Principal, State Strategy

Communities in Schools Inc • Arlington, VA

just now • $106,050 - $116,970 • Remote

About The Position

The Principal, State Strategy, reports to the Sr. Director, Organizational Health and serves as a strategic subject matter expert for Communities In Schools’ state strategy initiatives. This role translates grant and funder requirements into actionable plans and drives consistent execution across multiple state portfolios and leads the design and implementation of systems, processes, tools, and accountability structures that advance strategic priorities and measurable outcomes. With a high degree of autonomy, this role manages complex initiatives and external resources, monitors performance, identifies and mitigates risks, and provides strategic counsel to leadership to strengthen execution, drive continuous improvement, and achieve organizational goals.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration, Nonprofit Management, Educational Leadership, Organizational Leadership, Social Work or a related field, or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
• 8–10 years of progressive experience in organizational development, network management, nonprofit leadership and management, or a related field.
• Demonstrated success leading complex initiatives; coordinating cross-functional teams; and moving strategies from planning through implementation and measurable results.
• Experience working with affiliate, federated, or distributed organizations, preferably in a national or regional network.
• Strong understanding of nonprofit operations and organizational health, including governance, leadership development, fundraising and sustainability, HR, finance, communications, and performance measurement.
• Ability to coach and support senior leaders and affiliate boards, facilitate learning and training, and strengthen organizational capacity.
• Strong project management, analytical, and problem-solving skills, with the ability to manage competing priorities, budgets, consultants, implementation systems, and performance metrics.
• Excellent written, verbal, and interpersonal communication skills, with the ability to translate complex requirements into clear, actionable plans and engage effectively with leaders, funders, state partners, and technical and non-technical audiences.
• Emotional intelligence, including self-awareness, empathy, and the ability to navigate complex organizational and network dynamics with diplomacy.
• Strong problem-solving skills with the ability to adapt in a fast-paced environment.
• Demonstrated commitment to equity, belonging, and culturally responsive practices.

Nice To Haves

• Experience scaling and sustaining programs focused on integrated student support services and/or federal school improvement initiatives is preferred.
• Familiarity with continuous improvement, change management, or capacity-building frameworks is preferred.

Responsibilities

• Lead the implementation of assigned state strategy portfolios
• Interpret grant requirements and contractual obligations, translate expectations into implementation plans, establish deliverable timelines and reporting schedules, communicate expectations to stakeholders, monitor completion of required milestones, and ensure all deliverables meet quality standards and contractual requirements.
• Manage Implementation Systems & Operations: Design, establish, and continuously improve implementation systems, dashboards, tracking tools, reporting mechanisms, templates, documentation standards, and knowledge management processes that enable consistent execution, strengthen accountability, improve operational effectiveness, and support achievement of network objectives across multiple state portfolios.
• Manage implementation budgets and resources: Develop and monitor implementation budgets, forecast resource needs, oversee consultant and contractor procurement and performance, develop scopes of work, monitor expenditures, recommend budget adjustments, and provide leadership with regular updates on financial and resource utilization.
• Develop implementation resources and coordinate state strategy convenings: Lead planning and execution of statewide strategy convenings, develop implementation guidance, project plans, milestone trackers, standardized templates, and supporting resources that strengthen state capacity and promote consistent implementation practices.
• Monitor organizational performance and support continuous improvement: Develop and facilitate progress review processes, prepare executive-level performance summaries, maintain implementation dashboards, coordinate cross-functional performance discussions, analyze implementation trends, and recommend improvements that strengthen organizational effectiveness and execution.

Benefits

• Work that makes a difference—the opportunity to contribute to an important mission!
• Competitive and comprehensive compensation and benefits package, including:
• Five weeks of Paid Time Off
• Generous 403b Retirement Savings Plan contribution
• 10 Paid Holidays
• 90% of employee health care premiums paid by the organization
• Summer Work Schedule and Winter Break
• Employer-paid short-term and long-term income replacement programs, and much, much more!

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Principal