Vice President, Strategic Affairs

At Instructure, we believe in the power of people to grow and succeed throughout their lives. Our goal is to amplify that power by creating intuitive products that simplify learning and personal development, facilitate meaningful relationships, and inspire people to go further in their education and careers. We do this by giving smart, creative, passionate people opportunities to create awesome. And that's where you come in: The VP of Strategic Affairs leads Instructure’s Strategic Growth function—a global, cross-functional engine that shapes favorable policy, funding, and procurement environments to accelerate revenue. This role partners closely with GTM, Sales, and Business Unit leaders to increase win rates, unlock complex deals, and drive durable growth across markets. What You Will Do: Government Affairs & Policy - Lead global government affairs strategy across the U.S. and international markets (NORAM, EMEA, APAC, Middle East) - Build and maintain senior relationships with policymakers, education leaders, and regulatory bodies - Shape policy and regulatory environments across edtech, credentialing, accreditation, and workforce readiness - Anticipate and respond to legislative and regulatory developments impacting the business Revenue Acceleration & Sales Enablement - Increase win rates in complex system deals and strategic enterprise accounts - Create funding and policy conditions that enable acquisition and expansion - Provide executive-level air cover to advance high-priority pursuits - Accelerate deal cycles from award through signature and launch - Partner with Business Units (K-12, Higher Ed, International, Parchment) to improve performance on strategic opportunities Leadership & Cross-Functional Impact - Lead and scale a global team across the Strategic Growth business unit - Act as a core contributor in pipeline and forecast reviews, bringing visibility to influence, risk mitigation, and deal acceleration - Partner cross-functionally with Sales, Marketing, Legal, and Product to align strategy and execution - Deliver enablement resources and thought leadership to elevate field effectiveness Market Development & Strategic Partnerships - Identify and unlock new markets and growth opportunities globally - Expand Instructure’s presence as a trusted, mission-driven leader - Oversee international strategy including grant-funded initiatives, embassy partnerships, and multinational collaborations What You Should Have: - Robust experience in government affairs, policy, strategic sales, or related leadership roles (bonus - B2B and/or SaaS) - Proven success influencing procurement, funding, or legislative outcomes - Experience leading global teams and managing external partners (e.g., lobbying firms) - Strong executive presence with the ability to influence C-suite and public sector leaders - Deep understanding of K-12, Higher Ed, and/or public sector markets - Excellent communication, analytical, and strategic thinking skills - Willingness to travel, including internationally What Sets You Apart: - Strategic and forward-looking; connects policy, funding, and revenue outcomes - Results-driven with a strong bias for impact and accountability - High EQ leader who builds trust and durable relationships - Thrives in complexity and brings energy to fast-paced environments - Existing network across education agencies or government stakeholders - Familiarity with edtech procurement cycles, RFPs, and funding pathways Get in on all the awesome at Instructure! We offer competitive, meaningful benefits in every country where we operate. While they vary by location, here's a general idea of what you can expect: - Competitive compensation, plus all full-time employees participate in our ownership program - because everyone should have a stake in our success. - Flexible work culture. Our remote, hybrid and in-office collaboration spaces vary by role, team and location. - Generous time off, including local holidays and our annual “Dim the L