Head of Public Sector Business Development

Who We Are

Summer is a Certified B Corp® on a mission to restore financial freedom for the 46 million Americans burdened by student debt. We combine deep policy expertise with powerful technology to simplify every step of college cost planning and loan repayment. We have helped people save an average of $278 per month and more than $1.8 billion in total savings to date.

By partnering with leading employers, cities, and financial institutions, including ADP, the City of New York, Banc of California, Norton Healthcare, and the American Federation of Teachers, Summer helps millions of Americans move closer to a debt-free future.

Backed by $30 million in funding from top investors including Rebalance Capital, SemperVirens, QED Investors, General Catalyst, and Flourish Ventures, we’re building the infrastructure that powers student loan relief and education affordability in America.

Your Role

As Summer’s Head of Public Sector Partnerships, you’ll build and lead our go-to-market strategy for the public sector, driving growth through a combination of direct municipal engagement, channel partnerships, and strategic collaboration with our government affairs and lobbying partners.

This isn’t a traditional HR sales role. You’ll work closely with political leaders, city and state decision-makers, and key policy influencers to expand access to Summer’s platform for residents and communities nationwide.

You’ll bring deep public-sector sales experience, a strong understanding of government procurement and political ecosystems, and the entrepreneurial drive to build something new, from the ground up.

What You’ll Do

• Own and Drive Government GTM: Build and execute a comprehensive go-to-market strategy for municipal, county, and state clients, leading all phases from pipeline creation to deal close.

• Build Strategic Relationships: Cultivate strong relationships with mayors, city managers, finance directors, HR and benefits leaders, and other key municipal stakeholders to position Summer as a trusted financial wellness solution.

• Manage Channels and Partnerships: Oversee channel and intermediary relationships (e.g., government associations, city and state-level networks, and public-private partnerships) to amplify reach.

• Execute with Agility: Balance structure with creativity, breaking through barriers when needed to deliver results and move deals forward.

• Team Leadership and Growth: Hire, coach, and scale a small team of AEs and BDRs focused on regional markets; create a playbook for repeatable, high-impact public-sector sales.

• Cross-Functional Collaboration: Partner with Product, Marketing, Client Success, and Policy teams to align market needs with go-to-market priorities and client delivery.

• Represent Summer Publicly: Speak and participate in industry events, associations, and policy forums (e.g., NLC, USCM, ICMA), positioning Summer as a thought leader in financial wellness and public-sector innovation.

• Deal Execution: Lead complex sales cycles, including navigating RFPs, procurement processes, and multi-stakeholder approvals.

• Travel as Needed: Attend in-person meetings, conferences, and events to advance key relationships and drive market expansion (expected travel ~25–40%).

You Might Be a Fit If You Have

• 8–12+ years of enterprise sales experience, including at least 5 years selling into state or local government and 3+ years leading or managing sales teams.

• Demonstrated success closing large, multi-year SaaS or technology contracts in the public sector.

• Deep knowledge of government procurement, appropriations, budget cycles, and RFP/RFI processes.

• Established network across municipal and state government leadership circles.

• Experience collaborating with lobbyists, government affairs, or policy teams to drive business outcomes.

• Background in high-growth fintech, HR tech, or benefits technology with proven experience building repeatable sales processes.

• Proven ability to manage ambiguity, navigate red tape, function with high accountability and creatively problem-solve to close deals.

• Excellent communication, storytelling, and stakeholder management skills.

• Track record of hitting and exceeding sales targets in high-growth environments.

The Details

Compensation: $185-210K base + OTE of $370-$420K + equity + comprehensive benefits Work Setup: Full-time, Remote within the United States

Work Environment

Summer is a remote-first company with team members across the U.S. We collaborate asynchronously and meet virtually each week, with in-person gatherings for key moments during the year.

Why Join Summer

Summer is on a mission to help borrowers navigate and eliminate student debt. We partner with financial institutions, employers, and government agencies to provide digital tools that simplify the loan experience for millions of borrowers.

We’re a mission-driven team that believes in solving real problems with real empathy. We care deeply about our users and each other. If you’re excited about building technology that changes lives, we’d love to meet you.

How We Support You

• Equity grant to share in Summer’s success

• 100% employee-covered medical, dental, and vision insurance

• 401(k) plan with 3% match, fully vested day one

• Direct contributions toward your student loans

• Up to 11 paid holidays + flexible PTO

• Paid leave for family, health, or personal needs

• Annual in-person events including Summer Camp and Summer Wonderland

• And more!

Equal Opportunity

Summer provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination or harassment of any kind. This policy applies to all employment terms and conditions, including recruiting, hiring, promotion, termination, compensation, and training.