Job Posting Title:
Associate Director, Creating Conditions for Impact ----
Hiring Department:
Charles A Dana Center ----
Position Open To:
All Applicants ----
Weekly Scheduled Hours:
40 ----
FLSA Status:
Exempt from FLSA ----
Earliest Start Date:
Oct 13, 2026 ----
Position Duration:
Expected to Continue ----
Location:
PICKLE RESEARCH CAMPUS ----
Job Details:
General Notes
Remote work possible
Travel will be required
Purpose
This position will lead the Creating Conditions for Impact Team, which works nationally to catalyze systemic change by shaping policy, building professional networks, and driving workforce alignment across PK-12 and postsecondary systems. Reporting to the Director of Systemic Transformation, the Associate Director will be a close strategic thought partner to the Director, bringing substantial influence to team strategy and priorities for systems change across both PK-12 and postsecondary education.
Responsibilities
Strategic Leadership
Serve as a close strategic thought partner to the Director of Systemic Transformation, contributing substantively to the vision and strategy for the Creating Conditions for Impact Team, especially from a postsecondary systems lens, and ensuring alignment with the Dana Center's mission.
Partner with leadership of the communications, evaluation, and development to ensure the team's policy and systems-change strategies are grounded in current research and evaluation findings as well as effectively communicating and contributing to the field.
Lead the team in cultivating and sustaining professional networks that foster collaboration, innovation, and shared accountability across systems, especially in postsecondary education.
Lead the design and execution of systems-change, and workforce-alignment initiatives, with particular attention to postsecondary mathematics, that remove barriers for students and connect PK-12, postsecondary, and workforce preparation systems.
Shape strategies, drawing on deep field expertise and postsecondary mathematics and workforce alignment knowledge, that connect and strengthen collaboration between postsecondary mathematics and workforce systems, ensuring seamless transitions for learners and alignment with workforce needs.
Operational Oversight and Staff Development
Supervise the Manager of Systems Engagement for Impact and other project staff, providing mentorship and support to foster professional growth and leadership capacity.
Establish and refine team structures and processes that enable collaboration across teams, roles, and projects to ensure timely, high-quality, and impactful outcomes.
Ensure projects are delivered on time, within budget, and with the highest standards of quality.
Maintain a clear understanding of staff workloads and capacity, ensuring that priorities, timelines, and resource allocations are realistic, sustainable, and aligned with organizational priorities.
Cultivate a positive team culture focused on collaboration, innovation, and shared accountability.
Partnership and Relationship Management
Build and sustain strong relationships with national education leaders, funders, policymakers, and workforce stakeholders, with particular attention to postsecondary mathematics departments and programs.
Cultivate relationships with leaders across K-12, postsecondary, and workforce sectors to advance systemic change and foster collaboration across these systems.
Represent the Dana Center in high-level forums to advance systemic change efforts and expand the Center's influence.
Collaborate with the Director of Systemic Transformation and other Center leaders to identify new opportunities for partnerships and field engagement.
Field Influence and Thought Leadership
Advance the Center's reputation as a leader in evidence-based systemic change by guiding the development of influential content and findings, contributing to publications, and disseminating its work at conferences and forums.
Shape the Center's approach to systemic change…