Executive Director

The Executive Director (ED), New York, is a senior leadership role responsible for advancing Per Scholas’ mission across New York and Newark, overseeing two campuses that collectively serve 1,500+ adult learners annually. Based in New York City, the ED will focus primarily on fundraising, external engagement, and strategic growth to secure significant and sustainable funding to drive long-term impact.

As the primary external representative for the metro region, the ED will cultivate relationships with donors, employers, government agencies, and community partners to advance sustainability, program innovation, and job attainment opportunities. The ED will also oversee campus alignment and collaboration, working with Managing Directors, National Teams, and the Lead Regional Sr. Vice President to ensure excellence in training delivery, workforce impact, and learner success

.Key Responsibilities

Fundraising, External Relations & Strategic Growth (70%)

Fundraising Leadership

• Lead regional fundraising efforts to secure multi-million-dollar support annually, including philanthropic gifts, corporate sponsorships, major gifts, public funding, and grants.
  
• Partner with the National Development team on prospect strategy, proposal development, stewardship, and impact reporting.
  
• Develop a multi-year growth strategy to scale Per Scholas’ impact in New York and Newark, supported by diversified and sustainable revenue streams.
  

External Engagement & Representation

• Serve as the primary spokesperson for Per Scholas in New York and Newark, strengthening brand visibility and thought leadership through public speaking, media, panels, and conferences.
  
• Build and steward high-impact relationships with donors, employers, policymakers, and community leaders across both cities and the broader region.
  
• Expand and lead a regional board composed of business, civic, and philanthropic leaders to elevate influence and investment.
  

Regional Strategy & Policy Alignment

• Lead the development of a New York–Newark regional strategy, ensuring alignment with Per Scholas’ mission and compliance with local/state workforce policies.
  
• Establish partnerships with industry, workforce boards, and government entities to drive innovation and workforce equity.
  
• Monitor and support adherence to applicable regulations, accreditation standards, and workforce development best practices.
  

Internal Leadership & Campus Oversight (30%)

Team Leadership & Collaboration

• Supervise and support two Managing Directors who oversee day-to-day operations, faculty, and learner success initiatives.
  
• Build a high-performing, mission-aligned leadership team that fosters accountability, inclusion, and a culture of continuous improvement.
  
• Partner closely with national leaders (e.g., Talent Solutions, Training, Operations) to ensure local strategies align with organizational goals.
  

Performance & Accountability

• Define and monitor KPIs for campus success, including learner enrollment, graduation, job attainment, funder satisfaction, and employer partnerships.
  
• Use data and stakeholder feedback to drive strategic improvements and ensure program effectiveness.
  
• Ensure financial sustainability through effective budget management and alignment with revenue growth strategies.
  

• 10+ years of senior leadership experience in fundraising, external affairs, or strategy, preferably in nonprofit, education, or workforce development sectors.
  
• Proven success managing multi-million-dollar fundraising portfolios and cultivating cross-sector partnerships.
  
• Experience leading multi-site operations or regional initiatives with strong strategic planning and execution skills.
  
• Deep knowledge of New York/New Jersey workforce, economic development, and philanthropic ecosystems highly preferred.
  
• Strong communicator, relationship builder, and ambassador with a passion for advancing economic mobility and racial equity.
  

• Strategic Fundraising & Business Development
  
• Regional Strategy & External Partnerships
  
• Cross-Team Leadership & Collaboration
  
• Performance & Data-Driven Decision-Making
  
• Budget Oversight & Financial Stewardship
  
• Public Speaking & Stakeholder Engagement
  
• Commitment to Equity & Workforce Inclusion
  

LI# Onsite

For this role specifically, we are targeting a salary range between $170,000/year and $180,000/year. The difference in salary is typically determined by several factors, including the geography in which the selected candidate resides and alignment with qualifications and experience.