Director of Strategy
About The Position
Harlem Children’s Zone (HCZ) — a world-renowned education and poverty-fighting organization based in New York — seeks an enthusiastic, dedicated, and mission-aligned Director of Strategy at our Strategy & Innovation department. The Director of Strategy will bring a passion for the mission of Harlem Children’s Zone: break the cycle of intergenerational poverty with comprehensive, on-the-ground programming that builds up opportunities for children and families to thrive in school, work, and life. The Director of Strategy will join our Strategy & Innovation team to support the planning and execution of various high-priority initiatives from HCZ’s Strategic Plan. In this role, reporting to the Managing Director of Strategy & Innovation and working closely with senior leaders across the organization, the Director of Strategy will play a critical role in advancing HCZ’s organizational strategy, ensuring alignment between the organization’s long-term vision and the implementation of transformative initiatives. This position blends strategic planning, data-driven analysis, and cross-functional leadership to shape priorities, identify opportunities, and ensure consistent impact across all areas. The ideal candidate is a systems thinker who can connect the “big picture” to on-the-ground execution. They bring deep experience in strategic planning, cross-sector collaboration, and performance management—paired with a strong passion for HCZ’s mission of breaking the cycle of intergenerational poverty. For more information, check out Want to Work at Harlem Children’s Zone? Here’s 7 Things You Need to Know.
Requirements
- Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration, Public Policy, Education, or related field required; Master’s degree preferred
- 5-7 years of progressive experience in strategy, consulting, or organizational planning (nonprofit or social impact experience strongly preferred)
- Demonstrated success in leading cross-functional strategic planning initiatives and organizational performance management systems.
- Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, with the ability to synthesize complex information into clear, actionable insights.
- Experience using data visualization and project management tools to monitor and communicate strategic progress.
- Exceptional communication, facilitation, and relationship-building skills across all organizational levels.
- Ability to thrive in a fast-paced, mission-driven environment with multiple stakeholders and priorities.
- Commitment to HCZ’s mission and values, with an equity-centered and community-informed perspective.
Responsibilities
- Lead the implementation and refinement of HCZ’s strategic plan, in alignment with the Theory of Action
- Collaborate with senior leaders to identify priorities, track progress, and maintain alignment with HCZ’s mission and long-term goals.
- Provides support in developing HCZ departmental metrics of success (OKRs) and assists in monitoring organizational progress against the Theory of Action.
- Facilitate organizational strategic planning processes, guiding teams through structured goal setting and milestone development.
- Lead SWOT analyses to assess organizational positioning and support adaptive strategy development.
- Collaborate with Research & Evaluation and external partners to translate data into actionable insights.
- Identify and assess new growth opportunities, partnerships, and innovation pipelines that advance HCZ’s strategic vision.
- Establish and manage systems to track strategic progress, identify risks, and ensure accountability across all S&I workstreams.
- Develop dashboards and performance reports to communicate progress, challenges, and opportunities to senior leadership.
- Serve as a strategic thought partner to department heads and project leads, fostering alignment between HCZ’s strategic goals and operational execution.
- Lead and co-facilitate strategic planning sessions and collaborative workshops that engage staff across levels and functions.
- Support the Managing Director of S&I in building a cohesive culture of innovation, collaboration, and continuous improvement.
- Support the planning and execution of special meetings and events
- Perform other duties as assigned
Benefits
- Highly competitive base salaries
- Paid time off
- Employee referral bonus
- Career advancement
- No-cost health insurance
- Life Insurance
- Short-and long-term disability
- Additional voluntary benefits
- Wellness discounts
- Commuter benefits
- Financial wellness perks
- Additional Benefits (Discounts on flights, hotels, theme parks, concert tickets, and more.)
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Director
