Executive Director

Executive Director, Connecticut

ABOUT US

CollegeSpring is the only national nonprofit providing teacher-led test prep during the school day, helping students impacted by poverty unlock greater options after high school. For 16 years, we've partnered with school districts and organizations across the country to help more than 100,000 primarily first generation, economically disadvantaged, BIPOC students unlock opportunity through increased scores on gateway tests like the SAT, ACT, and TSIA2 (Texas Success Initiative Assessment). Today, we continue to expand by maximizing impact through larger district and nonprofit partnerships and harnessing the power of technology to better serve teachers and students.

ABOUT THE ROLE

At CollegeSpring, everything we do ultimately serves one purpose: improving student outcomes.

The Executive Director, Connecticut serves as the senior leader responsible for CollegeSpring's overall success throughout the state. This role is responsible for growing CollegeSpring's impact by securing philanthropic and earned revenue, developing strategic partnerships, expanding into new markets, and ensuring exceptional program delivery for partners and students. Success requires a leader who is equally skilled at fundraising, business development, relationship management, and organizational leadership.

Reporting to the Chief Executive Officer and serving as a member of the Senior Leadership Team, the Executive Director leads CollegeSpring's Connecticut team, including Program Experience Partners and other regional staff. The Executive Director works closely with the national Program organization, which provides functional leadership for instructional quality, curriculum, program standards, and continuous improvement, while maintaining direct responsibility for regional fundraising, market growth, partner success, and regional team leadership.

Success in this role will be measured by the Executive Director's ability to secure sustainable revenue, expand CollegeSpring's presence across Connecticut, build enduring relationships with funders and education partners, deliver exceptional partner experiences, improve student outcomes, and develop a high-performing regional team.

• Achieve regional student growth and impact goals.
• Achieve annual regional fundraising and earned revenue goals.
• Maintain 85% partner retention through exceptional partner experience.

WHAT YOU'LL DO
Fundraising & Regional Growth: Lead CollegeSpring's growth across Connecticut by expanding partnerships, strengthening regional influence, and securing the resources needed to serve more students.

• Regional Growth: Develop and execute the regional growth strategy by identifying new school districts, nonprofit organizations, higher education institutions, and funding opportunities that expand CollegeSpring's reach and impact.
• Business Development & Strategic Partnerships: Cultivate relationships with foundations, corporations, government agencies, major donors, and strategic partners to achieve regional philanthropic and earned revenue goals.

• External Leadership: Represent CollegeSpring throughout Connecticut by building trusted relationships with education leaders, policymakers, funders, and community organizations that strengthen the organization's visibility, influence, and long-term impact.

Regional Leadership & Partner Success: Lead the Connecticut team and ensure every partner receives an exceptional experience from initial program planning through successful implementation.

• Regional Leadership: Lead, coach, and develop the regional team, including Program Experience Partners, fostering a culture of accountability, collaboration, and continuous improvement.
• Partner Strategy & Success: Collaborate with district and organizational leaders to develop partner-specific implementation strategies, ensure successful program launches, and build long-term relationships that drive partner satisfaction, retention, and student outcomes.
• Cross-Functional Leadership: Partner closely with national Program, Advancement, Finance, Marketing, Technology, and Operations teams to align regional execution with organizational priorities while ensuring consistency with CollegeSpring's program standards.

Regional Performance & Organizational Stewardship: Ensure the Connecticut region operates effectively, achieves its goals, and continuously strengthens organizational and student outcomes.

• Regional Performance: Monitor regional performance, partner feedback, and student outcomes, using data to identify opportunities, solve challenges, and continuously improve regional results.
• Financial Stewardship: Develop and manage regional budgets, revenue forecasts, and financial performance while ensuring responsible stewardship of organizational resources.
• Operational Excellence: Ensure regional operations, people, and resources are effectively aligned to deliver consistent, high-quality execution, sustainable growth, and exceptional partner experiences.

HOW YOU'LL DO IT

• Strategic Leadership & Business Development: You think strategically about growing CollegeSpring's regional impact by identifying opportunities, building partnerships, and balancing mission, market needs, and financial sustainability. You translate long-term vision into actionable plans that expand reach, strengthen the region, and improve student outcomes.
• Executive Influence & Relationship Building: You build trusted relationships with school systems, funders, community leaders, policymakers, and internal stakeholders. You communicate with credibility, inspire confidence, navigate complex situations with diplomacy, and represent CollegeSpring as a respected leader throughout the region.
• People Leadership & Execution: You build high-performing teams by setting clear expectations, developing talent, fostering accountability, and creating a culture of collaboration and continuous improvement. You effectively align people and resources, solve problems proactively, and consistently deliver exceptional results for partners and students.

Qualifications and Skills

Required

• Bachelor's degree in Education, Business, Public Administration, Public Policy, Nonprofit Management, or a related field.
• 15+ years of progressively responsible leadership experience in education, nonprofit, public sector, or a related field.
• Demonstrated success leading organizational growth through strategic partnerships, business development, or market expansion.
• Proven fundraising experience , including foundation, corporate, government, and/or major donor cultivation.
• Experience developing executive-level relationships with school districts, nonprofit organizations, higher education institutions, foundations, corporations, or government agencies.
• Demonstrated success leading and developing high-performing teams.
• Strong financial and business acumen , including experience managing budgets, forecasting revenue, and achieving financial goals.
• Exceptional communication , presentation, negotiation, and relationship-building skills.
• Demonstrated ability to think strategically while executing operationally in a dynamic, growth-oriented environment.
• Strong commitment to educational equity and a belief that all students can achieve at high levels.

Preferred

• Experience working with K-12 school systems , charter organizations, higher education institutions, or statewide education initiatives.
• Knowledge of Connecticut's K-12 education landscape , funding structures, and policy environment.
• Experience leading regional or statewide nonprofit operations.
• Existing relationships within Connecticut's education , philanthropic, nonprofit, or business communities.

DETAILS ABOUT THE ROLE

• This is a remote role that requires regular travel throughout Connecticut to meet with partners, funders, prospective partners, and other stakeholders. In-state travel, including day trips and occasional overnight travel, is a regular expectation of the role. Additional overnight and out-of-state travel of up to 10% may be required.
• Must be able to stand or sit for prolonged periods
• Must be able to lift/ carry/ transport educational or promotional materials and/or equipment weighing up to 50lbs.
• The hiring salary range for this position is $124,000 - $151,000, with final offer dependent on qualifications and internal equity. In addition to salary, total compensation includes a generous benefits package including health, dental, vision, life, and disability insurances, flexible spending accounts, a 403(b) retirement plan with employer match, 32 paid days of office closures, 15 days PTO in your first year, 5 sick days, 2 paid days to volunteer in your community, inclusive paid family leave, and an annual work from home reimbursement.
• We believe that the unique contributions of all CollegeSpring employees create our success. To ensure that our culture and our work continue to incorporate everyone's perspectives and experience, we never discriminate based on race, color, religion, sex, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, pregnancy, national origin, age, or marital, veteran, or disability status. We welcome all applications from a wide range of candidates. Selection for roles will be based on individual merit alone.
• This is not necessarily an all-inclusive list of job-related responsibilities, duties, skills, efforts, requirements or working conditions. While this is intended to be an accurate reflection of the current job, CollegeSpring reserves the right to revise the job or to require that other or different tasks be performed to address evolving business and partner needs.