Head of Zero-to-One $200,000 USD/year Pay is set based on global value, not the local market.
Most roles = hourly rate x 40 hrs x 50 weeks
United States
Fully-remote
full-time (40 hrs/week)
Flexible schedule
Long-term role
Description
We need a builder, connector, and problem-solver—someone who can take a bold idea and turn it into reality. You thrive in ambiguity, move fast, and understand how to bring together people, processes, and technology to make things work.
We’re a stealth-stage edu startup on a mission to unlock government funding for education providers through a Pay-for-Success (PFS) platform. Our platform helps schools, micro-schools, and edtech apps access funding by ensuring compliance, tracking student outcomes, and automating payments. Imagine bridging the gap between state/federal performance-based education funding and the education providers driving real impact. That’s what you’ll build.
If you’re the kind of person who:
- Sees a broken system and immediately starts mapping out how to fix it,
- Knows how to get different groups to play nice together and
- Can think in bets, execute at speed, and connect the right people
—then this is your role.
We’re looking for someone who:
- Has taken something from zero to one before (built a startup, launched a new business unit, scaled an early-stage product).
- Understands marketplaces, platforms, or two-sided ecosystems (bonus points for EdTech, GovTech, or FinTech experience).
- Is a connector -- someone who naturally builds relationships, spots patterns, and solves complex problems by pulling the right levers.
- Thrives in ambiguity and self-directs -- you don’t need a roadmap; you help create it.
- Has experience with business development, partnerships, and scaling operations, but you’re not “just” a sales or product person.
- Can think in terms of incentives, compliance, and product mechanics simultaneously.
- Moves fast, experiments, and adapts when new information comes in.
- Understands how API-driven platforms work and can collaborate effectively with engineers; you don’t need to code, but you should be able to translate business needs into technical execution.
We don’t care about your degree. We care about your ability to execute.
If you’re reading this and thinking, “This sounds like me, but I don’t fit traditional job descriptions,” then we definitely want to talk.
Why You Should Join
- Big impact, high ownership; you’ll be shaping an entire ecosystem.
- Ambitious but clear mission: solving one of the biggest funding bottlenecks in education.
- Work with top-tier talent; you’ll collaborate with experienced execs and builders.
- Competitive pay ($200K), autonomy to build, and a chance to create something meaningful.
If this sounds like the kind of challenge you run toward instead of away from, let’s talk. Apply now. We’re moving fast and looking for someone who does the same.
What you will be doing
You’ll be the architect of our startup's success, responsible for scaling it from zero to a thriving ecosystem. Your job will include:
- Owning the platform's growth, ensuring education apps, schools, and government funding sources seamlessly integrate.
- Creating a playbook for onboarding new partners (schools, apps, and funding sources).
- Leading marketplace expansion, making sure we’re solving for incentives and compliance at scale.
- Working cross-functionally with engineers, compliance teams, and business leaders to ensure the platform works as intended.
- Being the chief problem-solver when things break, stall, or don’t go according to plan.
This isn’t a “keep the trains running” job. It’s about laying the tracks and making sure the train gets moving in the first place.
What you will NOT be doing
- Following a predefined product roadmap; you will be creating it from scratch.
- Getting lost in bureaucracy; this role is about eliminating it.
- Managing a narrow product feature set; you will be driving a broad business-building initiative.
- Waiting for direction; this role requires high ownership and initiative.
Key responsibilities
Driving the growth, partnerships, and operational strategy of a PFS-driven education funding platform from zero to one.
Candidate requirements
- Proven experience building and scaling platforms, marketplaces, or early-stage products.
- Track record of developing and managing high-value partnerships or business relationships that deliver annual revenue exceeding $1M.
- Ability to drive growth strategies while ensuring compliance with complex regulations.
- Experience working cross-functionally with engineering, operations, and external stakeholders.
- Familiarity with API-driven platforms and multi-sided marketplace dynamics.
- Founder’s mindset—thrives in ambiguity, builds from scratch, and adapts quickly.
Nice to have
- Experience in US EdTech, GovTech, or education funding mechanisms.
- Background as a startup founder, GM, or marketplace operator.
- Understanding of performance-based funding programs like ESSER, Title I, or state-level PFS initiatives.
How it works
Applying for a role? Here’s what to expect.
Crossover's skill assessment process combines innovative AI power with decades of human research, to take the guesswork, human bias, and pointless filters out of recruiting high-performing teams.
STEP 1
Pass Cognitive Aptitude Test.
STEP 2
Pass English Proficiency Test.
STEP 3
Prove Real-World Job & AI Skills.
STEP 4
Ace An Interview Or Two.
STEP 5
Accept Job Offer.
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Why Crossover
Recruitment sucks. So we’re fixing it.
The Olympics of work
It’s super hard to qualify—extreme quality standards ensure every single team member is at the top of their game.
Premium pay for premium talent
Over 50% of new hires double or triple their previous pay. Why? Because that’s what the best person in the world is worth.
Shortlist by skills, not bias
We don’t care where you went to school, what color your hair is, or whether we can pronounce your name. Just prove you’ve got the skills.
