The Opportunity
The Director Strategic Projects is a new role in our recently formed Office of the President at Heights. The role is a great fit for someone who enjoys working cross-functionally on strategic projects, and who is skilled at creating structure in spaces where there is ambiguity. The Director reports to the Chief of Staff (COS) and will be part of a team that provides strategic, operational and administrative support to the President of Heights. The team will be responsible for the management of the day to day operations of the Office as well as structuring and monitoring the organization’s performance to the strategic plan. The Director will play an instrumental role in developing and monitoring the systems
What You’ll Do
- Collaborate with COS to steward the fulfillment of the organization’s strategic plan, and to implement an organizational performance dashboard.
- Serve as project manager for implementation of organization initiatives, leveraging project management tools and an ability to collaborate and influence others to achieve the desired end.
- Support development of presentations, meeting agendas, materials and communications on behalf of the President, or in support of the organization’s management teams
- Support Advancement Team with scheduling of leadership, committee, and full Board meetings; logistical and administrative support to special Board events and gatherings
- Planning, logistics and material prep for org-wide retreats and strategic meetings
- Coordination of follow-up tasks from staff and leadership team meetings
- Build and maintain fluency in use of key program and organizational data to present progress to strategic goals
- Drafting and producing reports or summary documents on key issues in the realm of college and career readiness, summarizing organizational data, staff feedback or related information for review by the COS or President
- Build and maintain fluency in key program and organizational data to present progress to strategic goals and ensure the organization's case for support is always up to date.
- Develop and manage organization-wide calendar and update as necessary
What You’ll Bring
- Experience with project management, both designing processes and managing implementation
- Experience managing complex partnerships, programs or initiatives in the non-profit, education or related sectors
- A strong orientation to customer service and the ability to work cross functionally with peers and leaders of the organization
- Self-starter with exceptional executive functioning, with ability to manage multiple priorities, deadlines or priorities for self and with others.
- Strong background in data gathering, analysis and reporting
- Comfort with digital platforms (Zoom, Google Meet), data systems, and advanced knowledge of the core applications of google suite (Gmail, Drive, Sheets, Docs, Forms, Slides) and Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, Powerpoint)
- Ability to effectively communicate key messages both verbally, and in various written formats
- Ability to exercise good judgment and to maintain confidentiality
- Curiosity, flexibility and a willingness to do things in new and different ways
Who You Are
- Bachelor’s degree required, advanced degree preferred
- Minimum of 5 years work experience with progressive responsibility, at least 3 years in a related role preferred.
- Background and understanding of the structure of programs, partnerships, especially in non-profit, education or workforce spaces.
- Experience working with or alongside a leadership team or executive, preferred but not required
- Experience working with marginalized communities and a deep understanding of the challenges they face in accessing career opportunities.
- Ability to lift up to twenty (20) pounds.
- Ability to perform the essential functions with or without a reasonable accommodation.
In addition to your experience, expertise and strengths, you must meet PA State background check requirements [PA Criminal, PA Child Abuse and FBI Fingerprint Check] at hire and every five years thereafter. You’ll also need to adhere to COVID safety guidelines as required by the Department of Human Services and/or the School District of Philadelphia.
Compensation & Benefits
The salary for this position, which depends on prior work experience and our assessment of your demonstrated fit for the role, will likely be between $80,000 - $95,000. Heights offers competitive base salaries based on the Philadelphia market among not-for-profit organizations of similar size, with opportunities for salary growth over time. We believe in compensating staff members fairly in relation to each other, their qualifications, and their impact on behalf of the organization, and take internal and external equity seriously. The top of the range above is reserved for exceptionally qualified, highly proficient candidates. You will have an opportunity to discuss salary in more detail after you begin the application process.
Heights offers a full benefits package designed to support employee wellness. This includes:
- Generous medical, dental & vision insurance for employees and eligible dependents, which cover 90% of costs for employee coverage
- Paid time off including 17 personal days, 6 sick days, 12 federal holidays and 2 floating holidays, and two (2) week-long office closures, one at the end of the calendar year and another in spring.
- Twelve (12) weeks of paid parental leave to support new parents
- Provision of a technology stipend to offset internet and cell phone costs
- Short and long-term disability coverage
- Monthly professional development days and resources for targeted professional development opportunities
- 401(K)-retirement savings plan with an employer contribution
Work Arrangements
Heights Philadelphia currently maintains a hybrid work environment. Office-based staff report in person minimally two (2) days per week, with more days as necessary depending on the team or organizational needs. Staff work from home, in our Center City office, and on-site with school partners, as determined by the staff member's or team’s responsibilities. We also prioritize time together as an organization - living in our value of succeeding together. All office-based Heights employees spend Wednesdays in-office in Center City, building community at our monthly staff professional development days and via our virtual staff meetings.