Director, Quality Coaching Innovation and Impact
Strada Education Network
Quality Assurance
Indianapolis, IN, USA
Posted on Friday, September 13, 2024
The Director, Quality Coaching Innovation and Impact, will play a critical role in driving the successful implementation and continuous improvement of Strada Education Foundation’s Quality Coaching initiatives. This position will focus on the end-to-end program management and product development of education-to-career coaching strategies, ensuring alignment with Strada’s broader organizational goals. The Director will be responsible for overseeing the design, execution, and refinement of coaching products and services, ensuring they are scalable, impactful, and responsive to the needs of diverse learner populations.
The position will serve as a strategic leader within the Quality Coaching team, overseeing the development and deployment of innovative coaching solutions. This includes managing a portfolio of programmatic solutions and grants, ensuring they are delivered on time, within scope, and with measurable impact. The Director will collaborate closely with cross-functional teams to drive product innovation and strategic planning efforts, ensuring that coaching solutions are not only effective but also sustainable and scalable across various educational contexts.
The position requires a seasoned program manager with a strong background in product design, strategic planning, and impact measurement. The ideal candidate will have experience in leading large-scale initiatives, managing complex projects, facilitating communities of practice, and leveraging data to inform decision-making. This role demands a strategic thinker who can manage multiple priorities, navigate challenges, and lead teams towards achieving ambitious goals. The Director must possess excellent communication and collaboration skills, as they will engage with internal and external stakeholders to ensure the success of Strada’s Quality Coaching pillar.
Context
Strada Education Foundation is a national nonprofit social impact organization that 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 new strategic plan focuses on five strategic pillars: clear outcomes, quality coaching, affordable PSET, work-based learning, and employer alignment.
We work with partners in education and training, nonprofit organizations, industry, startups, and public policy. We leverage strategic philanthropy, investments, research, communications, advocacy, and collaborating organizations as tools to help advance equitable pathways to opportunity. Strada aspires to be a nonprofit partner of choice working with education and training providers and leaders, policymakers, and peer organizations. 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. Program Management and Execution (25%)
- Lead the management and execution of key Quality Coaching programs and provide team wide end-to-end grant support, ensuring that projects are delivered on time, within scope, and with measurable outcomes.
- Oversee the design and development of coaching products, ensuring they align with Strada’s strategic goals and meet the needs of diverse learner populations.
- Ensure program activities are fully compliant with Strada’s standards and processes, and that they are aligned with the organization’s mission and North Star.
2. Product Management and Innovation (25%)
- Drive the product life cycle (including development and continuous improvement) of coaching products and services, ensuring they are innovative, scalable, and impactful.
- Collaborate with cross-functional teams to integrate technology solutions that enhance the delivery and effectiveness of coaching programs.
- Partner with Strada’s internal research team, as well as other internal and external teams, to conduct market research and user testing to inform product development and ensure that solutions meet the needs of end-users.
3. Strategic Planning and Impact Measurement (20%)
- Develop and execute strategic and annual plans that support the growth and sustainability of Quality Coaching programs.
- Oversee the development and implementation of impact measurement frameworks (e.g., dashboards, scorecards, rubrics) and report progress updates to assess the effectiveness of coaching initiatives.
- Use data and insights to inform decision-making, drive program improvements, and communicate the impact of Strada’s coaching programs to stakeholders.
4. Stakeholder Engagement and Collaboration (20%)
- Design and facilitate communities of practice as well as develop strong relationships with internal and external stakeholders, including educational institutions, nonprofit organizations, and industry partners.
- Collaborate with cross-functional teams to ensure alignment and coordination across all Quality Coaching initiatives.
- Represent Strada at national and regional conferences, advocating for the adoption of effective coaching practices and sharing insights on program impact.
5. Team and Organizational Health and DEI (10%)
- Develop and maintain team systems for project management, meetings, and other key activities.
- 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.
The Person: Qualifications and Experience
- Education: Bachelor’s degree required; advanced degree preferred.
- 8+ years of experience in program management, product management, business administration or a related field, preferably within the education or nonprofit sector.
- Experience in both high-impact public-sector (education-related, government, and/or nonprofit) and private-sector settings.
- Demonstrated ability to design, develop, and execute strategic and operational plans.
- Demonstrated ability to build multi-organization partnerships and communities of practice.
Preferred Experience and Education
- Experience in developing and managing innovative products and services, particularly within the education or coaching space.
- Strong communication and collaboration skills, with the ability to engage and influence stakeholders at all levels.
- Experience in navigating complex environments and managing multiple priorities.
This position offers the flexibility to be based in either Washington, D.C. or Indianapolis, Indiana. You'll have the opportunity to collaborate in person during quarterly team meetings and our semi-annual Connection Week events. Additionally, there may be occasional travel for national conferences or in-person meetings related to the role’s responsibilities, with overall travel expected to be around 10-15%.
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.