Program Director, ember at Spring Point. Search conducted by: waldronhr.com

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1 Program Director, ember at Spring Point Search conducted by: waldronhr.com

2 About The Organization Spring Point Partners is a social impact venture committed to accelerating progress in areas of longstanding interest and support, such as animal welfare, learning innovations, positive youth development, and environmental sustainability. Spring Point will fund nonprofits, make social impact investments, and develop programs to advance progress in these areas. Ember is working towards a world in which: ember at Spring Point Igniting Lifelong Learning Ember was created to discover the best learning tools and strategies for all learners. Spring Point Partners is interested in exploring all aspects of engaged learning, e.g. learning by doing, competency-based evaluation systems, and technology innovations. It is agnostic about types of learning institutions, from schools (charter, private, and public) to makerspaces or other community organizations, but consumed with the best conditions, strategies, and tools for learning. The tools, strategies, and modalities we all use for learning reflect true human neurodiversity. Hands-on approaches (including technology innovations) are infused not only into instructional practice, but also into evaluations of learning. Learning is not limited by physical spaces; in fact, it has transformed and even transcended traditional placebased models. Interdisciplinary approaches permeate all institutions of learning so that students engage in integrative learning, critical thinking, and creative problem solving. Institutions and systems are adaptive and change according to learner needs and the demands of a transformative century.

3 The Opportunity The Program Director is a newly created role in the growing Spring Point Partners organization. This is a rare and exciting opportunity to join the early stages of ember to shape its strategic trajectory and programmatic aims. The Program Director will partner closely with the founder of ember and leadership at Spring Point Partners, all of whom have decades of philanthropic experience and insights, to co-design the vision and strategy around ember as well as lead its implementation. The Program Director will manage a portfolio of grants and investments, monitor results, and make strategic adjustments to improve outcomes. Leading a small and nimble team, the Program Director will engage with leadership on the progress and evolution of ember s strategy. As Spring Point Partners seeks to grow its impact and capitalize on momentum around learning innovations, the Program Director will also play a key role as one of the spokespersons for the initiative, with the aim of strengthening the organization s footing as a thought leader and innovator within social and impact investing sectors. This includes developing key partnerships and co-funding relationships to advance ember s goals and objectives. All program leaders at Spring Point Partners are active contributors to learning and cross pollination across all issue areas of focus at the organization. The position reports to Spring Point Partners President and will ideally be based in Philadelphia, although potential commuting arrangements may be considered.

4 Key Responsibilities Investment Design and Leadership The Program Director will team up with Spring Point Partners leadership to help create a unified vision and direction for an innovative and bold investment strategy for ember. Working in a highly collaborative and iterative environment, the Program Director will help lead the design, development, implementation, and evaluation of results-focused and impact-oriented grantmaking and investment work for ember. As a co-architect of the national learning strategy, this position will help set long-term goals and intended outcomes, framing strategic choices, assessing challenges, and identifying opportunities for impact. This includes taking stock of the organization s progress to-date and recommend new pathways forward which leverage these earlier investments, capitalize on momentum, and achieve the greatest possible outcomes. Portfolio Management The Program Director will manage portfolios of grantees and investees, planning the internal and external resources necessary to ensure effectiveness, including establishing the means for impact assessment, capturing learning, and knowledge management. Working with these portfolios, the Program Director will be an essential coach and provider of high-level technical assistance when needed. This will include consulting on business model development, partnership negotiations, financial matters, and other capacity building issues as they emerge. As such, the Program Director will need to develop and maintain strategic relationships with grantees and partners to identify needs and issues proactively. Additionally, this position will play a critical support role in helping to devise alternative tactics or recalibrating grant or investment structures when necessary.

5 Key Responsibilities (continued) Learning and Knowledge Management Further establishing internal processes to capture knowledge and lessons learned will be essential in order for Spring Point Partners to reflect on and learn from the work. The Program Director will build and maintain a high level of knowledge on shifting trends, political dynamics, and emerging research in the field of learning and education that could affect ember s strategy and impact. Ensuring clarity of intended outcomes and the ability to measure results, as well as establishing an integrated approach to measurement and evaluation is necessary for the position s success. Convening stakeholders, content experts, investment professionals, and outside consultants will be essential to inform ember s work. This includes conceptualizing and managing gatherings and field learning opportunities. Leading the Team The Program Director will lead a small team consisting initially of a program officer as well as outside consultants to support the ember strategy. This includes identifying the best ways to deploy talents, monitor roles and responsibilities, and supervise work. The Director will actively engage the team as key contributors to the strategy s direction and execution and seek opportunities to collaborate and contribute to the success of the team and organization as a whole. External Relations and Thought Leadership Building momentum for the ember strategy will require identifying opportunities to advance Spring Point Partners as a thought leader and investor in the science of learning and learning innovations. The Program Director will identify and foster relationships with a variety of stakeholders from the social sector, academia, policy circles, and the business world. Working with Spring Point Partners communications team, the Program Director will support strategic communication channels and advocacy around ember, including preparing leadership for key speaking engagements and other opportunities to elevate the strategy.

