Element451 logo

Element451

Implementation Lead

🇺🇸 Remote - US 🕑 Full-Time 💰 TBD 💻 Project Management 🗓️ October 22nd, 2026
SaaS CRM

Edtech.com's Summary

Element451 is hiring an Implementation Lead to own customer go-lives for its AI-native CRM and agent platform built for colleges and universities. The lead runs each implementation from kickoff through launch and handoff to Customer Success, managing the project plan, stakeholders and launch readiness. It suits an implementation or project manager with CRM experience, ideally in higher education, and the role is remote within the United States.

Highlights
  • Own implementation delivery from kickoff through go-live and transition to Customer Success, building and managing the project plan, milestones, dependencies and weekly execution rhythm.
  • Lead structured discovery with institutions to clarify goals, workflows, stakeholders and success criteria, and turn requirements into a phased implementation approach with a realistic timeline.
  • Maintain a go-live checklist covering user acceptance testing, data readiness, approvals, training coordination and communications.
  • Identify risks such as scope creep, stakeholder misalignment and data delays early, and make tradeoffs transparently.
  • Confirm with the customer that key workflows are live and aligned to their goals, so the institution is ready for value realization after launch.
  • Run customer working sessions and executive updates, and coordinate with Adoption & Enablement, Integrations and Product teams.
  • Looks for 4-8 years in SaaS implementation, project delivery or customer onboarding, with the ability to run several implementations at once and work with both technical and non-technical audiences such as Enrollment Operations and IT.
  • CRM or marketing automation implementation experience is expected, and higher education experience is a strong plus. Compensation is not stated in the posting.

Implementation Lead Full Description

Element451 is the AI-native CRM and agent platform built for higher education. We help colleges and universities modernize engagement, recruitment, enrollment, and student success with intelligent automation and a product customers genuinely love.
As we continue to scale, predictable, high-quality go-lives are a core growth lever. This role exists to ensure every new institution launches with clarity, momentum, and the right foundation for long-term success.
The Role
As an Implementation Lead, you are the delivery owner for all customer implementations. You lead the implementation program end to end, including project plan, timeline, stakeholder alignment, and launch readiness, and are accountable for ensuring the platform is successfully adopted to achieve the customer's defined goals at handoff to Customer Success. You keep projects moving, decisions crisp, and go-lives predictable.
This is a customer-facing role for someone who blends strong program leadership with enough platform fluency to guide solution direction, make tradeoffs, and coordinate effectively across teams.
What You'll Own
Go-live delivery ownership
  • Own implementation delivery from kickoff through go-live and transition to Customer Success
  • Build and manage the project plan: milestones, dependencies, decisions, and weekly execution rhythm
  • Drive accountability across internal teams and customer stakeholders to keep timelines on track
Discovery, solution direction, and decision-making
  • Lead structured discovery to clarify goals, workflows, stakeholders, constraints, and measurable success criteria tied to customer outcomes
  • Translate requirements into a phased implementation approach and realistic timeline
  • Partner with Integrations Architect and Product as needed on complex design decisions
Launch readiness and risk management
  • Maintain a clear go-live checklist: UAT completion, data readiness, approvals, training coordination, and communications
  • Identify risks early (scope creep, stakeholder misalignment, data delays) and implement mitigation plans
  • Ensure scope is controlled and tradeoffs are made transparently when needed
  • Ensure go-live criteria include both technical readiness and alignment to intended customer outcomes
Outcome validation and value alignment
  • Ensure the configured product supports the customer's primary use cases and defined success criteria
  • Validate, with the customer, that key workflows and capabilities are live, usable, and aligned to their goals
  • Confirm readiness not just for go-live, but for value realization post-launch
Cross-functional coordination and customer experience
  • Lead customer working sessions and executive updates with confidence and clarity
  • Coordinate with Adoption & Enablement and Integrations specialists to ensure all workstreams land cleanly
  • Provide clear validation of how the implementation supports the customer's goals, including any gaps, risks, or dependencies for achieving outcomes
What You Bring
  • 4-8 years in SaaS implementation, project delivery, or customer onboarding (PM, Implementation Manager, Professional Services, TPM, etc.)
  • Proven ability to run multiple implementations at once with strong stakeholder management
  • Comfort working with technical and non-technical audiences (Enrollment Ops, IT, leadership)
  • Excellent project discipline: timelines, risks, communication, and follow-through
  • Familiarity with CRM/marketing automation implementations (higher ed experience a strong plus)
  • Experience in a scaling environment is a plus
How We Measure Success
  • Early value realization signals (e.g., initial usage, workflow adoption, or goal alignment within first 30-60 days)
  • On-time go-live rate and predictable delivery outcomes
  • Implementation cycle time without quality tradeoffs
  • Risk management quality: fewer avoidable delays/escalations
  • Handoff quality score: CS confirms the implementation is positioned to achieve stated customer goals
  • Customer experience: post-implementation CSAT and stakeholder confidence
Our Values
  • Impactful not Immediate
  • Progress before Perfection
  • Learners before Masters
  • Together not Alone
  • Customer Success not Support
Our Interview Process
Our process is rigorous and designed to be a real signal, for you and for us. Expect a live working session grounded in a realistic implementation scenario, not take-home busywork or trivia. You will show how you run discovery, structure a plan, manage risk, and communicate with customers and cross-functional partners.