Account Manager (Remote-US)

Contract (Hourly, 6-12 months to start) and Staff (Full-Time) Considered

Remote (US-Based, some travel required)

DataKind is seeking an Account Manager to serve as the primary relationship owner for higher education institutions that are early adopters of one or more of DataKind’s higher ed solutions. This role is central to ensuring our higher education partners are successful, satisfied, and growing. The Account Manager will own the long-term health of these high-visibility partnerships, serving as the connective tissue between institutions and DataKind's internal teams.

Location Remote, anywhere in the U.S. Working hours are primarily between 8am–5pm local time, with flexibility to coordinate across Eastern, Central, and Pacific time zones. This role requires periodic travel to partner institutions (25–40% during peak periods).

Compensation Range 

Full-time Employee: $75,000 - $94,000 annually + benefits.  Actual placement depends on experience and internal equity. Candidates who meet core requirements are typically positioned in the lower to middle of the range. 

Independent Contractor: $45 - $56/hour. Competitive rates scaled appropriately to account for self-funded benefits and taxes

Candidates interested in either full-time employment or independent contractor engagements will be considered.

About the Opportunity

Reporting to the Director, Institutional Partnerships and Strategy, the Account Manager will own the ongoing relationships with a small cohort of university partners. This is a relationship-first role: you'll spend most of your time understanding what your partners need, getting ahead of problems before they surface, and keeping institutions engaged and successful so they renew their partnerships and become models for wider adoption across the sector. You'll work closely with our Product, Engineering, and Research teams to advocate for your partners internally, and will need to be “technically conversant,” but you won't be expected to lead or own technical work yourself.

Core Responsibilities

Partner Relationship Management

Serve as the primary point of contact and trusted advisor for a cohort of higher education institutions throughout their multi-year engagement with DataKind. Build and maintain strong relationships with institutional leadership — including IR Directors, Chief Data Officers, Provosts, and Presidents — grounded in trust, responsiveness, and deep understanding of each partner's context and goals. Conduct regular check-ins and relationship health reviews to stay ahead of any concerns before they become problems.

Onboarding & Ongoing Success

Coordinate with DataKind's implementation and product teams to ensure smooth onboarding for new partners, acting as the institutional advocate throughout. Translate partner needs and feedback into clear briefs for internal teams. Help institutions understand what's available to them, connect them to resources, and remove barriers to adoption.

Cohort Engagement & Peer Learning

Facilitate Learning Circles and cohort activities among lighthouse institutions, creating opportunities for peer connection and shared problem-solving. Coordinate cross-institutional knowledge sharing and help surface best practices that can inform broader sector adoption.

Feedback & Internal Advocacy

Serve as the voice of your partners internally. Synthesize themes across accounts and bring structured feedback to Product and Engineering on institutional needs, usability issues, and opportunities for improvement. Contribute to the development of scalable account management processes and playbooks as DataKind grows.

Retention & Renewals

Own the renewal process for each partnership, tracking engagement signals and proactively addressing retention risks. Develop a clear understanding of each institution's evolving needs and ensure DataKind's offerings continue to deliver meaningful value. Partner with internal stakeholders to make the case for renewal and document partnership outcomes that support it. 

Qualifications

Required

• Deep alignment with DataKind's mission and commitment to educational equity and data-driven social impact
• 4+ years of experience in account management, partnership management, customer success, or higher education administration
• Proven track record of managing complex, multi-stakeholder relationships in higher education or a similarly mission-driven environment
• Strong understanding of how higher education institutions operate — including key d