Executive Director, Indy Scholars

Phalen Leadership Academies•Indianapolis, IN

10d

About The Position

Indy Scholars is a new, high-impact initiative designed to dramatically increase college completion and economic mobility for students across Marion County. As Executive Director, you will serve as the founding leader and chief builder of Indy Scholars—responsible for designing, launching, and scaling a scholarship and postsecondary success platform from the ground up. You will lead the effort to support hundreds of students entering college each year and build the systems, partnerships, and team needed to ensure 80% or more of scholars graduate college debt-free. This role requires an entrepreneurial leader who loves helping young adults succeed, thrives in ambiguity, takes full ownership of outcomes, and can translate vision into disciplined execution at scale.

Requirements

At least five (5) years of relevant work-related experience
Demonstrated success in managing a comprehensive and complex array of projects with intellectual curiosity, attention to detail, and a results-oriented approach
Proven experience leading teams, supervising staff, and managing organizational operations
Strong verbal and written communication skills with diverse audiences
Innovative, solutions-oriented mindset with strong attention to detail and results
Willingness and ability to work nights and weekends
Bachelor's Degree required
Financial Strategist: Expert at navigating complexities of FAFSA, state grants, and private philanthropic funds
Relationship Architect: Able to build high-level trust with university presidents, state officials, and community leaders
Systems Thinker: Capable of managing a “K-12 to Career” pipeline that spans multiple organizations and funding streams
Persistent Advocate: Demonstrates unwavering commitment to removing the financial and social barriers that prevent low-income students from graduating

Responsibilities

Supports scholars through mentoring, career exploration, and academic success
Supports scholars in applying for scholarships and financial aid, campus visits, selecting a major, etc.
Supports college success through academic support and by leveraging campus resources
Supports scholar career readiness through paid internships, resume writing, mock interviews, and financial coaching
Supports scholars in securing good-paying jobs upon graduation
Design, implement, and oversee high school programs that support scholars, including academic support, mentoring, college readiness, career exploration, and leadership development
Develop program curricula, materials, and resources to meet the needs of diverse scholars
Ensure programs align with the organization’s mission, goals, and meet the needs of scholars
Lead high school network convenings and workshops for partner high school staff
Build and maintain positive relationships with scholars, families, and school administrators
Develop and implement strategies to engage families in their scholars’ academic success and college completion goals
Collaborate with schools, community organizations, and other stakeholders to enhance program offerings and support services
Recruit, hire, train, supervise, and foster a collaborative, supportive team environment
Develop and lead the Indy Scholars Team to ensure persistence, enrollment, and completion rates among scholars in our program are continuously increasing
Create, implement, and maintain standard operating procedures (SOPs) for core program processes
Work collaboratively to develop and/or improve systems, processes, controls, and procedures that improve the overall efficiency of the program
Develops team culture and organizational structure through training, succession planning, and career development pathways
Collect, analyze, and report on program data, including scholar participation, outcomes, and feedback
Evaluate program effectiveness and make data-driven decisions for continuous improvement and program growth