Vice President of Programs, Strategy, and Impact

Location: Boston, MA

The preferred application deadline for this position is October 31, 2024. Please note that we do not guarantee review of applications after this date.

About EdVestors

Founded in 2002 as a platform to connect Boston philanthropists with the city’s public schools by identifying, shaping, and matching donors with promising improvement efforts, EdVestors’ work has evolved over the last 20+ years to couple the mobilization of resources with implementation support and thought leadership. Our commitment to the city’s schools and students has remained constant throughout our evolution. 

Our mission is to advance equitable, meaningful education that prepares every Boston student to activate their power and shape their future, a mission we drive towards by 1) activating people and resources, 2) learning and iterating in context, and 3) influencing system change. We believe that continuously attending to all three drivers ensures our organization and its core programs and initiatives – the School on the Move Prize, Racial Equity Seed Fund, Boston Public Schools Arts Expansion, Zeroing in on Math, and Career Pathways – will create impact. 

Since our founding, we have raised and invested over $47 million in our city’s public schools. Our efforts are focused in Boston Public Schools (BPS). The relationships we have built and our track record of effectiveness have solidified our critical role as a trusted partner and thought leader in Boston, and our position grants us access to the decision-makers impacting Boston schools and students, enabling us to advocate for system-wide change.

Our values drive our efforts and shape our relationships with each other and our partners: 

• Just - We aim to advance racial equity in our organization, schools, and communities as we continue to learn about and interrogate white supremacy culture and systemic racism. We commit to thoughtfully assessing our role in upholding systems of oppression, to working in community toward mutual accountability, and to remaining optimistic as we pursue equity in education for our students. Please see more about our approach to racial equity here.
• In Community - We care for our colleagues and community. We believe the greatest potential for impact comes from working together and that success flows from listening, learning, and working in community.
• Thoughtful - We are reflective, critical, and responsive. We are sensitive to the needs and aspirations of those we work with and carefully consider the impact of our actions. 
• Committed - We are dedicated to making a difference in the lives of Boston students. We invest in sustainable practices that create deep, meaningful, and long-lasting impact.
• Optimistic - We believe that an equitable future for our students and ourselves is possible. We bring joy, hope, and a desire to be better to the circumstances that challenge us.

Position Summary

The VP of Programs, Strategy, and Impact will drive organizational evidence-based and strategic communication efforts that leverage the knowledge, relationships, and trust that EdVestors has built in the Boston education landscape to advance equity and impact at the system level. Working with a talented, collaborative team, the VP of Programs, Strategy, and Impact will also oversee several program areas, providing thought partnership, guidance, and support to program staff on program development, implementation, assessment, and budget management. The VP of Programs, Strategy, and Impact will bring a racial equity lens to all their work, including external strategy and communications and internal program and organizational leadership. As a senior leadership team member, the VP of Programs, Strategy, and Impact will contribute to overall organizational development, ensuring that EdVestors remains a vibrant, inclusive, impactful learning organization.

Responsibilities will include:

Strategy

• Integrate organizational strategy across EdVestors, serving as a critical advisor to CEO and Board on strategic options and direction.
• Scan the landscape for new opportunities for program impact and collaboration.
• Identify needs, develop action plans, and oversee implementation and monitoring of organization-wide strategy.
• Develop and maintain a network of key leaders in the education landscape in Boston, including K12 school leaders, district and charter, nonprofit, philanthropic, and local and state policy leaders.
• Keep up-to-date on key issues and policies in K12 education at the district, state, and national levels.
• Create and implement short-term and long-term strategic goals and ensure alignment of the organization's efforts with the strategic plan alongside the CEO, Management Team, and program directors.
• Seek new funding opportunities and communicate and steward existing philanthropic support in collaboration with the CEO and Development team.

Research, Data, Evaluation, and Impact

• Oversee organizational research, data, and evaluation work to inform internal learning and assess impact; share externally to drive system change.
• Supervise research, data, and evaluation staff and work to build systems and infrastructure around data that align with the EdVestors Data Equity Statement.
• Identify positive examples of educational improvement with potential for replication and system impact.
• Devise and implement new approaches to using our own and publicly available data to influence system-level policy and decision-making.

Program Leadership

• Oversee strategy for key Edvestors’ programs, including Career Pathways/secondary school work. 
• Supervise program staff, ensuring robust implementation across programs
• Foster alignment across program teams and generate opportunities to learn and share best practices.
• Collaborate on strategic efforts with program directors and team members, engaging and stewarding relationships with external stakeholders and key partners critical to the work.
• Determine the effectiveness and sustainability of programs through ongoing assessment and evaluation; analyze quantitative and qualitative data to inform program decisions.
• Develop and manage program budgets.
• Lead the development of new programs and the continuous improvement of current programs in response to the organization’s strategy as well as opportunities in the landscape, all with a racial equity lens.
• Promote EdVestors’ strategy, programs, and impact through writing, speaking, convening, networking, and employing innovative communication approaches to shine a light on EdVestors’ work and advance its mission.

Organization Development

• Serve as a key member of a six-member Management Team that makes decisions regarding organization budget, finance, staffing, and strategic direction.
• Contribute to Governing Board meetings, keeping board members abreast of strategy, program updates, and new opportunities.
• Foster a culture of learning that builds the capacity of colleagues as they incorporate new methods of planning, assessment, and continual improvement into their work.
• Be a catalyst for change and growth, inspiring others to think entrepreneurially and inject new ideas to evolve programs or solve problems.
• Lead, coach, develop, and retain program directors and managers, providing formal and informal feedback and identifying professional growth and leadership opportunities for staff.

Qualifications

We are excited to identify the best candidate for this role. We encourage you to apply, even if you don't believe you meet every one of the below qualifications or you have a less traditional background.

• Exceptionally strong alignment with the mission and approach of EdVestors, including a deep commitment to advance racial equity in public education in Boston, alignment with EdVestors’ values, and a desire to be part of a team that is committed to growth and learning, including related to racial equity
• Significant experience and demonstrated success leading programs in a fast-paced, entrepreneurial nonprofit organization
• Strong interest and experience in navigating complex and shifting ecosystems to drive impact  
• A partner-focused orientation with the ability to cultivate and navigate relationships with a range of program partners, funders, and policymakers at all levels
• A deep understanding of K-16 education, data, policy, and trends in large, urban settings. Knowledge of Boston and/or secondary schools is valued.
• Experience in program development, management (including budget development and management), and impact assessment
• Robust strategic and systems-thinking approach with deep critical thinking and analytical skills
• Substantial experience developing, motivating, and managing individuals and teams
• Exceptional communication skills with the ability to catalyze diverse stakeholders around a mission
• A continuous improvement mindset with creativity in problem-solving and comfort with change and ambiguity
• Dynamic interpersonal skills with a sense of humor and optimism about the work

Compensation

The salary for this position will be between $130,000 and $145,000 per year. EdVestors offers a comprehensive benefits package, including medical and dental insurance, life insurance and disability benefits, 401k plan contribution and match, professional development funds, and paid time off, including three weeks of vacation, organization-wide recharge days, holidays, and sick time. This is a Boston-based role. EdVestors has adopted a hybrid work structure of at least 25 percent in-person engagement; this role will require additional in-person presence for building and sustaining relationships.

How to Apply 
Please submit your application here. The preferred application deadline for this position is October 31, 2024. Please note that we do not guarantee review of applications after this date.

EdVestors is an equal-opportunity employer. At EdVestors, we strive to maintain an inclusive, flexible, and diverse work environment, and our team is made stronger by the diverse backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives within our staff. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions