Senior Director, Economic Security & Mobility

MDC • Durham, NC

4d

About The Position

MDC seeks a strategic, collaborative, and equity-centered leader to guide its Economic Security & Mobility focus area. The Senior Director provides strategic leadership for work that strengthens household financial security, expands access to quality jobs, and addresses the systems and policies shaping economic opportunity across the South. The role leads the focus area’s strategy, portfolio direction, staff, partnerships, resource stewardship, and contributions to MDC’s organizational influence and knowledge.

Working closely with the Vice President of Programs and cross-functional teams, the Senior Director aligns programs, policy, research, community engagement, and external partnerships to advance financial stability, quality jobs, workforce and career mobility, and systems change for people and communities historically separated from opportunity. The role oversees portfolio operations, work plans, program performance, budgets, and grant performance, and leads staff recruitment, supervision, evaluation, development, and performance management.

The Senior Director represents MDC’s approved positions with stakeholders, funders, and partners and cultivates relationships advancing the organization’s workforce, economic security, and economic mobility goals. The position reports to the Vice President of Programs and interacts with senior leaders, staff, board members, and external partners at local, regional, and national levels.

This is a full-time, exempt position based in Durham, North Carolina, with remote or hybrid work arrangements available. Approximately 15% travel is required. The hiring salary range is $132,000 to $158,400. The desired start date is early 2027.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in economics, public policy, public administration, social sciences, or a related field.
• A minimum of 10 years of progressively responsible professional experience in workforce development, community development, or public benefits.
• A minimum of 3–5 years of direct supervisory experience, including managing mid-level leaders.
• Demonstrated skill in strategy, execution, people management, and organizational transformation.
• Experience designing, implementing, or improving workforce programs, career and postsecondary pathways, economic security strategies, or related systems-change initiatives.
• Ability to identify and develop revenue and sustainability opportunities while optimizing operational efficiency.
• Demonstrated ability to represent an organization externally and communicate with diverse groups of stakeholders.
• Collaborative, collegial, and equity-centered leadership approach.

Responsibilities

• Set the strategy, priorities, and direction for MDC’s Economic Security & Mobility focus area.
• Oversee portfolio operations, work plans, and program performance, and guide adjustments to scope, staffing, or implementation in partnership with the Vice President of Programs.
• Develop and manage program budgets, allocate approved resources, monitor financial and grant performance, and address funding or capacity gaps in collaboration with program, finance, and development leadership.
• Lead the recruitment, supervision, evaluation, development, and performance management of Economic Security & Mobility staff in accordance with MDC policies.
• Represent MDC’s approved positions with stakeholders, funders, and partners.
• Cultivate strategic relationships that advance MDC’s workforce, economic security, and economic mobility goals.
• Align programs, policy, research, community engagement, and external partnerships to advance financial stability, quality jobs, workforce and career mobility, and systems change.

What This Job Offers

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