Sr. Director, Tear the Paper Ceiling Coalition

About Opportunity@Work

Opportunity@Work is a national nonprofit organization dedicated to unlocking career opportunities for the more than 70 million workers in the United States who are Skilled Through Alternative Routes (STARs) rather than a bachelor’s degree. Through research, employer engagement, technology innovation, and narrative change, we work to eliminate the “paper ceiling” — the invisible barrier limiting economic mobility for talented workers without four-year degrees.

With an annual operating budget of approximately $20 million and a distributed, remote workforce headquartered in Washington, DC, Opportunity@Work partners with leading employers, policymakers, and ecosystem leaders to create a labor market where skills — not pedigree — determine opportunity.

About the Role:

The Senior Director of the Tear the Paper Ceiling Coalition leads the revenue, design, and evolution of Opportunity@Work's flagship cross-sector network advancing skills-based hiring and economic mobility for STARs (workers Skilled Through Alternative Routes) coalition.

About the Role:

The Senior Director, Tear the Paper Ceiling Coalition, will lead the growth, revenue strategy, and evolution of Opportunity@Work's flagship coalition advancing skills-based hiring and economic mobility for STARs (workers Skilled Through Alternative Routes). This leader will drive strategic partnerships, expand a national network of employers, workforce organizations, technology partners, and philanthropies, and translate coalition strategy into measurable business and mission impact. Working cross-functionally across Engagement, Marketing, Communications, and Resource Mobilization, the Senior Director will strengthen the Coalition's value, grow membership and revenue, and position it as a leading force in transforming hiring practices.

Qualifications and Skills

● 10+ years of senior leadership experience in coalition or movement building, business development, strategic partnerships, or ecosystem engagement

● Strong revenue closing track record with senior executives across membership, sponsorship, corporate partnership, philanthropic, and earned-revenue models

● Demonstrated ability to design coalitions, networks, or movements that grow through both proactive recruitment and organic growth - proven track record of “product management” for a coalition or network.

● Deep understanding of the U.S. workforce ecosystem (employers, talent developers, workforce intermediaries, policy actors, and the role of AI and technology in hiring), or strong demonstrated ability to learn an adjacent ecosystem quickly

● Proven executive presence; comfort representing the organization in external forums, with media, and at field-defining events

● Experience leading cross-functional work across customer-facing and back-of-house functions in complex organizations

● Strong people leadership skills with a coaching orientation; ability to build clarity and accountability in ambiguous environments

● Systems level thinking to align growth, engagement, narrative, and brand mechanisms across functions

● Exceptional written and verbal communication; ability to make complex coalition strategy clear and persuasive for senior executives, practitioners, funders, and public audiences

● Comfort operating at both strategic and execution levels (coach and player)

● Demonstrated maturity and judgment in navigating high-stakes situations and sensitive cross-functional dynamics

● Commitment to STARs, skills-based hiring, and Opportunity@Work's mission Additional Information Full-time remote position within the continental United States. Travel expected approximately 10–15% for leadership meetings, partner engagement, and major events.

Additional Information:

Full-time remote position within the continental United States. Travel expected approximately 10–15% for leadership meetings, partner engagement, and major events.