President & Chief Executive Officer in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania at Graduate Philadelphia

Graduate Philadelphia was the first program in the country to align regional resources inside and outside of higher education specifically to help adults return to learning, obtain a postsecondary credential, and advance in their careers. With a 20-year brand legacy and more than six years operating as an independent 501(c)(3), the organization has strong momentum and is at an important inflection point with an opportunity to more fully define and amplify its thought leadership role. We help non-traditional adult learners bridge the gap between educational attainment, workforce progression, and living-wage employment through academic support, workforce training, professional development, mentorship, and wrap-around services. Graduate Philadelphia helps individuals every day through our Career-Integrated Learning and Advising (CILA) framework, which combines personalized 1:1 advising with workshops and group learning opportunities. Through workforce development partnerships with organizations such as Google and Accenture, we help participants build career readiness skills and connect them to employment opportunities. We also refer individuals to a broad network of community-based organizations to ensure they have access to the resources and support needed to achieve their goals.

Graduate Philadelphia is committed to advancing social and economic mobility through strategic partnerships, community engagement, and key initiatives. We believe education remains society's greatest equalizer—and that when paired with workforce training and professional development, it enables individuals, families, and households to step firmly into the economic mainstream.

To learn more, visit www.graduatephiladelphia.org

Position Summary

Graduate Philadelphia seeks a visionary and results-oriented leader to serve as President & Chief Executive Officer. Reporting directly to the Board of Directors, the President & CEO provides leadership for all aspects of the organization's operations, guiding Graduate Philadelphia through an important leadership transition to assess organizational strengths and opportunities while building a strategic path for sustainable growth, financial resilience, and increased community impact. This pivotal role guides our mission to advance economic mobility by supporting non-traditional adult learners in obtaining postsecondary credentials and advancing their careers.

The ideal candidate will be a collaborative and inspiring leader with a proven record of organizational growth, fundraising success, established fiscal responsibility, and deep commitment to economic mobility, adult education, and workforce development. They will bring exceptional communication skills, strong financial acumen, and an ability to engage diverse stakeholders across the Greater Philadelphia region and beyond.

Key Responsibilities

Strategic Leadership & Vision

• Develop and implement the organization’s strategic vision and multi-year plan, ensuring alignment with the mission and evolving community needs.

• Position Graduate Philadelphia as a regional and national thought leader in adult learner success, workforce advancement, and economic mobility.

• Lead senior staff in evaluating major decisions, including new program investments, partnerships, acquisitions, and/or large-scale expansion.

• Serve as the organization’s primary spokesperson and ambassador to all organizational stakeholders, including: the Board of Directors, funders, government, media, and the public.

• Articulate Graduate Philadelphia’s theory of change, unique value proposition, and strategic direction to diverse audiences.

Board Relations & Governance

• Cultivate a strong, collaborative partnership with the Board of Directors to ensure effective governance and strategic direction.

• Partner with the Board Chair to build governance effectiveness and board engagement in fundraising and strategic initiatives.

• Present regular, transparent reports on organizational operations, financials, and program outcomes to the Board.

• Support board development including the recruitment, onboarding, ongoing engagement of board members, and departure/ transition of board members.

• Ensure the organization’s compliance with all applicable federal, state, and local laws, regulations, and standards, including nonprofit governance requirements.

Financial Oversight & Sustainability

• Develop and execute strategies to strengthen long-term organizational sustainability through revenue diversification, philanthropic growth, and prudent financial management.

• Cultivate and steward relationships with major donors and key funders, serving as the organization’s primary fundraising ambassador.

• Oversee the organization’s budget, financial planning, and resource allocation to ensure long-term financial sustainability.

• Review financial results across all operations, benchmarking against objectives and taking corrective action where needed.

• In partnership with the VP of Development & Organizational Advancement, lead a comprehensive fundraising strategy that includes individual donors, foundations, corporate sponsors, and government grants.

Community Engagement & Advocacy

• Build and sustain partnerships with stakeholders including local government, higher education institutions, employers, workforce development agencies, and community organizations.

