Chief Executive Officer at The Opportunity Network

The Opportunity Network ignites the drive, curiosity, and agency of underresourced students on their paths to and through college and into thriving careers, powered by our commitment to access and community.

About the Organization

Since its founding in 2003, The Opportunity Network (OppNet) has worked to close the opportunity gap by helping students from under-resourced communities and first‑generation college students overcome barriers to higher education and professional match. OppNet reimagines networks as sources of power, combining intensive personal connections and professional relationships with hard skills and experience. Through its flagship NYC‑based Fellows program—an intensive six‑year experience beginning the summer after 10th grade—and its national capacity‑building partnerships, OppNet has reached over 150,000 young people. The organization's results are clear: 98% of OppNet Fellows graduate from college within six years, and 91% secure interest‑aligned employment or graduate school admission within six months of graduation, far outpacing national trends.

OppNet is embarking on a pivotal chapter focused on deepening its national impact and expanding college and career success. To guide this future growth, OppNet is currently executing a clear three‑pillared operational playbook: strengthening long‑term financial sustainability, maximizing post‑secondary and program outcomes, and building the internal systems and infrastructure required to optimize the organization for scale.

By reinforcing these operational and programmatic baselines, OppNet is actively evolving its proprietary Career Fluency® capacity‑building model and developing regional hubs to ensure consistent, high‑quality delivery across multiple markets. This structural evolution positions OppNet to expand its strategic partnerships with high schools and anchor institutions, adapt its offerings to meet rapid, ahead‑of‑market workforce shifts, and step forward as a prominent external voice and thought leader in the career and economic mobility space.

To learn more about the organization and its impact, please visit opportunitynetwork.org.

About the Role

OppNet is seeking a balanced, strategic, and forward‑thinking Chief Executive Officer (CEO) to guide the organization through an exciting period of external change and market evolution. Stepping into a highly collaborative ecosystem, the incoming CEO will partner with a deeply dedicated staff and an engaged Board of Directors to champion our mission and scale our impact. Skillfully balancing a dedication to OppNet's core regional programming and community‑based anchor partnerships with national growth, the CEO will set and steward the vision for navigating the evolving economic and funding landscapes with agility, crystalizing our organizational identity in a dynamic market, and unlocking the full potential of an influential network of champions and philanthropic supporters.

This role presents a powerful dual mandate: serving as the chief external ambassador responsible for cultivating executive‑level relationships, advancing strategic growth priorities, expanding and enhancing the OppNet brand, and diversifying revenue, while institutionalizing robust internal operational systems.

This is an exceptional opportunity for a proven leader to guide a highly respected organization through an exciting inflection point, strategically guiding the evolution of OppNet's programmatic and operational strategy in service of fieldwide impact. The incoming leader inherits a strong foundation: a deeply committed and active Board, a tenured and high‑performing leadership team, a track record of proven outcomes, and a robust platform poised for national growth. This role is an invitation to shape the future of both the organization and the wider field. This is a rare opportunity to leverage a proven model, amplify a brand on a national stage, and further advance the field.

Responsibilities include, but are not limited to:

External Leadership and Fundraising

• Serve as OppNet's primary external voice, chief spokesperson, and principal fundraiser, collaborating with teams to champion the mission to media, constituents, and the public
• In partnership with the board, design and execute a sophisticated fundraising strategy to cultivate and diversify new donor revenue streams across individuals, foundations, and corporate funders, with a personal focus on securing seven‑figure gifts
• Engage directly as the lead ambassador in high‑value donor relationships, modeling innovative philanthropic practices aligned with core organizational values
• Oversee the overarching brand, marketing, and external communications strategy to secure OppNet's reputation as a prominent national thought leader in college and career Success

Organizational Strategy, Board Engagement & Team Leadership

• Maintain a transparent relationship with the Board of Directors, designing engagement strategies that actively activate and leverage their unique talents, networks, and fundraising capabilities.
• Collaborate with senior leadership to execute and evolve the strategic plan, entering shared decision‑making while ensuring that the students and communities served remain the focal point of the work
• Ensure the organization remains responsive to shifts in the postsecondary and workforce landscape, supporting executive leaders in developing and implementing strategies that address emerging trends such as generative AI
• Lead, coach, and empower a long‑tenured executive team, fostering an internal culture of continuous development, collaboration, and high morale across all levels.
• Nurture a data‑driven culture that leverages institutional learning to maintain exceptional student outcomes while navigating economic and educational landscape shifts.
• In partnership with senior leadership, strengthen internal systems, scale operational infrastructure, and manage organizational risk and facilities to sustainably support a growing national footprint.

Who You'll Work With

You will report to a deeply invested and engaged Board of Directors .

You will supervise an incredible team of tenured professionals, including the Chief Innovation Officer, Chief Program Officer, Chief Development Officer, and the Chief Operations Officer .

Required Skills and Experience

• A minimum of 15 years of professional experience, including at least 7+ years in senior‑most leadership roles (CEO, Executive Director, C‑suite, or equivalent) navigating organizational growth, complexity, or transformation
• A definitive track record of fundraising excellence with proven success personally cultivating, soliciting, and closing major gifts, specifically including seven‑figure institutional, corporate, or individual funding streams.
• Proven track record of designing, implementing, and executing multi‑year strategic plans, with a demonstrated ability to future‑proof an organization and align diverse stakeholders through influence and collaboration
• Exceptional capacity to lead comprehensive change management, optimizing internal infrastructure, establishing formal systems, and successfully steering an organization through shifting external landscapes
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills, with the executive presence and sophistication required to serve as a high‑profile national advocate, thought leader, and media spokesperson
• Extensive experience managing, coaching, and empowering high‑performing senior executives; a proven ability to balance a culture of shared decision‑making with robust performance accountability and professional bench‑strength development.
• Demonstrated experience leading organizational strategy through an active racial equity lens, with the cultural fluency required to authentically connect with, advocate for, and center communities of color and historically underrepresented youth.

Compensation

The salary range for this role is $265 to $325K, commensurate with experience.

Additional Details

This role is based in New York, New York and the organization currently operates in a remote‑hybrid model with an expectation to be at external meetings regularly and in the office on an as‑needed basis.

Equal Employment Opportunity

Opportunity Network is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will be considered for employment without unlawful discrimination based on race, color, creed, national origin, sex, age, disability, marital status, sexual orientation, military status, prior record of arrest or conviction, or current employment status.

Like Opportunity Network, On‑Ramps is deeply committed to diversity, equity, and inclusion. We believe social change happens when people with a wide range of backgrounds, experiences, and identities come together with a common purpose.