Executive Director, Workforce Development; NY Metro

The Opportunity...

Our client, a prominent national leader in the education and workforce development sector, is seeking a high-caliber Executive Director, Workforce Development to lead their New York Metro operations. As the head of the organization’s flagship region, this senior leader will be responsible for advancing a mission of economic mobility through proven strategic leadership, sophisticated fundraising, and high-level external engagement.

As the primary external representative for the NY Metro, you will cultivate and steward relationships with a diverse ecosystem of stakeholders, including philanthropic foundations, corporate C-Suite leaders, and government partners. A central focus of this role is to secure and diversify a multi-million-dollar revenue stream, ensuring the long-term sustainability and growth of programs that drive innovation and high-wage job attainment for graduates.

Based in the NY Metro area, the Executive Director provides the internal strategic vision for all regional campuses. You will lead a high-performing management team to ensure cohesive alignment and operational excellence, with the ultimate goal of delivering industry-leading training and driving unparalleled career success for program alumni.

• Fundraising & Strategic Growth: Lead regional business development and philanthropic efforts, managing a sophisticated portfolio of major gifts, corporate sponsor ships, and public funding. You will design and execute a multi-year growth strategy to scale the organization’s impact across the New York landscape.
• External Engagement & Thought Leadership: Serve as the primary spokesperson and brand ambassador, enhancing the organization's visibility. You will build and mobilize a Regional Board of Directors comprising New York’s top business, civic, and philanthropic leaders.
• Regional Strategy: Implement a comprehensive NY Metro strategy that ensures regional operations align with national mission goals while remaining responsive to local workforce policies and economic trends.
• Internal Leadership: Foster a mission-aligned, high-performance culture. You will define and monitor key performance indicators (KPIs) for campus success, utilizing data-driven insights to drive continuous strategic improvement.

• 10+ years of senior executive experience in fundraising, external affairs, or strategic operations, ideally within the nonprofit, education, or workforce sectors.
• Proven Fundraising Success: A demonstrated track record of managing and growing annual portfolios to exceed $10 million
  , with expertise in building complex, cross-sector partnerships.
• Operational Scale: Experience leading multi-site operations or large-scale regional initiatives with a focus on strategic planning and execution.
• NY Ecosystem Expertise: Deep knowledge of the New York Metro workforce, economic development, and philanthropic landscape is highly preferred.
• Mission Gravity: A compelling communicator and ambassador with a genuine passion for advancing economic mobility and racial equity.