The Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching’s mission is to catalyze transformational change in education, so that every student has the opportunity to lead a healthy, dignified and fulfilling life. And over the last century, the Foundation’s work has had a profound and positive impact, including creating the Carnegie Unit (the credit hour), TIAA-Cref, Pell Grants, ETS, the Flexner Report (shaping U.S. medical education), the Carnegie Classifications, and Improvement Science. Today, the Foundation is focused on two intersecting fronts with strong connection to our legacy: transforming the American high school, and evolving postsecondary education into a more effective engine for social and economic mobility.

Position Purpose 

The Director, Postsecondary Transformation (“the Director”), is a leading member of the Carnegie team focused on the reimagining of the Carnegie Classifications of Institutions of Higher Education (CCIHE) in association with the American Council on Education (ACE). This work will include, but not be limited to, the development of a new classification on economic mobility as well as the addition of new elective classifications to the existing set. The Director will contribute to  the foundation’s work to reimagine the Carnegie Classifications by aligning research, communications, fundraising, and higher education institution support. This position offers a flexible work arrangement, allowing employees to work hybrid or fully remote, but will require occasional travel for in-person meetings, conferences, etc.

Essential Responsibilities

Together with our partners at the American Council on Education (ACE) the team at Carnegie is driving toward five main objectives. The Director’s essential responsibilities will be to ensure progress toward each of these objectives, leveraging our internal team and external partners toward shared and common goals.

1. Alongside partners, engage with state governments and federal agencies to embed the new classifications into relevant state and federal policy (20%)

2. Drive philanthropic, state, and federal funders to align support with the new Economic Mobility classification (20%)

3. Increase and support change in higher education institutions’ focus in improving their basic and Economic Mobility classifications (20%)

4. Support the development of a postsecondary research agenda to drive the objectives outlined above (20%)

5. Support a strong communications plan to tell the story of the new classifications to support each of the objectives outlined above (20%)

The Director will spearhead this work in partnership with internal colleagues (members of the Educational Transformation team, communications staff, senior leadership),external partners (ACE, communications consultants, etc) and  Carnegie Senior Fellows.

Non Essential Responsibilities (20%)

• Manages the project budget with support of project manager

• Guides internal Carnegie Classification team meetings and works with support of project manager

• Participates in the meetings, strategic plans, and goals of the Educational Transformation team

• Attends, contributes to, and/or facilitates virtual & in-person meetings with external partners

• Provides information and support to the Communications team, leadership, and external partners for funding reports, project updates, and critical or time sensitive information

Required Education & Experience 

• A bachelor’s degree.

• At least 7 years of experience working in higher education or in a position related to higher education.

• Experience working effectively in a dynamic, collaborative, matrixed organization.

• Experience mentoring, motivating, and/or managing others.

Required Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Thorough knowledge of educational systems in higher education and their norms, structures, and operational routines.

• Strong understanding of current fundraising practices in higher education institutions.

• Ability to design, develop, initiate, and support a research agenda.

• Ability to determine the knowledge needs inherent in decision making contexts and translate those needs into efforts to gather, organize, present, and facilitate the use of relevant analyses and derivative knowledge products.

• Ability to design and facilitate productive presentations, convenings, and meetings with colleagues.

• Ability to navigate complex organizational contexts.

• Strong analytical, organizational, and team leadership skills as well as superb verbal and written communication skills.

• Ability to foster productive team dynamics and work in highly collaborative and interdependent teams.

• Ability to work effectively and manage relationships with a wide range of constituents engaged in higher education, policy, research, media, and fundraising.

• Ability to approach challenges with an improvement mindset and commitment to equity

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