Director, Talent Strategy

Education Strategy Group•Washington, DC

3d•Remote

About The Position

Education Strategy Group (ESG) works with local, state, and national organizations and foundations to improve the U.S. education system’s ability to prepare students for career success. ESG has a flexible, largely virtual work environment, with a home base in Washington, DC and staff located throughout the country. The Director, Talent Strategy will lead and help grow ESG’s adaptive talent ecosystem work. The role helps states, regions, and cities align education, workforce, and economic development around a shared understanding of future economic needs and the skills people need to succeed. Reporting to the Principal who leads the Talent Strategy portfolio, the Director will serve as senior strategist and day-to-day lead on major engagements, including statewide talent plans and regional talent collaboratives. The Director will also refine ESG’s planning frameworks, assessment tools, and implementation supports. This senior leadership role is accountable for client outcomes, team development, and portfolio growth. The Director will manage project teams and consultants and is expected to grow to directly supervise two to three staff within the first year. The role also involves portfolio strategy, business development, thought leadership, and collaboration across ESG.

Requirements

At least 12 years of professional experience developing and leading talent, workforce, or career pathways strategy, including at least 3 years leading multi-stakeholder initiatives at the state, regional, or national level.
Experience working in at least two parts of the talent ecosystem, such as workforce development, higher education, employers or industry, economic development, or state or regional government.
Deep understanding of how talent ecosystems operate across education, workforce, and economic development, including governance, data, policy, funding, and practice.
Demonstrated experience designing or leading a state or regional talent, workforce, or economic development plan from strategy through implementation.
Understanding of how AI and technology change are reshaping jobs, skills, and hiring, and how education and workforce systems can respond.
Skills using labor market, education, and workforce outcome data to diagnose challenges, set shared metrics, and track progress.
Experience designing and executing equity-driven solutions that help young people and adults of color, people from low-income backgrounds, and first-generation learners access and advance in quality jobs.
Knowledge of workforce, education, and economic development policy and funding at federal, state, and local levels, and ability to translate policy into actionable strategies.
Proven track record of building durable partnerships among employers, education and training providers, intermediaries, and public agencies.
Track record of originating and growing client and funder relationships, including with state leaders, employers, business-serving organizations, and philanthropy.
Experience leading proposal development, scoping, and budgeting for multi-phase engagements, and developing single projects into multi-year partnerships.
Experience developing new frameworks, tools, or service offerings and refining them based on delivery experience.
Strong peer networks with state and national organizations in workforce, higher education, economic development, or industry.
Excellent organizational skills and attention to detail, with the ability to manage concurrent engagements, budgets, and teams to deadlines.
Executive presence and facilitation skills to work credibly with governors’ offices, agency heads, employer executives, and funders.
Ability to work independently and collaboratively; self-motivation and comfort in a largely virtual working environment.
Interpersonal skills to build relationships, work effectively in teams, and facilitate joint problem-solving with clients.
Curiosity and ability to develop new knowledge and skills.
Ability to travel as needed to support projects.
At least 5 years of experience directly supervising staff, including setting priorities, providing regular feedback, and supporting professional growth.
Experience building and leading teams that include staff, consultants, and partner organizations, and delegating in ways that develop others’ skills and ownership.
Commitment to building an inclusive, high-accountability team culture in a largely virtual environment.

Nice To Haves

Experience with public dashboards or cross-agency data efforts.

Responsibilities

Lead the design, refinement, and delivery of adaptive talent ecosystem planning work, including assessment tools, planning frameworks, data and dashboard products, and implementation supports.
Lead multiple high-profile engagements, including statewide talent plans and multi-jurisdiction regional talent collaboratives, with accountability for scope, quality, timelines, budgets, and client outcomes.
Advise governors’ offices, state agencies, regional leaders, and employer-led intermediaries on governance, cross-agency coordination, shared metrics, and funding alignment.
Design and facilitate senior-level convenings, steering committees, and working sessions that support shared decisions and clear next steps.
Translate labor market, education, and workforce data—including the effects of AI and technology on jobs and skills—into practical client recommendations.
Coach state and regional teams through implementation and provide technical assistance to cohorts of states or communities.
Partner with the Principal to shape the Talent Strategy portfolio’s direction, service offerings, and annual plan, and contribute to firmwide impact and growth goals.
Lead portfolio business development by identifying opportunities, cultivating relationships, and developing proposals and scopes of work.
Supervise, coach, and develop staff; manage consultants and cross-portfolio teams; and grow to two to three direct reports within the first year.
Expand ESG’s visibility and thought leadership through presentations, publications, and national partnerships.
Partner with other ESG portfolios and contribute to firmwide project problem-solving.
Perform other duties as assigned.