Executive Director - Alabama Region

Braven is a national nonprofit that prepares promising college students to secure a strong first opportunity after college graduation through a career-accelerating program. We work with higher education and employer partners to offer a life-changing experience that begins with a semester-long course for college students, followed by support that lasts through graduation. Together, our ambition is to help rebuild the middle class and revitalize the American Dream.

In order to achieve its ambition of serving 80,000-100,000 Fellows over the next decade, Braven is hiring an Executive Director (ED) in Alabama (AL). This person will lead our efforts to launch and oversee Braven’s potential new AL region, including its first potential new higher education partner within AL. The ED will also work with the Central External Affairs team and the future AL External Affairs Director to raise roughly $9 M for the first three years of programming before the launch of the new school site, among other external priorities.

Should a partnership with a higher education institution in the AL solidify, this temporary position would become a permanent full-time regional role and lead the AL team as the region’s most senior-level executive and the face of Braven. They will be responsible for all major outcomes in the region and set the vision and direction for how Braven comes alive successfully in their region. They build and lead the regional program team and a regional advisory board, guide expansion decisions alongside their regional board, manage their External Affairs Director and lead their External Affairs strategy in close collaboration with the central External Affairs team, serve as a Braven organizational leader on the Alignment Team (AT) and ensure they and Braven are the primary thought leaders in the college-to-career space in their region.

The ED will initially report to the Chief of Regional Success and Innovation and ultimately transition to report to the Founder. An ability to mobilize people and create champions of an organizational mission is essential. Experience building and working in partnership with partner organizations, funders, a Board of Directors, and other key constituents is required. Strong presence, communication skills, relationship-building skills, and maturity that engender respect and facilitate a strong partnership with very senior-level staff and faculty, high-profile community stakeholders and civic leaders, Braven staff, Fellows, and Leadership Coaches are necessary.

High level of personal responsibility, professional maturity and humility, commitment to personal growth, and self-awareness of one’s own leadership style and its impact on others are important. The ability to make strong data-informed decisions because you excel at drawing actionable insights from analyses and translating for yourself and others how these insights further your strategy is crucial.

Work Demands: Ability to work in person in Montgomery or Birmingham 3 days per week, depending on where the regional office is ultimately situated. Ability to travel in the AL region, especially Montgomery, Birmingham, and Huntsville, regularly. Ability to travel to Braven hub cities across the country, and especially in Chicago, for meetings and events at least once a month.

Additional Requirements: Authorized to work in the U.S.

Compensation and Benefits: Braven offers competitive base salaries based on the midpoint of the market among not-for-profit organizations of similar size, with opportunities for salary growth over time. We believe in compensating staff members fairly in relation to each other, their qualifications, and their impact on behalf of the organization, and take internal and external equity seriously. Given our commitment to equity, Braven does not negotiate salary offers; instead, each salary offer is determined carefully using external and internal benchmarking. Starting salary within the range is determined by role scope and qualifications, with new hires starting at the lower end to allow for growth with performance. Braven does not base compensation on individual candidate salary expectations and is committed to maintaining internal equity. The salary ranges are set by geographic market. The salary range for this role is $170,000–$212,500 with new hires starting at the beginning of the range to allow for room for growth. This is based on a 50-hour work week. This is a full-time, regular, exempt, and benefits-eligible position where you will be working at 100% capacity.

Braven also provides a comprehensive total rewards package, recognition, and career development. While Braven reserves the right to change benefits at any time, current benefits include: Unlimited vacation time in addition to org-wide holidays and three team-wide week-long shutdowns in Spring, Summer, and Winter (this is a minimum of 24 days per year). Braven supports your path to parenthood and beyond with $25,000 in lifetime Carrot benefits for fertility, family-building, and hormonal health. Match of your 401(k) contribution up to 5% of your base annual salary, starting your first full month. Coverage of 85% of health insurance premium for employee and dependents. 12 weeks of paid parental leave. A one-month paid sabbatical after 4 years on staff.

Location: We gather in the office at least 3 days per week (on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday) and often work remotely 2 days per week (although certain commitments might adjust that from time to time). Therefore, this role requires teammates to live within the AL area. We believe in the magic, connection, and collaboration that happens when people work together face-to-face and we believe in giving people flexibility to focus, balance personal priorities, and save themselves two commutes per week.

Braven is an equal opportunity employer and considers qualified applicants for employment without regard to race, color, creed, religion, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, age, disability, veteran status, or any other protected factor. We encourage talented individuals of all backgrounds to apply.