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
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.
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. 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.
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
Program Development and Implementation:
Play a key role in developing and implementing impactful programs that achieve the organization's mission
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.
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
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.
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.
LOFT provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, hair texture, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws, and strongly encourages women, LGBTQIA+, BIPOC and all qualified candidates to apply. This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation and training.