Head of Government Relations & State Partnerships

About Presence

Presence is the leading provider of teletherapy solutions for children with diverse needs. Through our award-winning technology, Presence connects speech-language pathologists, school psychologists, occupational therapists, and mental health specialists to schools, districts, and organizations nationwide. Our growing network of 2,000+ clinicians has delivered over 7 million teletherapy sessions to K-12 students.

We are a remote-first, distributed workforce of 200+ corporate employees, headquartered in New York. We place a high value on “cameras on” engagement, schedule coordination and cross-functional communication to stay connected with each other when working in different places. Many roles require travel to create opportunities to engage in-person with our school partners, our clinicians, and each other.

What will you do at Presence? 

We are looking for an entrepreneurial commercial leader to serve as our Head of Government Relations & State Partnerships. As a senior member of Presence’s dynamic Commercial team, you will report to the Vice President of Communications, PR, Policy and Advocacy and partner closely with the Chief Revenue Officer. At Presence, our mission is to empower all who serve children with diverse needs. You will design a strategy and business plan to grow revenue in target states by unlocking state education budgets for special education, advising policies to protect the provision of teletherapy services and developing partnerships with private and charter school networks to deliver Presence services. You will be responsible for partnering closely with the Sales team to translate your learnings, relationships and leads into revenue growth. 

This is a unique GM-style opportunity to build and own a state-focused commercial engine at the intersection of business, government, and education. This role combines fast-paced commercial ownership with the nuance and relationship-building required for effective state government engagement. The person in this role thrives on building a business from scratch; loves diving into the complexities of state education funding policies, and enjoys relationship-building with many types of people, from educators to lobbyists to government officials. You will work cross-functionally across Sales, Marketing and Communications to communicate the Presence vision and value proposition to state education leaders. 

Why This Role Is Unique:

• You will own a new business vertical and shape the company's state market expansion.
• You will directly engage with governors' offices, state agency heads, procurement leaders, and public-private partnerships.
• You will work shoulder-to-shoulder with senior leadership and have a direct line of sight to the company’s top-line growth.
• You will take full ownership of strategy, have shared accountability for revenue outcomes.
• You will navigate a highly-dynamic commercial space with massive addressable market potential.

Primary Responsibilities:

• Build and Execute State-Level GTM Strategy
• Design and own the revenue growth strategy in key states based on market size, education policy trends and strategic fit
• Collaborate cross-functionally (sales, product, legal, marketing, communications, policy, clinical) to evolve the GTM strategy and build Presence’s positioning in these markets.
• Generate Revenue Opportunities Through New Partnerships
• Cultivate executive-level relationships with state decision-makers and influencers.
• Identify and shape state-level contracts, partnerships, and business development opportunities.
• Navigate complex RFPs, procurement processes, grant programs, and budget cycles.
• Provide strategic input to align go-to-market messaging with buyer personas, empowering the sales team with the knowledge and resources needed to close high-value opportunities.
• Market Access & Advocacy
• Proactively explore and address regulatory or policy barriers.
• Manage and deploy external lobbyists and advocacy consultants where needed.
• Stay ahead of evolving state-level budget priorities and funding mechanisms.
• Industry Leadership & Ecosystem Building
• Represent the company at industry forums, policy convenings, and state association meetings.
• Build influential networks across government, public-private partnerships, and associations.
• Act as a senior commercial leader internally and externally.

What we are looking for:

• 8+ years of commercial leadership experience (business development, partnerships, state-level sales, or market expansion).
• 3+ years of experience directly working with government agencies, ideally with significant state-level engagement.
• Experience and expertise in the education sector strongly preferred.
• Demonstrated ability to launch and scale new business lines or market verticals from inception.
• Deep knowledge of state government funding, procurement, and partnership dynamics.
• Senior-level presence with the ability to influence both commercial and government stakeholders.
• Proven track record managing external consultants, lobbyists, and advocacy partners.
• Operates with high autonomy, GM-style ownership, and strong commercial judgment.
• Excellent deal-making, negotiation, and cross-functional leadership capabilities.

What will help you succeed here?

• Our team is committed to shared principles of inclusivity. We engage with all stakeholders in a spirit of listening, learning, and broadening our perspectives.
• We commit to a growth mindset. We don’t use energy to explain why something can’t be done; we figure out how to make it happen. 
• We are mission-driven. Our work helps more children with special needs receive the necessary support. We believe that our work is essential, meaningful, and urgent.
• We believe in data-driven decision-making, measuring outcomes, and iterative improvement.

What are some of the benefits we offer? 

• Comprehensive Medical Coverage includes Dental and Vision
• Flexible PTO
• 11 Company Paid Holidays 
• Benefits Package: including 401K savings plan and access to an Employee Assistance Program.
• $500 home office stipend
• Paid Life insurance, AD&D, and disability benefits
• Paid parental and caregiving leave
• Eligibility to apply for a Professional Development Scholarship. 
• Inclusive Culture: We are intentional about creating a culture that is fun and inclusive.

This role is also eligible to participate in Presence’s equity plan subject to the terms of the applicable plans and policies.

An employee’s starting pay will be determined based on job-related skills, experience, qualifications, and market conditions.

Salary range is $150,000-175,000 plus variable commission 

Where is this position located? 

• Presence is headquartered in New York City, with our clients located throughout the U.S. 
• This position reports directly to the Vice President of Communications, Public Relations, Policy and Advocacy 
• This is remote and may require 50% travel depending on your location
• All employees commit to be available on-camera for our Core Working Hours noon-5 pm EST M-F.
• Standard business operating hours are 9 am-6 pm in the employees' respective time zone