Position: Executive Director
Reports to: Board of Directors
Location: Remote (US) through December 2024; Washington, D.C. starting January 2025
Status: Exempt, Full-time
Salary: $230,000-$250,000/year, commensurate with experience
Benefits: Health, Dental, Vision, PTO, Tech Stipend and 401k 

ABOUT US

The mission of LOFT: Leaders on the Fast Track is to recruit, develop and retain exceptional senior staff and expose them to private sector training and experiences to improve and enrich the talent pool available to the progressive ecosystem. 

At LOFT, we believe that our future staff leaders require core business skills, intensive leadership training and strong professional networks in order to drive wins and become better managers. They also need to be able to bridge the salary and benefits gap between roles.

LOFT is a first-of-its-kind year-long paid Fellowship created to provide Fellows with critical business and leadership skills taught by premier MBA programs, unparalleled on-the-job experiences, and network-building opportunities and skills to enable them to lead their organizations like top-tier private enterprises. LOFT will launch its inaugural program in January 2025 and is a 501c(3) organization. 

Our business school partners at the University of Michigan and Georgetown University will train Fellows in skills and methods used by the most innovative and impactful companies by adopting their proven best practices to the context of staff leaders, such as data-driven decision making, allocating resources to initiatives with the highest ROI, strategic problem-solving and understanding new technologies like AI. 

To support the business school curricula, the LOFT team will curate additional unique educational programming for Fellows so they will deeply understand the application of their classroom learnings to the political, governmental, and public service spheres.

POSITION SUMMARY

We are seeking a highly motivated and experienced Executive Director to lead our organization in its exciting first chapter and serve as the external face of the organization. The Executive Director will manage the relationships with our educational partners, build and administer educational modules applying academic learnings to real-life scenarios and case-studies, and ensure that our Fellows have an excellent learning experience. This role requires a leader who is not only adept at navigating the political and policy ecosystems but also skilled in building a strong network of supporters, advisors and strategic partners. You will be responsible for setting an organizational culture that embraces our mission.

Some travel is required.

ESSENTIAL RESPONSIBILITIES: 

• Leadership and Vision:
  • Develop and articulate a compelling strategic vision for the organization, ensuring alignment with the mission and our partners
  • Cultivate a culture of curiosity, tenacity, adaptability and innovation
  • Foster a positive and productive work environment that is committed to diversity, equity, and inclusion
  • Build the foundation of the organization’s network by nurturing existing relationships and cultivating new ones
  • Represent the organization as a credible and passionate spokesperson to our fellows, education partners, and other stakeholders
• Learning Program Development and Implementation:
  • Responsible for the end-to-end comprehensive learning experience for LOFT, ensuring strategic alignment through the program with LOFT’s goals, core competencies, and desired program outcomes.
  • Lead the creation and administration of the highly experiential LOFT program, including case studies, simulations, and experiential exercises
  • Attract, retain and collaborate with external senior subject matter experts to serve as visiting faculty for specific areas of the curriculum
  • Manage the relationships with our key university partners, including the Ross School of Business at University of Michigan and the McDonough School of Business at Georgetown University 
  • Build and lead the team who will be responsible for curriculum management, visiting faculty, and guest speakers
  • Achieve agreed-upon program goals and KPIs, including curriculum excellence and participant outcomes and excitement
  • Oversee the creation of program budgets, timelines, and evaluation metrics
  • Identify and secure partnerships with other organizations to amplify the organization's reach and impact
• Operational Management:
  • Establish sound financial management practices and ensure responsible budgeting and spending
  • Recruit, hire, and manage a team, promoting a culture of excellence.

THE SUCCESSFUL APPLICANT MUST DEMONSTRATE THE FOLLOWING EXPERIENCE AND SKILLS: 

• Significant experience in business and/or entrepreneurship, with a firm belief that business education and experience can improve other types of organizations
• Proven track record as an effective leader in an organization focused on program development and implementation
• Firsthand experience on a political campaign and a firm understanding of how campaigns operate
• Is a lifelong learning who is open to new ideas and has a curious mindset, with a history of seeking innovation and embracing change
• Excited to build a program for the first time, from the ground up
• Superb communication, interpersonal, and public speaking skills, including in the context of fundraising and as a relationship-driven network builder
• Excellent strategic thinking and planning abilities
• Strong financial management skills and understanding of nonprofit budgeting
• Ability to thrive in uncertainty, combining past experience and new relationships to successfully navigate change
• Entrepreneurial and solutions-oriented, with a high sense of urgency
• Strong hiring manager and people leader with experience recruiting and building teams
• Able to balance attention to detail with swift execution
• Experience collaborating with partners and consultants who are critical to the success of an organization
• Thrives on a small team that is data-driven and laser-focused on continuous improvement and delivering high quality programs
• Demonstrated ability to build and sustain relationships with boards, advisors and partners 
• Experience coaching and mentoring in any capacity
• MBA or Public Administration degree is a plus

COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS

The annual salary for this position is between $230,000-$250,000, and is commensurate with experience. LOFT provides the option of enrolling in medical, dental, and vision coverage plans for both the primary employee and applicable dependents. In addition, we provide a generous PTO policy, Tech Stipend and the ability to contribute to a 401k, with a match, after 6 months of employment. 

HOW TO APPLY

Please submit your resume online. Only applications submitted through this process will be considered. Please do not include a cover letter as those will not be reviewed or factored into consideration. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis. Additional writing assignments, skills assessments, and references may be requested during the interview process. For any questions, please do not hesitate to contact us at [email protected]. 

LOFT believes in the value of each individual’s unique skills and perspectives – so if you’re excited about this role but your past experience doesn’t align perfectly with the job description, we encourage you to still consider submitting an application. 

All employees are required to receive a CDC-approved vaccination against COVID-19 (including any eligible boosters) unless a reasonable accommodation is approved. Employees not in compliance with this policy may be required to wear face coverings when in the office or otherwise interacting with employees or other stakeholders.