Executive Site Director

Executive Site Director
About College Track
College Track is a comprehensive college completion program that equips students from underserved communities to be the first in their families to graduate with a bachelor's degree. We do this by offering a holistic, asset-based program that invests in each of our scholars over the course of 10 years: from high school, to college, through the launch of their careers. In 1997, our organization began with 25 students in East Palo Alto. Today, we serve nearly 5,000 alumni and scholars. Our 12 centers for high school students are located in underserved communities across California, Colorado, Louisiana and the D.C. Metro Area. Our college scholars are on higher education campuses across the nation, and our alumni community is 1,100 and growing. To learn more, please visit
Our Impact
College Track students graduate from college at a rate that is more than double the national average for first-generation students from underserved communities. Six months out of college, 79% of College Track alumni are employed. For those 30 and over, 92% report earnings greater than their parents with wages on par with the national average. By helping our students maximize the value of their four-year college degree–which includes minimizing student loan debt, securing internships, and limiting the need to work while in college—we prepare them to succeed in the 21st-century economy.
Our Values
At College Track, our values drive the way we do our work, and we look for individuals who share our assion. We blend an entrepreneurial spirit with our nonprofit roots, cultivating a dynamic culture where everyone's contributions are valued and encouraged.
• COMMITMENT: We have an unwavering belief in our students.
• PASSION: We are dedicated to changing our nation's college completion story.
• JOY: We create environments rich with smiles and laughter.
• AUTHENTICITY: We believe relationships matter.
• EXCELLENCE: Our students deserve nothing but the best.
Position Overview
The Executive Site Director for the new Baltimore site will play a pivotal role in establishing and leading the inaugural College Track program, launching with the new rising class of scholars in 2026. As the founding leader, this individual will be the driving force behind setting up the site for success. They will be a team of one initially, tasked with building the necessary operations and infrastructure from the ground up. This requires a unique blend of skills, including adaptability, nimbleness, and innovation.
Reporting to the Lead Executive Site Director, the Executive Site Director will develop comprehensive plans for the inaugural cohort of scholars, including recruitment & retention strategies and program implementation timelines. They will lead the recruitment process for key personnel in two phases: the first in April 2025, and the second in July 2025. Additionally, they will cultivate a deep understanding of the organization's program model and ensure highquality execution across all aspects of the initiative.
A critical aspect of the role will be to serve as the primary representative of College Track in Baltimore, fostering credibility for the program within the community. This requires a strong ability to engage in external facing work, including public relations and relationship-building with stakeholders at all levels. It is essential that the Executive Site Director has current and deep ties to Baltimore's close-knit community. The Executive Site Director must be comfortable and effective in representing the new site to the larger Baltimore community, including local
schools, community organizations, government agencies, and the media.
The ideal candidate will be a builder at heart, with a proven track record in community outreach, team building, and management. They will have the ability to craft and execute a visionary strategy for site success, while also being adept at external engagement and relationship-building. Strong leadership skills, a commitment to educational equity, and a dedication to supporting College Track's mission are essential.
Primary Responsibilities
Philanthropic Leadership and Partnership Development
• Establish and maintain strong partnerships with local schools, community organizations, and government agencies to support scholar success.
• Collaborate with local education leaders to align College Track's programs with the needs of the Baltimore educational landscape.
• Serve as key partners in cultivating and stewarding individual donors and private and government funders managed by the Philanthropy team and President and CEO, which could include co-hosting site visits with Philanthropy leads, independently hosting site visits when a Philanthropy lead cannot be present and representing College Track at funder events and convenings.
• Play a leadership role in recruiting, developing, and managing the Local Advisory Board in the D.C Metro Area and Baltimore.
• Cultivate and sustain transformational relationships with local elected officials and district and school leadership.
• Participate in local and state events and speaking engagements and serve as an ambassador for College Track's mission and impact.
• Collaborate with other Executive Site Directors in the region to share best practices, resources, and ideas for program improvement.
• In partnership with the Marketing and Communications team, work effectively with local media to create a strong, positive local presence.
Student Recruitment and Retention
• Set the vision and strategy for student recruitment and work with the Recruitment Specialist to reach the recruitment goals.
• Work with the Director of Programs on retention strategies to keep all scholars engaged with College Track throughout the 10-Year commitment.
Financial Accountability
• Holds the overall accountability for the site budget, ensuring that resources are used effectively to support strong student outcomes.
• Working closely with the central Finance team, support program staff in budgeting and forecasting.
• Working closely with the national Finance team, regularly review projections vs. actuals and anticipate any large variances.
Culture and Site Management
• Identify and address any operational challenges or gaps that may arise during the setup phase, demonstrating adaptability and problem-solving skills.
• Work closely with the national Operations team to set up the physical infrastructure of the Baltimore site, ensuring that all necessary resources and equipment are in place for the start of the program.
