Director of Community Engagement, Alpha - 200,000/year USD - Houston - Crossover for Work

Description

LOCATION NOTE: This position requires on-site presence in one of the cities listed below, including local travel as necessary. Relocation support is provided for candidates who have confirmed relocation plans and a clear timeline.

You excel in fast-moving startup environments. You have a track record of serving high-net-worth clients who demand exceptional service standards. You are convinced that AI can transform education and welcome the opportunity to advocate for that vision against doubters. If these conditions feel challenging, this position is not a fit.

Alpha operates outside the traditional school model. We are a technology-driven startup demonstrating that every child possesses exceptional potential. Our students complete their core academic work in only two hours daily through AI-enabled applications, dedicating the remainder of their day to practical competencies: presentation skills, analytical reasoning, collaborative challenges, and meaningful projects. No conventional lectures. No filler assignments. Only accelerated progress and performance in the top 1% nationally. Families anticipate concierge-quality service. You will regularly defend this approach against concerns about screen exposure, skepticism toward non-traditional education, and "this seems too good to be real" objections.

During the initial startup phase (year zero through year one), this role functions as enrollment sales. You control the entire pipeline from initial inquiry through executed enrollment contract, including conversion goals and CRM oversight. Campus launch requires a minimum of 25 enrolled students. Achieving that threshold is your responsibility. You will deliver compelling information sessions, facilitate individual campus visits, pursue follow-up aggressively, and finalize agreements. After securing 25 students and onboarding an admissions director, your role evolves into the campus's lead parent-facing executive. You will cultivate loyalty, address concerns with premium service standards, and convert satisfied families into vocal advocates who drive referrals.

This is a position defined by significant trust and autonomy, with transparent expectations. You will operate independently without substantial administrative infrastructure, marketing resources, or established protocols. Strategies adapt based on performance data. Systems are emerging. You will create them. The majority of your time will be spent in the community (networking over coffee, business lunches, Chamber of Commerce participation) rather than at a desk. You will maintain visibility during morning arrival and afternoon dismissal. Evening family events and periodic weekend student programming are part of your schedule. A single poorly matched family within a 25-student cohort can compromise the entire community, making the ability to decline unsuitable applicants as critical as enrolling appropriate ones.

The opportunity? You will observe transformations rarely seen in education: skeptical parents evolving into passionate advocates, reserved students presenting with confidence to adult audiences, families selecting your campus over prestigious private institutions. You will build an operation from the ground up and own the outcomes.

If you believe traditional schooling is failing most children and a superior alternative exists, this is your opportunity to demonstrate it.

HIRING FOR THESE LOCATIONS:

• CA: Santa Barbara, Palo Alto, & Piedmont (East Bay)
• GA: Roswell (Atlanta)
• IL: Chicago
• MD: Bethesda
• TX: Austin & Brownsville
• VA: Chantilly
• WA: Kirkland (Seattle)

What You Will Be Doing

• Control the complete enrollment sales process during the startup phase (year 0-1), managing from inquiry through signed contract, meeting conversion objectives and maintaining CRM systems until the 25-student threshold is reached
• Deliver information sessions and conduct campus visits that convert interested families while strategically declining misaligned applicants (selective rejection is as critical as acceptance)
• Function as the principal point of contact for affluent families investing $40K+ annually, delivering premium service that transforms parents into vocal advocates
• Establish community presence through consistent on-site availability during morning arrival (7-9am) and afternoon dismissal (2-4pm), while dedicating the majority of workdays to external activities including coffee meetings, networking engagements, and community partnerships
• Advocate for Alpha's AI-driven educational model when addressing parents concerned about screen exposure and unconventional learning approaches
• Cultivate parent champions by creating exceptional experiences that motivate families to refer their social networks

What You Wont Be Doing

• Maintaining standard 9-5 business hours (early morning availability, late afternoon presence, and evening programming are mandatory)
• Executing according to established procedures and documented systems (you will design processes within a startup context)
• Depending on administrative personnel, marketing departments, or enrollment coordinators (you operate independently)
• Enrolling every applicant (selectivity is a fundamental requirement)
• Working primarily from an office (this role demands daily community engagement and relationship development)

Director Of Community Engagement Key Responsibilities

Control enrollment sales during the startup phase (year 0-1), then transition to cultivating parent relationships that generate advocates and fuel referral-based growth.

Basic Requirements

• Currently located within commuting range of one of these campus locations OR committed to relocation within 60 days (preference given to candidates with existing local networks): Santa Barbara, CA; Palo Alto, CA; Piedmont, CA; Roswell, GA; Chicago, IL; Bethesda, MD; Austin, TX; Brownsville, TX; Chantilly, VA; or Kirkland, WA.
• Legal authorization to work in the United States without sponsorship requirements
• 5+ years in positions involving high-net-worth client relationships in consultative sales or premium customer experience roles (including private school admissions/enrollment, luxury sales, hospitality, philanthropy, etc.)
• Proven enrollment/sales pipeline success with quantifiable conversion performance you can articulate
• Executive presence and communication capabilities to establish credibility and influence sophisticated decision-making with affluent clientele
• Entrepreneurial initiative with comfort operating independently in a startup setting
• Authentic commitment to AI-enabled education, with confidence defending the approach to skeptical parents questioning screen exposure and non-traditional methods
• Flexibility for non-standard hours: early mornings (7-9am), late afternoons (2-4pm), evening programming (2-3x/month), and weekend events

Nice-to-have Requirements

Outstanding candidates will possess at least one of the following:

• Established relationships within the local affluent community through an existing professional or social network
• Leadership experience in private school or independent school enrollment/admissions with documented success
• Demonstrated track record in sales, business development, or fundraising involving high-value client relationships
• Background in startup or early-stage ventures successfully managing ambiguity and rapid iteration
• Experience in event planning and community organizing, creating impactful and memorable experiences
• Professional background in real estate, development, or major gift fundraising with ultra-high-net-worth 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.

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.

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-Houston-DirectorofComm.021