Director of Growth

Company Mission:

Stride Autism Centers is dedicated to providing the highest quality center-based Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) therapy to preschool children with autism. With over 20 locations and a strong clinical reputation, we are now focused on a new phase of growth: dramatically expanding our impact by filling our existing centers and strategically opening new ones to serve more families in need.

The Opportunity:

This is a unique opportunity for an ambitious and strategic "player-coach" to own the growth engine of a rapidly scaling healthcare organization. You will be a core member of our lean leadership team. Our growth marketing muscle remains underdeveloped, as Stride's founder-led organization has historically relied on a handful of local relationships and word-of-mouth from meaningful client outcomes to drive new client enrollment. As our first full-time growth leader, you will be responsible for a wide range of growth initiatives—both online and in-person—to fill open spots in our existing centers and drive new center growth. We have the clinical excellence and the physical infrastructure in place; we need a leader who can maximize the impact of our centers by telling our story to a wider audience.

Reporting to the CEO and partnering with a fractional CMO with extensive executive marketing experience, you will play a critical role in developing a reliable growth engine for the organization. This includes overseeing our third-party digital marketing agency and our Community Engagement Manager, who focuses on partnerships and events. You will manage a marketing budget to activate underutilized locations, cultivate robust referral networks, and create a scalable framework for rapid new site enrollment.

This role offers a clear path to a C-level position (e.g., Chief Growth Officer) as we achieve our goal to triple the size of the organization in the next three years: from a leading Midwest provider of ABA services to a regional powerhouse. You will inherit an award-winning, accredited brand to take to the next level. Our team culture has been nationally recognized with Top Workplaces USA awards for Employee Well-Being and Professional Development. Additionally, Stride is Fully Accredited by the Autism Commission on Quality (ACQ).

Responsibilities:

• Growth Strategy & Execution:
  Develop and implement a comprehensive growth strategy to fill capacity in our 22 existing locations and successfully launch new centers. You will be responsible for the entire patient acquisition funnel, from initial awareness to final enrollment. Design and implement a repeatable, scalable process to quickly enroll new clients at each new location, ensuring swift ramps to full capacity.
• Marketing Leadership:
  Own and manage all marketing channels and associated budgets, including digital (PPC, SEO, AEO, social media), community outreach, events and more. You will actively manage our outsourced agency, but also be prepared to get hands-on with campaigns and analytics to boost client inquiries and community awareness significantly.
• Community & Referral Partnerships:
  Strengthen and scale our referral networks with pediatricians, psychologists, autism organizations, schools, and other community organizations. You will oversee our field marketing efforts, providing strategic direction and accountability to ensure a robust referral engine.
• Authentic Content Strategy:
  Guide the creation of compelling, localized content, including heartwarming family stories, insightful therapy perspectives, and engaging digital and physical marketing collateral (videos, photography, brochures, banners).
• Data-Driven Growth & Technology Optimization:
  You'll own the entire marketing technology stack, leveraging HubSpot to manage, track, and optimize every stage of the client funnels. Also, you will collaborate with the Director of Talent Acquisition to optimize talent funnels. You will develop and maintain a comprehensive KPI framework to measure key metrics, including lead generation, referral growth, enrollment rates, and campaign ROI, using these insights to continually refine strategies, increase conversion rates, and maximize returns.
• Intake & Enrollment Optimization:
  Partner with the intake function to streamline call handling and enhance the client enrollment experience through process analysis, training and resource development, technology integration (leveraging HubSpot), and continuous feedback loops to refine strategies and improve conversion rates from initial inquiry to enrollment.
• Strategic Planning:
  Serve as a strategic partner to the leadership team, providing market analysis and a data-backed perspective on future site selection and expansion opportunities.
• Employer Brand Advocacy:
  Support employer branding initiatives, positioning us as the preferred employer for ABA professionals. Promote online and in-person recruiting initiatives and infuse marketing best practices within our talent acquisition vertical
• Team Building:
  As the company grows, you will be responsible for building a high-performing internal marketing team, from hiring to ongoing mentorship and development.

Who You Are:

• You are a
  strategic thinker with a roll-up-your-sleeves mentality
  . You're just as comfortable analyzing a spreadsheet as you are brainstorming a new local marketing initiative.
• You have a
  proven track record of driving growth
  in a multi-location, service-based business (e.g., healthcare, education, franchises) and enabling rapid client enrollment in new locations.
• You are
  data-obsessed
  and have a strong understanding of how to use analytics to make informed decisions.
• You are an
  excellent communicator and relationship builder
  who can inspire a team and foster trust with external partners.
• You are passionate about our mission of helping children with autism and their families.

Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree required; MBA or other advanced degree a plus.
• 7+ years of experience in marketing, business development, or growth, with a focus on multi-location businesses.
• Demonstrated experience managing a marketing budget and external agencies.
• Proven ability to meet and exceed growth targets.
• Experience with a mix of digital and community-based marketing channels.
• Experience with HubSpot or similar CRM
• Willingness to travel to events and practice areas as needed (ideally located in the Midwest)