Senior Director, Services

Summary

Join Catalyst:Ed as their Senior Director, Services, a dynamic leadership role focused on strategically codifying, implementing, and scaling their capacity advising model. Reporting to the VP, Strategy & Services, you will lead a team of four, driving continuous improvement in service delivery and fostering impactful partnerships. Leveraging data-driven insights and organizational development expertise, you will create partner-centered solutions. This role requires strong external partnership management skills and a deep understanding of equity-centered leadership. You will collaborate cross-functionally to align initiatives with long-term objectives and represent Catalyst:Ed to external audiences. The ideal candidate will have 10+ years of experience in organizational development, capacity building, or related fields, with a proven track record of managing high-performing teams.

Requirements

• 10+ years in organizational development, capacity building, nonprofit strategy, or related work
• Demonstrated success managing high-performing teams during periods of growth or transition
• A track record of balancing thought partnership with follow-through and execution, bringing big-picture insight alongside operational rigor
• Experience translating strategy into clear tools and scalable models, with a focus on sustainable implementation
• Strong data fluency, able to leverage qualitative and quantitative insights to drive decisions and service refinement
• Deep understanding of equity-centered leadership with experience embedding DEI into tools, systems, and operations
• Strong project execution and follow-through, with the ability to balance long-term vision and near-term delivery
• Background in adult learning, professional development, or intermediary capacity-building work
• Experience with entrepreneurial or scaling nonprofits, especially those serving education or social impact sectors
• Proven ability to represent an organization’s work to external audiences, including funders and strategic partners, with clarity, credibility, and depth

Responsibilities

• Lead the codification and elevation of Catalyst:Ed’s capacity advising model into a structured, scalable solution
• Develop and refine tools, methodologies, and delivery approaches to ensure consistency and scalability across service tiers
• Partner with the Strategy & Services team to update an evidence-based model for organizational effectiveness in the social and public sector
• Oversee the use of diagnostics, sensemaking, and capacity-building action plans to inform meaningful, custom support for organizations
• Monitor the strategic use of consulting wallets to ensure resources are aligned with partner needs and intended outcomes
• Foster a cohesive, inclusive, and high-performing team environment
• Stewarding the organization’s outcomes-driven culture, lead the team in setting and modeling a shared vision of collective and individual excellence, performance, and accountability
• Lead and coach a team of capacity advisors through the organization’s continued evolution, growth, and transition, reinforcing a learning-driven and collaborative team culture
• Build trust, shared purpose, and team alignment during a period of change and growth
• Guide team members in understanding strengths, development goals, and stretch opportunities aligned to both their aspirations and organizational needs
• Ensure service delivery aligns with broader organizational strategy and partner needs
• Collaborate cross-functionally (e.g., Growth, Product, Tech) to align capacity-building initiatives with Catalyst:Ed’s long-term objectives
• Serve as a thought partner to executive leadership and contribute to strategic conversations that shape organizational direction
• Identify themes and metrics in collaboration with the Senior Director, Strategy & Impact, to assess partner outcomes and sector impact
• Embed equity into service design, internal systems, and leadership practices
• Codify equity principles into the team’s operational structures, capacity-building tools, and advisory work
• Promote inclusive practices within the team and externally with partners and providers
• Represent Catalyst:Ed with clarity, credibility, and strategic insight
• Guide a select portfolio of partner organizations through the capacity advising model with rigor and thoughtfulness
• Cultivate and manage strategic relationships with nonprofit, public sector, education, intermediary, and funding partners
• Represent Catalyst:Ed at field-facing events, conferences, and convenings to raise visibility and influence sector conversations

Benefits

• Medical and dental insurance coverage
• 403(b) with up to 5% match on base salary
• A generous leave policy