• Ensure that all operations are in compliance with College Track's policies and procedures, as well as local and state regulations.
• Lead the recruitment process for key personnel in two phases: the first in April 2025, and the second in July 2025.
• Partner with human resources to develop job descriptions, interview protocols, and onboarding processes for new hires, setting a foundation for a strong organizational culture.
• Co-create a student-centered environment for young people of different backgrounds to feel valued and that they will achieve their dreams.
• Co-create a collaborative "one team" culture to help make College Track a destination employer of choice.
• In partnership with the Operations Manager (to be hired in 2025), lead by example, creating a culture of risk management, proactively implementing policies and practices that hold scholar and staff safety at the core.
Through the direct and indirect management of their team ensure:
• Programmatic goals are achieved.
• College Track staff feel invested in and valued.
• Staff accurately collect and act upon data.
• A culture of fiscal responsibility exists at the site.
• Our spaces are affirming for our scholars.
• Students, staff, and visitors are mentally and physically safe while at the site.
Qualifications
First and foremost, the Executive Site Director will be a fierce advocate for College Track's mission to equip students confronting systemic barriers to earn a bachelor's degree in pursuit of a life of opportunity, choice, and power. We seek candidates with roots in the Baltimore
community and a fierce dedication to its talented young people. Additionally, candidates will bring with them the following skills, experience, and knowledge:
• Minimum of a 4-year college degree.
• 8-10 years of relevant experience, with 5+ years of (externally facing) leadership experience at a non-profit, ideally a youth-serving institution; higher education experience is a plus.
• Strong ties to Baltimore's close-knit community are essential.
• Understanding of the local educational landscape in Baltimore.
• Proven track record in community outreach.
• Ability to craft and execute a visionary strategy for site success.
• Experience in team building and management.
• Highly developed strategic thinking and execution skills that allow one to successfully lead and manage projects, groups, or organizations to achieve desired results.
• Demonstrates the ability to fundraise and expand the organization's donor base through collaborative relationship-building.
• Superior relationship-building and interpersonal skills which enable rapport-building with internal and external stakeholders.
• Exceptional verbal and written communication skills to inspire confidence and passion both internally and externally to diverse audiences and stakeholders.
• Ability to work some evenings and weekends.
Compensation & Benefits
This position is full-time and exempt. The salary range is dependent on the market in which theplaced candidate will be based and is aligned with our DEI practices, we typically bring in candidates between the minimum and maximum of $142,629 - $151,362. College Track provides access to extensive benefits centered around three core areas of wellness: health care, work-life balance, and financial security. We believe time off is essential to success and provide up to 27 discretionary time off days (Sick and Vacation) in addition to 28 paid office closure and holiday days in your first year of employment. Learn more about benefits here (bit.ly/JpBs22).
What Else You Should Know
• Local and national travel required for high-impact meetings and events with colleagues, donors, and other stakeholders.
• This is a new role and will require ongoing training and regular professional development.
• College Track requires that the holder of this position be vaccinated, and boosted (if eligible), against COVID-19, as defined by the CDC. College Track will require proof of receiving the initial vaccination series as well as proof of having received one booster shot from all future employees. New hires who are booster eligible but have not yet received their first booster shot will have 60 days from their date of hire to do so. See our full COVID-19 Vaccine and Booster Policy here: bit.ly/CTC19VBPolicy.
• While we hire great people from a wide variety of backgrounds, we especially encourage applicants who identify as first-generation college graduates to apply for open opportunities on staff.
• College Track is an equal- opportunity employer fully committed to achieving a diverse workforce. College Track does not discriminate on the basis of race, age, color, religion, national origin or ancestry, sex, gender, disability, veteran status, genetic information, sexual orientation, or gender identity or expression.
Contact
Koya Partners, the executive search firm that specializes in mission-driven search, has been exclusively retained for this engagement. Karen Yetman Rea and Nikki Lynch of Koya Partners have been exclusively retained for this search. Please submit a compelling cover letter and resume to by
Koya Partners is committed to providing reasonable accommodation to individuals living with disabilities. If you are a qualified individual living with a disability and need assistance expressing interest online, please email . If you are selected for an interview, you will receive additional information regarding how to request an accommodation for the interview process.
College Track is an equal opportunity employer and strongly encourages applications from people of color, persons with disabilities, women, and LGBTQ+ applicants.
About Koya Partners
Koya Partners, a part of Diversified Search Group, is a leading executive search and strategic advising firm dedicated to connecting exceptionally talented people with mission-driven clients. Our founding philosophy—The Right Person in the Right Place Can Change the World—guides our work as we partner with nonprofits & NGOs, institutions of higher education, responsible businesses, and social enterprises in local communities and around the world.
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