Senior Director, Center for Career Navigation (Apply By: Wednesday, November 20, 2024)

About JFF 

Jobs for the Future (JFF) drives transformation of the U.S. education and workforce systems to achieve equitable economic advancement for all. Seeing that millions of people are unfairly shut out of quality jobs and the chance for a better life, our goal is to align education, workforce, and employment changemakers toward a shared North Star: In 10 years, 75 million people facing systemic barriers to advancement will work in quality jobs.  

To achieve that goal, we design solutions, scale best practices, influence policy and action, and invest in innovation. With a staff of more than 300 people across the country working remotely and in offices in Boston (headquarters), Washington, DC, and Oakland, California, we operate at the national, state, and local levels, forging deep partnerships with employers, investors, entrepreneurs, policymakers, and education and workforce development providers to break down barriers and reimagine what’s possible.   

We’re on a path of ongoing growth and expanding impact. We have an operating budget of $105 million, and we’re funded by dozens of leading government agencies, foundations, and corporations. Learn more about JFF and join us as we build a future that works—for everyone. 

DEIBW at JFF  

Diversity, equity, inclusion, belonging, and well-being (DEIBW) are core to JFF’s North Star and mission. We employ and build diverse teams across race, ethnicity, sex, gender identity and expression, age, and lived experiences and are constantly working toward ensuring these differences are celebrated and included. We aim to cultivate a culture that centers the overall care, well-being, and success of the employee through flexible work hours, balanced workloads, professional development, and equitable career advancement opportunities. Learn more about what DEIBW looks like in practice at JFF. 

We seek to invest and learn from those who represent the communities we serve, particularly individuals from populations who have been explicitly or implicitly excluded from the workforce. Knowing its importance to the success of our work and the engagement of our staff members, we aspire to attract and retain a diverse team and welcome people of all backgrounds to apply to our open roles. JFF is a fair chance employer and in alignment to our North Star, we strongly encourage individuals whose highest level of education attained is less than a 4-year degree; People of Color; and people with records to apply.

About the Center  

JFF is excited to launch a new Center for Career Navigation to mobilize the field around a bold vision for building the bridge from learning to work for Gen Z. Over the next decade, Gen Z will enter an evolving workforce with new opportunities and challenges. So, it is more imperative than ever that they can find, evaluate, finance, secure, and flourish in opportunities that lead to high-quality jobs they can trust. We believe in the power of building connections between learners and workers aged 16 - 24, training providers, and employers so that Gen Z can navigate non-degree and degree pathways and work-based learning opportunities.  

By 2030, this Center will realize our vision to impact more than 20 million Gen Z learners, providing them the tools, access, and experience needed to confidently navigate various pathways. The Center aims to mobilize the field in youth career navigation and launch a tech experience that helps young people across the US bridge the education-to-career cliff. The Center’s work will focus on: 

• Engaging JFF’s networks across the learn to work ecosystem 

• Driving thought leadership 

• Building and launching impactful digital marketing campaigns across key stakeholder groups 

• Engaging in advocacy work with federal and state policy 

About the Position 

The Senior Director of the Center for Career Navigation will support the development, refinement, and execution of JFF’s thought leadership and strategy to build the bridge from learning to work for Gen Z learners. Reporting to the Vice President, Center for Career Navigation, the Senior Director will be responsible for contributing to thought leadership and supporting the mobilization of the field around the Center’s vision and strategy. The Senior Director will also leverage the knowledge, skills, and expertise of other Centers and Practices across JFF to deepen our reach and impact in the field. As the Center becomes fully integrated into JFF’s Solutions Group, the Senior Director will work with other team members of the Center to attract partnerships, funding, and other resources to fund the centers vision.

In this exciting new role, you will represent JFF across a wide array of stakeholders, including Gen Z, employers, education and training providers, K-12 systems, policymakers, and state/regional workforce agencies. This work sits at a pivotal point in JFF’s long history of impact in the young adult field, and you will have the opportunity to evolve and grow our strategies and efforts focused on young adults in the context of a fast-growing organization.

What You'll Do  

Advance the Center’s vision and strategy through thought leadership  

• Contribute to the strategic development of the Center, inclusive of the research, policy, and learning agendas   

• Support or lead initiatives to raise JFF’s visibility among key stakeholders and influencers, ensuring actions directly contribute to enhancing and expanding JFF’s reputation and influence as a substantial contributor and expert in the young adult talent development field 

• Collaborate as a subject matter expert on topics related to career navigation and postsecondary education and training for Gen Z; provide guidance and strategic support to partners in the field and colleagues at JFF to shape program design and development 

• Contribute to the Center’s and JFF’s thought leadership in the field at conferences, convenings, working groups and advisory panels 

• In collaboration with others, position JFF’s point of view and theory of action for career navigation within the broader ecosystem of players 

• Translate research into actionable insights that mobilize the field  

Support the building, scaling, and sustainability of the Center’s work 

• Partner with others on the Center and the Development Team to pursue partnership, fundraising, and/or business development opportunities, supporting or leading from identification to award  