• Represent Graduate Philadelphia in public forums, advocating for policies that support adult education, workforce development, and equitable economic opportunity.

• Leverage community relationships to advance the organization’s mission and increase its regional influence and visibility.

• Proactively engage adult learners as essential stakeholders by facilitating mission-aligned programmatic initiatives.

Program Development & Innovation

• Establish the organization's strategic path for programmatic and service innovation, maintaining mission alignment while addressing the requirements of adult learners, partners, and philanthropic stakeholders.

• Partner with the Vice President of Programming & Innovation to support and strengthen Graduate Philadelphia's core initiatives, including Parent and Family University, which equips caregivers with resources to support their families' educational journeys, and Skills Plus, our workforce development program that builds foundational and emerging skills in areas like cybersecurity and AI. Additional initiatives include the Impact Center, the Postsecondary Attainment Course (PEAC), and the Quick Start Partnership program.

• Drive a culture of continuous improvement and innovation in programming, adapting to the evolving landscape of adult education, technology, and workforce development.

• Provide strategic oversight for program evaluation processes to measure impact and effectiveness; use data and outcomes to inform decision-making and drive improvements.

Organizational Leadership & Team Development

• Foster a collaborative, high-performing, and inclusive organizational culture through effective leadership, mentoring, coaching, and clear accountability.

• Directly supervise the VP of Programming & Innovation, VP of Marketing & Communications, VP of Development & Organizational Advancement, and Chief of Staff.

• Oversee executive-level employment decisions in accordance with Graduate Philadelphia’s Equal Employment Opportunity policy and applicable employment laws.

• Champion belonging, and inclusion across all organizational practices—hiring, programming, partnerships, and governance.

Other Duties

• Perform other duties as needed to advance the mission and strategic priorities of the organization.

Qualifications

Required

• Minimum of 10 years of progressive leadership experience in a nonprofit, educational, or mission-driven organization.

• Demonstrated ability to manage a team, develop and execute organizational strategy, with a track record of measurable impact. Including leading during organizational change.

• Strong fundraising experience, including cultivating major donors, writing grant proposals, and managing funder relationships.

• Proven financial acumen, including budget development, management, and financial oversight for a complex organization.

• Exceptional verbal and written communication skills, with the ability to inspire and engage diverse stakeholders.

• Experience building and maintaining partnerships with government agencies, philanthropic organizations, educational institutions, and community groups.

• High-level critical thinking and problem-solving skills, with a record of navigating complex organizational challenges.

• Demonstrated commitment to belonging, economic mobility, and inclusion—including experience implementing culturally responsive and inclusive practices.

• Proficiency in data-driven decision-making, using program evaluation and organizational metrics to guide strategy.

• Expertise in utilizing data-driven insights, program metrics, and performance dashboards to inform strategic decision-making; high-level proficiency with digital productivity suites and experience leveraging CRM systems such as Salesforce to manage stakeholder engagement.

Preferred

• Degree in nonprofit management, public administration, education, business, law, or a related field (equivalent experience will be considered in lieu of a degree).

• Experience in postsecondary credentialing, workforce development, or access for non-traditional learners.

• Familiarity with the Greater Philadelphia philanthropic, government, and nonprofit landscape.

• Bilingual or multilingual proficiency.

Core Competencies

• Visionary Leadership – Inspires confidence and commitment; articulates a compelling future and mobilizes people toward shared goals.

• Relationship Building & Government Relations – Cultivates authentic, trust-based relationships with diverse stakeholders across sectors, including elected officials, public agency leaders, and community partners, leveraging those connections to influence policy and advance mission-aligned goals.

• Adaptive Thinking – Navigates ambiguity with confidence; embraces functional conflict and leads through change.

• Fundraising & Resource Development – Builds philanthropic revenue and broadens the organization’s funding base.

• Belonging & Inclusion – Centers equity and inclusion in organizational culture, programs, and external engagement.

• Financial Stewardship – Understands and manages complex budgets; links financial decisions to mission outcomes.

• Data & Impact Orientation – Uses data to tell the organization’s story and continuously improve programming.