6 Ideal Candidate Profile Spring Point Partners is seeking a Program Director who is excited by the organization s aim to pursue a nontraditional, cutting-edge approach to philanthropic investment. The ambitious and important work of ember requires innovative and daring contributors who will be tenacious in the pursuit of its goals and to break through staunchly held traditions around learning and education. As such, candidates must have the intellectual dynamism and prowess to be effective across a wide spectrum of partnership and funding models in order to amplify the size and scope of the organization s efforts. The ideal candidate is a skilled strategist with experience setting a bold vision, framing strategic choices, and leading implementation. The ability to work with a long-term sightline while also demonstrating agility to identify and grasp opportunities, self-correct, and anticipate strategic changes along the way is critical. Candidates must have a demonstrated track record identifying high leverage opportunities and success with implementing strategies at a national or systems-level. Broad knowledge and domain expertise around the science of learning is essential. Insights about the needs of educators and school leaders, national education trends, political dynamics, and learning research are all helpful, but the ideal candidate background will go beyond school-based systems and can bring a comprehensive view of lifelong learning. Exceptional interpersonal skills and the ability to establish rapport with diverse stakeholders are essential. Skillful management of multiple relationships and projects stand as core elements of the Program Director role. The ideal candidate has a proven ability to lead effective teams and is energized by a highly collaborative, co-creation environment. Outstanding communications and presentation skills are imperative. Cogent, succinct writing, as well as an ability to translate and relate complex topics to a lay audience, are assets in this role. The ideal candidate is an authentic, compelling spokesperson and has a demonstrated ability to bring people together around strategic goals. Candidates must demonstrate effectiveness in a fast-paced work environment with high expectations. Given the emergent nature of ember s work, comfort with ambiguity is also important. The successful candidate will have an entrepreneurial mindset and opportunistic rigor, yet also be able to apply proven experience and knowledge in practical ways. Spring Point Partners expects to maintain a small team of senior leaders and program experts. As such, the ideal candidate will bring an appropriate balance of strategic thinking, yet have a hands-on and effective team collaborator approach. The Program Director will have unimpeachable ethics and a genuine connection to the mission, core values, and principles of Spring Point Partners. Sound judgment and discretion are required. Perhaps above all else, bringing together a healthy sense of humor and a readiness to think in bold, experimental ways are key characteristics for the new Program Director of ember.

7 Minimum Qualifications Candidates must bring ten or more years of experience in areas related to learning innovations and possess an advanced degree that demonstrates analytical capacity. Effective program design and implementation experience is necessary. Significant strategic leadership and management experience, including overseeing external consultants and multidisciplinary teams from diverse cultural and social backgrounds is essential. National travel is required in order to carry out responsibilities with both grantees and partners. Experience in philanthropy, family offices, or impact investing is helpful, but not necessary. The successful candidate will possess a balance of personal confidence and humility, in keeping with the values of the family. To Be Considered Spring Point Partners is an equal opportunity employer and encourages all qualified candidates to apply as soon as possible. To be considered, please go to and submit your resume and a cover letter expressing your passion for the mission and fit for the role. The search for the ember Program Director is being assisted by a team from Waldron: Jeff Waldron Principal Direct: jeff@waldronhr.com Mary Pelleriti Engagement Manager Direct: mary@waldronhr.com

8 Waldron is honored to work with Spring Point Partners in the search for a Program Director for ember. Spring Point Partners is pursuing an ambitious and inspiring portfolio of philanthropic work, and we are doing our best to recruit a talented team member who will accelerate this mission. As the consulting partner strategic leaders choose to help attract, engage, and inspire effective leaders, Waldron provides a unique combination of executive search, leadership development, and career transition services across sectors and industries. Our passion is helping people and organizations realize their full potential and increase their impact. San Francisco Seattle Portland waldronhr.com