Strategy Analyst at Ascend Learning, Inc. in Burlington, Massachusetts

Job Description:

Ascend Learning is a national leader in data driven, online educational solutions for learners, educators and employers in high-growth, licensure-driven professions spanning healthcare, fitness and wellness, skilled trades, insurance and financial services. We are passionate about accelerating learning while impacting job readiness, employment success and employee retention with the belief that our work changes lives.

Our culture is intentionally results-driven and selfless with a relentless focus on our customers. We believe in trust, transparency, freedom and responsibility with a commitment to meritocracy, inclusion and diversity of thought. Continual investment in our over 1400 employees is also a core principle realized through ongoing professional development and providing opportunities to grow, develop and lead. Ascend Learning is headquartered in Burlington, MA with additional office locations and remote workers in cities across the U.S. and in the U.K.

Ascend Learning is looking for a Strategy Analyst to join its Healthcare division to work with senior leadership to assess strategic growth opportunities.  The role will involve helping to identify and assess a broad range of opportunities, including organic expansion into new markets and product lines as well as growth through M&A.

Responsibilities:

• Perform survey research, qualitative research, and customer/prospect interviews to support strategic recommendations


• Identify and evaluate new growth opportunities across Ascend’s Healthcare brands, spanning both organic investments and M&A


• Perform competitive analysis to help drive our market positioning and our market entry approach for new growth opportunities


• Perform a broad range of quantitative analyses and modeling, including addressable market size analysis and developing initial financial models to help assess the potential business impact of opportunities being assessed


• Help craft business cases and strategic plans for new growth opportunities to be presented to Ascend’s senior management and board of directors

Education and Experience:

• Bachelor’s degree required


• 2+ years of professional experience at a strategy or management consulting firm, investment bank, or in corporate strategy


• Experience with market sizing, industry trend analysis, and competitive analysis


• Prior exposure to the healthcare training and education industry, especially digital-leveraged businesses, a plus

Skills and Abilities:

• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, able to produce clear analyses and business cases and present them effectively to senior leaders


• Strong analytical, market research, financial modeling, and project management skills


• Proactive and versatile self-starter who can work independently within set objectives and own projects from end-to-end


• Able to work collaboratively with cross-functional teams and colleagues at all levels in assessing and championing business opportunities


• Strong relationship-building and interpersonal skills; effective at networking and engaging with external parties to learn about new markets and companies


• Resourceful in finding information and data sources to help assess opportunities


• Extremely well-organized and capable of operating in a fast-paced environment, handling multiple projects and ad-hoc requests simultaneously


• High energy, inquisitive team-player who wants to make a difference in a mission-driven business


• Ability to travel up to 20%

Ascend Learning, LLC is proud to be an equal opportunity employer (M/F/Vets/Disabled). No agency or search firm submissions will be accepted. Applications for U.S. based positions with Ascend Learning, LLC must be legally authorized to work in the United States and verification of employment eligibility will be required at the time of hire.

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