Executive Director, Organizational Performance

Role Description

This is a full-time, remote position anywhere in the contiguous United States, with national travel expected up to 50%.

The Executive Director, Organizational Performance serves as the primary partner to the President and executive leaders for internal strategy, translating high-level vision into day-to-day systems that drive organizational impact. This role architects internal structures and performance outcome routines that integrate people and technology to ensure the mission is delivered effectively. Key priorities include leading the internal artificial intelligence transition to improve staff productivity and staff experience, and directing high-stakes leadership rhythms to maintain organizational agility and alignment.

Responsibilities

• Strategic Leadership & Organizational Performance
  • Sets the vision and priorities for organizational performance and innovation, ensuring all design work and systems align with long-term strategic goals.
  • Directs the organizational artificial intelligence enablement agenda, driving the adoption of new approaches and technologies to scale impact.
  • Sets priorities aligned to organizational strategic goals and progress indicators while ensuring talent and resources are positioned to achieve the long-term vision.
  • Translates executive vision into actionable internal strategies, ensuring alignment across divisions and providing clarity in execution.
  • Inspires and guides the team toward shared objectives and key results by effectively translating high-level strategy into daily action.
  • Leads through innovation and adaptation to identify how emerging tools can streamline internal workflows and reduce friction.
• Systems Design & Execution
  • Evaluates complex, cross-functional challenges with a systems lens to balance risk and opportunity while delivering sustainable organizational outcomes.
  • Anticipates and proactively manages complex risks, helping senior leadership navigate ambiguity and uncertainty within the evolving landscape.
  • Architects and implements integrated systems that connect people, technology, and operational routines to drive excellence.
  • Manages teams to specific design outcomes, ensuring that internal tools and processes are scalable and effective.
  • Navigates organizational change with resilience while modeling curiosity and continuous learning for the entire division.
• Data-Driven Performance & Strategy Execution
  • Uses data and insights to shape organization-wide priorities and ensure sustained impact and sustainability.
  • Oversees systems to monitor performance toward objectives and key results, utilizing data to inform high-level decision-making and systematize continuous improvement.
  • Establishes a culture of data-driven accountability across leadership to ensure alignment between priorities and measurable progress.
  • Intervenes as needed to address performance gaps and ensures divisional leaders deliver on their commitments.
• Leadership Excellence & Team Development
  • Models team effectiveness and ensures that a culture of accountability is deeply embedded across all teams.
  • Owns the rigor of leadership collaboration, ensuring meetings are high-leverage and result in clear, actionable outcomes.
  • Communicates vision and priorities across broad audiences to build buy-in and alignment across interdependent teams.
  • Provides direct feedback and coaching to senior leaders to strengthen strategic thinking and execution.
  • Actively mentors and develops talent across the division to prepare individuals for increased responsibility and leadership roles.
• External Affairs & Governance
  • Embodies and elevates organizational values to drive a culture strictly aligned to the mission and vision.
  • Applies broad expertise and organizational knowledge to shape priorities and inform critical organizational decisions.
  • Serves as a strategic partner in understanding the internal implications of external political, philanthropic, and sector-specific landscapes.
  • Oversees the preparation for Board engagement, providing clear insights into organizational performance and transformation progress.

Qualifications

• 12+ years of experience in system leadership, leadership development, or organizational development, with a proven track record in transformational or improvement impact at an organization-wide level.
• Strategic Visioning & Execution: Demonstrates deep expertise in translating executive vision into actionable strategy, aligning priorities across the organization, and ensuring disciplined execution of high-impact initiatives.
• Systems Thinking & Organizational Design: Applies advanced systems thinking to diagnose complex organizational challenges, identify root causes, and design scalable solutions that integrate people, processes, and technology.
• Business Strategy & Organizational Agility: Leverages strong acumen in business strategy and continuous improvement methodologies to optimize performance and drive measurable, sustainable outcomes.
• Data-Driven Performance & Accountability: Uses data and insights to monitor progress, inform decisions, and build a culture of accountability while holding leaders responsible for achieving strategic goals.
• Executive Leadership & Influence: Brings strong executive presence and the ability to influence at the highest levels, providing candid feedback and guiding decision-making while maintaining trust.
• Organizational & Political Intelligence: Navigates complex organizational dynamics and external landscapes with strong judgment, anticipating risks and managing ambiguity effectively.

Preferred Candidate Qualifications and Traits

• Previous experience in a performance-focused or executive leadership role.
• Familiarity with or high aptitude for artificial intelligence enablement and technology-driven organizational change.
• Experience in K-12 school systems and/or nonprofit education support organizations.

Compensation

The salary for this role is $192,000.00. Detailed information about the organizational compensation philosophy can be found here . Competitive benefits and private retirement investment options are available, as well as a generous vacation policy. See our detailed benefits package here .

Our Mission

We strengthen instructional leadership in schools, school systems, and states to ensure teachers have the support they need to improve learning experiences and learning outcomes for students—with attention to students of color, students experiencing poverty, multilingual learners, and students with disabilities.

Our Vision

All students experience an excellent education that prepares them to contribute to their community, achieve economic security, and pursue their dreams.