing the hiring process) for half the cost of traditional headhunters.