Senior Director, Strategy & Operations (Temporary)

About LEE

LEE is a diverse, nonpartisan network of equity-minded leaders at all stages of life and career. We provide 1:1 coaching, meaningful member-to-member connections, and skill-building opportunities to support and inspire members to increase equity everywhere.

LEE is a civic leadership development membership organization currently open to alumni of our partner organizations including Teach For America, Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute (CHCI), New Leaders, Latinos for Education, City Teaching Alliance, School Board Partners, Public Allies, and more.

We equip LEE members with the tools, resources, and industry knowledge they need to take collective action and create change in their communities – whether that’s through policymaking, elected leadership, advocacy, or grassroots organizing.

LEE believes that when a diverse group of leaders, grounded in a commitment to equity, are in leadership roles, they can be a transformative force for and with students and communities.

We are an outcomes-oriented organization that operates in an entrepreneurial environment deeply invested in continuous improvement. LEE is honored to have been selected as a LATINA Style 50 Award recipient and a When Work Works award recipient. We are also an Employer of National Service. If you would like to become part of our team and join the fight for educational equity, or if you would simply like to learn more, please visit wearelee.org.

Position Summary

The Senior Director, Strategy & Operations (Temporary) reports to LEE’s President, and will lead and facilitate cross-team collaboration, culture, and strategy in a matrixed organization. This role will be a primary connector between the Advancement and Member Impact teams, leveraging a synergistic and collaborative approach that will drive mission-critical outcomes. The Senior Director, Strategy & Operations is also responsible for establishing, innovating, and maintaining systems and structures to enhance team efficiency and effectiveness.

The ideal candidate is passionate about LEE’s work to end educational inequity through the lens of civic leadership. Additionally, the ideal candidate is an exceptional project manager and executor who thrives in their ability to build relationships, influence stakeholders, and innovate systems and structures.

The Senior Director, Strategy & Operations is a full-time temporary role for up to 40 hours a week with an end date of March 28, 2025.

Position Location: Flexible

Travel Requirements: 15-20% In-person strategy planning, retreats, and/or regional visits

Please note that, in service of safeguarding our employees, members, and communities, LEE requires all full time, regular (non-temporary) employees and other employees who engage in any in-person work to submit proof of full COVID-19 vaccination within 60 days of their start date or request a qualified medical or religious accommodation.

Responsibilities

Cross-Team Project Strategy & Management (40%)

• Collaborate with the President and Chief of Staff to define the long-term vision for cross-team priority workstreams and allocate resources for strong implementation
• Serve as a project manager for the Advancement and Member Impact Teams on intersectional work related to priority projects (e.g., multi-year planning, resource management)
• Leverage the team’s vision to scope and prioritize projects; including long- and short-term project plans, milestones, tasks, and project roles
• Maintain all project documentation including goals, roles, timelines, and key decisions
• Lead and facilitate team calls and retreats (virtual, in-person) alongside Senior Directors on the Member Impact Team to yield outcomes on team culture, community-building, and strategy
  
  

Strategic Planning and Resource Allocation (25%)

• Lead the org-wide quarterly and annual strategic planning processes across all member-facing verticals in collaboration with the President and Chief of Staff
• Engage with staff across a matrixed organization; provide ongoing strategic alignment for member-facing teams
• Support Vice Presidents in team budgeting and forecasting for all member-facing verticals, manage budget to actuals, and ensure strong fiscal stewardship
  
  

Analytics and Progress Monitoring (25%)

• Conduct progress monitoring and identify areas for analysis across Member Impact Teams
• Collaborate with data analytics staff to ensure timely and accurate reporting
• Build strong relationships across LEE teams to collaborate on solving strategic challenges
• Develop data-informed strategies in collaboration with the President and Chief of Staff
  
  

Special Projects (10%)

• Lead or contribute to team-level, org-wide, or cross-team special projects to accelerate impact as assigned by manager or designee
• Provide short-term coverage during a leave, vacancy, or PTO
  
  

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree or commensurate years of relevant work experience (If you do not hold a Bachelor’s degree an additional 4 years of relevant experience is required. If you hold an Associate’s degree an additional 2 years of relevant experience is required.)
• 7+ years of relevant, professional experience with at least 4 years of experience in strategy and/or operations
• Proven track record of influencing and supporting senior-level leaders across a variety of workstreams
• Impeccable project management and detail orientation with demonstrated achievement of ambitious goals
• Proven ability to operate as a self-starter and thrive in a fast-paced entrepreneurial environment
• Comfortable operating through rapidly changing circumstances, priorities, and goals
• Demonstrates passion and creativity in generating new systems and structures
• Experience with Salesforce, data analysis, insights, and compiling presentations
• Strong, demonstrated commitment to diversity, equity, & inclusion
• Ability to effectively communicate and collaborate within a geographically dispersed team
• Deep passion for educational equity and belief in LEE’s mission and theory of change
  
  

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience working for a 501(c)3 or 501(c)4 non-profit, ideally in education
• Experience leading in an organization with a hub and spoke model (i.e., regional and national teams, central office and satellite offices, etc.)
• Direct team/people management
• Experience in using frameworks to support staff development and/or strategy design
• Master’s degree in relevant field (e.g., MBA, MPP, JD)
  
  

Physical Requirements & Work Demands

• This position is primarily a sedentary role working with colleagues based around the country using remote technologies.
• The person in this position may need to occasionally move about inside the office to liaise with staff or access office equipment.
• The person in this position will need to have the ability to travel to in-person meetings in various U.S. cities.
  
  

Application Submission

Thank you for considering LEE as a future employer, we are eager to review your application and learn more about your experiences and interest in LEE's mission. We encourage you to submit your application at your earliest convenience. However, we do not have an application deadline for this position and we will review applications on a rolling basis. For additional information, please visit the Frequently Asked Questions section on LEE's Careers website: https://wearelee.org/who-we-are/careers/.

Pay And Benefits

The position level for this role is Senior Director 1 and the corresponding hourly pay range for this position is $52.88-$78.03. Pay is competitive and based upon relevant experience and cost of labor for your location. Learn more about compensation here: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1kUbPtNQiPIjWA4xbEaEY08RLQ-ZeO49wd8dc1v3U_s8/edit?usp=sharing. Note, this is a non-exempt position where employees are eligible for weekly overtime pay.

Please visit LEE's Careers Website for information on benefits that full-time temporary staff have access to:

• Full-time Temporary: https://wearelee.org/who-we-are/careers/#:~:text=Time%20Temporary%20Staff-,Care%20For%20Your%20Health,-Medical%2C%20dental%2C%20and
  
  

An Equal-Opportunity Employer with a Commitment to Diversity

Leadership for Educational Equity is proud to be an equal opportunity employer, and as an organization committed to diversity, and the perspective of all voices, we consider applicants equally of race, gender, color, sexual orientation, religion, marital status, disability, political affiliation, and national origin. We reasonably accommodate staff members and/or applicants with disabilities, provided they are otherwise able to perform the essential functions of the job.

An affirmative action-equal opportunity employer.

The statements in this description represent typical elements, criteria, and general work performed. They are not intended to be construed as an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties, and skills required for the job.