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Vice President, State Affordability Initiatives

Strada Education Network

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Washington, DC, USA

Posted on Wednesday, August 14, 2024

Strada Education Foundation is seeking a dynamic and strategic leader to drive our efforts in making postsecondary education more affordable at the state level. As the Vice President of State Affordability Initiatives (VP-SAI), you will play a pivotal role in shaping and advancing state-focused affordability initiatives, investments, research, and policy work. Your leadership will not only influence the direction of these initiatives but also position Strada as a leading voice in the national conversation on education affordability.

Reporting to the Senior Vice President of Affordability (SVP), you will be a key member of the Postsecondary Education (PSE) team, collaborating closely with colleagues across the organization to realize Strada’s bold vision for an equitable education and training ecosystem. Our recent strategic plan, guided by a new North Star, aims to create pathways that empower learners from all backgrounds to achieve economic mobility and fulfilling lives. As VP-SAI, you will focus on one of our core strategic pillars: ensuring that postsecondary education is accessible and affordable, particularly for students from diverse socioeconomic backgrounds.

This role demands a collaborative and experienced leader with a deep understanding of state higher education systems, financial aid programs, and state-level affordability strategies. Your work will be instrumental in driving the state-level strategies that will help students from all walks of life access and afford the education they need to succeed.

Context

Strada Education Foundation supports programs, policies, and organizations that strengthen connections between education and employment in the U.S., with a special focus on helping those who have faced the greatest challenges securing economic opportunity through postsecondary education or training (PSET). Our strategic plan includes five pillars: clear outcomes, quality coaching, affordability, work-based learning, and employer alignment.

The VP-SAI will work within this context to advance state-level affordability initiatives, collaborating with state education agencies, policymakers, and other stakeholders to enhance educational access and affordability. Strada offers a dynamic, collaborative, and inspiring professional environment that provides learning and professional development opportunities, both within the organization and with external partners.

Key Responsibilities

1) Develop, Prioritize, and Execute Strategic Initiatives Designed to Bring to Life Strada’s Vision for Affordability at the State Level in Postsecondary Education (20%)

Develop, prioritize, and execute strategic initiatives aimed at enhancing state-level affordability in postsecondary education.
Maintain expertise in state policies, practices, and innovations related to affordability.
Provide expertise and recommendations on state affordability issues to Strada’s leadership.
Represent Strada in state-level discussions and forums focused on postsecondary affordability.
Monitor and evaluate the impact of state affordability initiatives and programs.
Develop recommendations for new state-based initiatives to begin and existing initiatives to sunset to foster an innovative approach to affordability, in collaboration with relevant colleagues across Strada.
Ensure state-based initiatives are built with the appropriate knowledge and skills from across the organization, working with other leaders as needed to allocate resources and provide expertise.

2) Build and Manage Partnerships with Core Affordability Stakeholders at the State Level (30%)

Collaborate with state higher education executive officers (SHEEOs), state data systems, and state financial aid programs to drive affordability initiatives.
Cultivate and manage partnerships with state education agencies, policymakers, and other stakeholders.
Work with state systems and legislatures to advance affordability measures and secure funding in partnership with and within the framework developed by Strada’s Policy Team.
Represent Strada in relevant external contexts, with a focus on building support for Strada’s affordability vision. Lead and/or support specific initiatives and work-streams, as needed.

3) Work with Third-Party Consultants, Grantees, and Internal Stakeholders to Manage Projects and Reach Internal Objectives (30%)

Coordinate with strategic leaders across the organization to understand PSE priorities and establish priorities and collaborative approaches whenever possible.
Connect the affordability team to initiative working teams and leaders of various areas across Strada.
Manage day-to-day activities of and provide primary evaluation input to leaders of lever resources (e.g., research team, public policy team) dedicated to state affordability initiatives.

4) Support Team and Organizational Health and DEI (20%)

Support an inclusive workplace culture through actively engaging in Strada’s diversity, equity, and inclusion activities. Incorporate tools and processes to deliver on Strada’s commitments to diversity, equity, and inclusion through research.
Partner with Human Resources and the DEI leadership to support policies and programs that attract, promote, develop, and retain staff of diverse backgrounds.

Education and Experience

Education: Advanced degree preferred, with training in social science, education, public policy, or a related field preferred.
At least 5-10 years of experience working within a state higher education system or within a state agency overseeing or coordinating with postsecondary institutions or other organizations working with state higher education programs or related areas, working closely with experts at the national and state level (including strategic communications, policy, and other relevant stakeholders).
Experience with state financial aid programs, data systems, and legislative processes.
Proven ability to design, develop, and execute state-level affordability strategies.
Experience working with philanthropic organizations is a plus.
Strong collaboration, communication, and leadership skills.

Travel Requirements

The VP for State Affordability Initiatives should anticipate nationwide travel (10-15%) as they are active in presenting research insights, representing Strada at convenings, and as a partner in external and internal initiatives.

Mission and Values Alignment:

Committed to providing equitable pathways to opportunity through PSET, particularly for individuals who have faced significant barriers. Demonstrated alignment with Strada's guiding values, commitment to building a strong and healthy workplace culture, and working in a collaborative environment.

Strategy and Innovation Leadership:

Adept at operationalizing strategy and effectively communicating strategic endeavors within the organization and in external contexts, both verbally and in writing. Particular skill in designing annual plans, monitoring progress, and refining plans as needed. Adaptable with tolerance for ambiguity. Able to problem-solve and navigate varied viewpoints. Capacity to refine efforts based on evidence that change is needed. Ability to lead efforts to visualize and monitor change. Capability to see and support innovative ideas and opportunities across the organization, and to embed innovation within operational plans. Capabilities in taking the perspective of others and adapting an agenda and approach – toward a shared aim - accordingly.

Strategic Problem Solving:

Ability to effectively utilize a hypothesis-driven approach to problem solving, with effective quantitative and communication skills. Ability to take on broad-reaching and sometimes ambiguous questions while working collaboratively and cross-functionally with Strada team members across the organization.

Execution and Operations Leadership:

Ability to translate innovative, strategic ideas into tangible, actionable steps, as well as to effectively monitor progress and partner with others on identifying improvements during implementation to increase the likelihood of successful execution.

DEI Commitment:

Commitment and professional experience advancing diversity, equity, and inclusion within and organization, including incorporating stakeholder perspectives in the design, implementation, and evaluation of strategic efforts.

Relationship Building and Collaborative Capabilities:

Demonstrated ability to cultivate, grow, and manage positive, mutually beneficial relationships at all levels of an organization and with partners outside the organization. Strong communication, interpersonal and relationship management skills—including identifying and working through challenges—underscored by strong judgment and emotional intelligence. Proven collaborator, able to work with colleagues at all levels in the organization.

Diversity, equity, and inclusion are central to Strada’s organizational vibrancy, employee experience, and mission. Strada is Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Workplace-certified by Diversity for Social Impact, a strategic professional and organization development company dedicated to promoting diversity and inclusion to drive social impact worldwide. We strongly encourage applicants from people of color/the global majority, immigrant, bilingual, and bicultural individuals; people with disabilities, members of the LGBTQIA2S+ and gender nonconforming communities; and people with other diverse backgrounds and lived experiences. We believe every member on the team enriches our workplace by exposing us to a broad range of ways to understand and engage with the world, identify challenges, and discover, design, and deliver critical insights and solutions.