alignED New Orleans works at the intersection of education, leadership and advocacy to improve learning opportunities for all children and provide resources that strengthen our community.

Primary Purpose and Function

Advance the mission of alignED New Orleans through strategy planning, personnel management, development and implementation of programs.

Position Description

alignED New Orleans is looking for an innovative and bold leader who is experienced in supporting strategic projects within a growing organization. The Executive Director of Strategy and Impact will be responsible for developing and monitoring organizational priorities for our non-profit organization. This position will report to the CEO and will be second in command within the organizational structure.

Roles and Responsibilities

General

• Provide strategic leadership for the design, development, and implementation of all programmatic initiatives, operations, research projects, tech tools and data products
• Collaborate with org leaders to develop and implement organizational strategies and initiatives to drive impact, while minimizing silos and inefficiency
• Oversee planning, implementation, and evaluation of programs and products, ensuring they are consistently delivered on time, in scope, and within budget and goal
• Lead the staff to inspire and develop passionate, diverse, and high-performing existing teams, fostering a culture of inclusive collaboration, innovation driven by curiosity, and excellence through consistency
• Act as a thought partner to the CEO and other org leaders

Vision and Strategic Planning

• Develop and implement strategies and plans that align with the organization’s long-term goals and objectives
• Shepherd the organization forward by identifying and activating on existing opportunities for growth
• Ensure the longevity of the organization by managing and developing relationships with key stakeholders, including vendors and partners to diversify funding streams to sustain the work

Analytics

• Co-create systems to improve and analyze effectiveness of alignED’s programming and policies
• Analyze data and performance metrics to identify areas for operational effectiveness and make recommendations for changes as needed

Project Management

• Manage operations team and programs team to spearhead large projects and ensure timely completion and coordination across all parties
• Lead cross-functional teams to implement process improvements and efficiencies
• Oversee the development and execution of project plans
• Work with CEO and Finance consultant to develop budgets and budget reports that support the organization

Core Competencies

• Relentlessly goal-oriented: enjoys working toward and achieving ambitious goals; willing to go over, under, around, or through any obstacle that gets in the way of meeting goals with a proven track record of creating and executing/managing comprehensive strategic goals
• Cultural competency: able to build relationships and collaborate with colleagues, partners, and stakeholders across multiple lines of identity difference
• Growth mindset: demonstrated ability to take and receive feedback with professionalism and grace from peers and staff as well as supervisors
• Remains focused on problem solving while balancing multiple priorities within a constantly evolving political environment
• Understanding of the complexities of a newly established organization that requires flexibility and the ability to pivot when necessary. We are a growing organization that does not follow a traditional corporate structure. Our work may occur on nights and weekends at times, as well as outside of the traditional workday

Education and Qualifications

• A Bachelor’s degree in Education, Management, or a related field of study from an accredited institution; advanced degrees preferred
• Minimum of ten (10) years of experience at the senior level in strategy and project management roles; experience working with 501(c)(3) and/or 501(c)(4) nonprofit organizations preferred
• Experience with data analytics and supervising program design, development, and implementation of outcomes measurement systems
• Knowledge of child and youth development theory and best practice
• A background in organizational development, change management, and process improvement
• A passionate, enthusiastic commitment to alignED’s mission and the community that the organization serves
• A deep understanding of New Orleans’ complex education landscape and the role   of education and policy as a key component for creating more an equitable and just democracy
• Understanding of the education, political, and progressive infrastructures of Louisiana and the greater New Orleans area
• Creative thinker that brings a solutions-oriented mindset when faced with challenges
• Excellent interpersonal, oral, and written communication skills
• Experience overseeing multiple cross disciplinary teams or departments, including hiring and management through multiple level
• A proven track record of successfully designing, scaling, and implementing programs with measurable impact on tight timelines and within budget
• Demonstrably sharp strategic thinking, problem-solving, and decision-making
• Proven ability to make solutions-oriented and actionable recommendations by clearly laying out practical assessments of realistic options for both technical versed and general audiences
• Ability to quickly build and maintain positive relationships amid complex power dynamics internally and externally
• Outstanding organizational skills and the ability to meet deadlines
• Self-motivated and resourceful
• Ability to manage sensitive and confidential information with integrity
• Capacity to function both independently and as an engaged team member

Benefits and Culture

We offer a flexible remote work environment and a generous benefits package, including:

• 100% cost coverage of employee health benefit premiums
• Two (2) weeks of Paid Time Off (PTO) in addition to organization-wide breaks throughout the year
• Stipend for technology usage (cell phone and internet)
• Professional development resources and opportunities

Reasonable Accommodation

To accomplish this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform, with or without reasonable accommodation, each essential function satisfactorily. Reasonable accommodation may be made to help enable qualified individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Physical Requirements

Risks found in the typical office setting, which is adequately lighted, heated and ventilated, e.g., safe use of office equipment, avoiding trips and falls, observing fire regulations, etc. Typically, the employee may sit comfortably to perform the work. However, there will be walking, standing, bending, carrying light items such as papers, books, small parts, driving an automobile, etc. No special physical demands are required to perform the work.