Head of US Programs

The application deadline for this role is Tuesday, October 7th.

What You'll Do

The Head of US Programs will provide visionary leadership and strategic direction for IF's regional operations, ensuring alignment with global objectives and mission. This role involves overseeing all aspects of regional management, including program implementation, partnerships development, budget management, team management, and stakeholder engagement. The Head of US Programs will cultivate relationships with key partners, donors, and stakeholders to enhance the organization's impact. They will develop and execute strategic plans including partnerships and fundraising, and ensure compliance with all regulatory requirements. Leading a high-performance team that operates with shared accountability into other functional teams at the organization - the Head of US Programs will foster a culture of collaboration, innovation, and accountability. They will represent IF at high-profile events and in the media, advocating for the organization's mission and initiatives. The Head of US Programs should possess a deep understanding of regional issues, exceptional leadership skills, and a proven track record in nonprofit management. Cultural sensitivity and the ability to navigate diverse environments are essential, as is a willingness to travel within the US with an additional 2-4 international trips per year.

Responsibilities include but are not limited to:

Executive and Regional Leadership:

• Contribute to the development of IF's organizational strategy.
• Align firm-wide priorities with the Senior Leadership Team to ensure smooth and effective execution across all areas.
• Contribute to firm-wide leadership beyond local geography.
• Effectively communicate key strategy learnings, progress, wins, and failures internally and to the board.

Program Strategy:

• Develop the strategy for the local geography in alignment with IF's organizational strategy.
• Liaise with other programmatic leads and team and the global strategy team on the overall programmatic strategy and execution.
• Drive and oversee the team's implementation of the systems and impact framework, reporting, and learning agenda in alignment with the overall organizational framework and Learning & Impact team.
• Evolve the programmatic strategy when necessary.

Collaboration, Partnerships and Fundraising:

• Build and execute a partnership strategy for local geography to increase impact of the program.
• Cultivate relationships with other funders and key actors and represent the organization in external engagements, adeptly advocating for partnership opportunities and showcasing organizational strengths.
• Optimize the impact of partnership activities through astute resource allocation, meticulous budget management, and rigorous progress monitoring, delivering data-driven insights.

Program Execution:

• Oversee and support team in implementing strategy, ensuring consistency and coherence across the program as a whole.
• Oversee the variety of activities of the team including funding (sourcing, diligence, investment approval, and portfolio management), convenings, thought leadership, and more.
• Review and recommend or approve team investments up to defined dollar threshold (currently $350,000).

Team and Culture:

• Manage and support direct reports, offering guidance and feedback to help them grow and meet organizational goals.
• Facilitate communication within and across departments, ensuring strategic alignment, transparency, and effective collaboration to drive organizational success.
• Foster an aligned culture including one of innovation and operational excellence, actively encouraging the proposal and execution of novel ideas and continuous improvement as well as a culture of accountability and transparency, upholding ethical practices and maintaining organizational integrity.
• Improve organizational performance by applying best practices and maintaining high standards in operations and ethics.

Note: This list of responsibilities is not all-inclusive and can be expanded to include other duties or responsibilities as required by the team and organization.

Who You'll Work With

• You will report to the Managing Partner.
• You will supervise a team of 5.
• You will frequently collaborate with the COO, other senior leadership, board of directors, and heads of Brazil and Kenya programs.

• 10+ years professional experience with 3-5 years in early childhood education, and experience in coalition building and fundraising.
• Passion for social impact with a deep understanding of justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion.
• Preferred advanced degree in business, international development, education, public administration, or a related field.
• Proven senior leadership experience, with a focus on strategic planning, financial management, and organizational growth.
• Exceptional communication, interpersonal, and public speaking skills, with the ability to engage diverse stakeholders and represent the organization at high-profile events.
• Strong track record in building and leading high-performance teams, managing partnerships, and navigating complex regulatory environments across countries.
• Deep knowledge of development issues, non-profit trends, and fundraising, with a commitment to the organization's mission and values.
• Cultural sensitivity, adaptability, and experience in diverse, multicultural environments.
• Willingness to travel as required to represent the organization and oversee regional operations

Note: We view this section as a guide, not a checklist. We encourage you to apply even if you don't satisfy every single bullet on this list.

Location and Work Environment

This is a remote (work from home) role with the opportunity to be based in certain regions in the United States. The role requires a minimum of 25% or more US travel for relationship building and partnership opportunities.

Locations:

• Washington, DC and surrounding counties in Maryland
• New York, NY and surrounding cities
• Boston, MA and surrounding cities
• Wilmington, DE
• Bay Area, CA
• Detroit, MI and surrounding cities
• Charlotte, NC and surrounding cities
• Additional states that may be considered include: Colorado, Louisiana, Virginia, New Mexico

Compensation

• The estimated annual salary range for this role is $278,000 - $374,500, however the exact salary will vary, based on location and experience. The full range is posted for compliance and to share salary potential over time. New hires typically start towards the beginning of the salary range
• In addition to the salary, employees of Imaginable Futures also enjoy a strong total rewards package (highlighted below).

Justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion principles inform what we do and what we aspire to achieve. Our website provides more information on how we define and implement each of these principles.

The application deadline for this role is Tuesday, October 7th.