• Cultivate and nourish relationships with funders, clients, and partners creating an environment of collaboration, cooperation and mobilization towards action 

• Lead operational improvement initiatives to increase quality, value and efficiency of the Center’s work, driving progress toward our vision and roadmap 

• Partner with the JFF Markets/Networks team to tailor and execute JFF’s networks strategy focused on Career Navigation, ensuring clear targets are met and the networks are driving towards measurable results 

Deliver powerful results through leadership and execution of multiple, complex projects and programs 

• Drive the overall performance of a portfolio of work, including sponsorship, oversight, and leading of cross-functional projects; ensure projects are effectively staffed and resourced 

• Lead and execute key initiatives, in close partnership with the Center VP, members of our team and other leaders across JFF’s centers and practices 

• Propose and implement high-impact ideas and creative solutions to accelerate the CCN’s goals; take ownership of ensuring these initiatives move forward effectively and deliver measurable results 

• In partnership with the VP, allocate resources and manage priorities effectively to keep teams focused on results 

• Integrate diversity, equity, and inclusion into programmatic and leadership practices    

Who You Are  

The qualifications listed within the job description are intended as a guide and we do not expect candidates to bring all experiences and skills listed. Research supports that self-selecting out of potential professional opportunities is particularly common among individuals with identities that are marginalized in professional spaces. So, if you believe that you can meet the overall expectations of the position, we encourage you to apply so that we have an opportunity to learn more about you and the unique strengths you would bring to the work. 

• You bring a track record of leadership in young adult (16 – 24-year-olds) talent development at the national level, including existing networks of partners or funders, and emerging or visible thought leadership (New hires at the Senior Director level at JFF typically bring 15 years of prior professional experience through a combination of full-time, part-time, internship, and/or freelance positions)  

• You bring significant experience and are a deep subject matter expert in the career navigation space and have lead or partnered with executives on thought leadership and strategic planning  

• You bring deep familiarity and expertise in instructional design, learning and development and/or career pathways strategies in support of the Gen Z population 

• You understand what Gen Z learners need and have experience designing and structuring educational programs and courses through the lens of Gen Z learners 

• You have developed really strong relationships with funders, clients, and partners that have mobilized them towards action 

• You are familiar with best practices, leading organizations, policy landscape and research relevant to improving career outcomes and economic mobility for young adults facing barriers in the education and labor markets   

• You demonstrate effective written and verbal communication skills with experience serving as an external face for your organization through contributions to thought leadership, presentations, speaking engagements, and more 

• You bring demonstrated capacity to conceptualize, plan, launch, manage multiple complex initiatives simultaneously with clear outcomes and accountability measures  

• You are highly skilled at leading in a matrixed and highly collaborative capacity; managing priorities effectively to keep teams focused on results   

• You understand and demonstrate equity-centered and inclusive analysis and practice in the way you develop relationships, steward partnerships, and design initiatives 

• You excel working collaboratively with a diverse range of decision-makers and have a proven ability to motivate, inspire colleagues and partners and produce exceptional outcomes 

• You demonstrate a growth mindset with the ability to create and maintain standards of high performance and accountability, and foster innovation, continuous learning, and improvement.  

• You are energized by stewarding JFF’s DEIBW values and practices within your day-to-day work, including embracing the differences and celebrating the diversity that each individual brings to JFF and stewarding an organizational culture that embraces diversity, equity, and inclusion  

• You have a willingness to travel (up to 30%) to maintain and develop new client relationships and present to diverse audiences and stakeholders 

What We Offer  

At JFF, we’re fueled by the desire to create a world where everyone has equal opportunity for economic advancement. Our team works hard to push the boundaries of what is possible, and in return, we provide a gratifying work experience, competitive salaries, and a comprehensive benefits program that includes flexibility and choice as core values in order to support people wherever they are in their lives and careers.  

JFF has offices in Boston, Oakland, and Washington, DC; employees are welcome to use JFF office space to work in-person or hybrid, or completely remote. To improve the employee experience and promote productivity while working remotely, JFF offers an annual home office stipend to all regular full-time and part-time employees. In addition, new employees receive office equipment as needed.   

 The hiring range for this role is $140,000 - $175,000 annually, in alignment to JFF’s Senior Director salary band and our compensation philosophy. Starting salaries for new hires will be determined based on a combination of the new hire’s relevant experience and market demands. 

To Apply  

As part of your application, please include your resume and a thoughtful cover letter, addressed to Jeff Bulanda, Vice President, Center for Career Navigation outlining how your skills and experience meet the qualifications of the position.  

We are accepting applications now through Wednesday, November 20. Applications submitted by that date will be reviewed and candidates will receive updates on their candidacy by the end of the week of December 2, 2024. 

At JFF, we’re also committed to accessibility and want to ensure that everyone, including people with disabilities, can fully access and engage with our application and hiring process. If you are unable to complete this application due to a disability and/or have specific access/accommodation needs in order to fully participate in our hiring process, please contact us at [email protected]. 

Positions at JFF are not eligible for employer-visa sponsorship or open to F-1 student visa holders.