An established leader in the Northeast Ohio civic landscape, College Now has been changing the lives of students in our region since 1967. We do this by providing college and career access advising, financial aid counseling, and scholarship and retention services to students from middle school through adulthood with a special focus on supporting those from low-income backgrounds and first-generation college students.

When you work for College Now, you are part of an innovative and visionary team, committed to College Now's mission, vision, and values as we are committed to creating a collaborative, inclusive workplace for team members. Offering superior benefits, ample opportunities for professional growth and development, and the chance to make an impact on the community, College Now is where careers are made and grown.

Position title: Chief Impact Officer (CIO)

Status: Full-time, Exempt

Standard Hours: Monday Friday, 8:00 am 5:00 pm

Location: Hybrid; generally, 3 days in office per week and 2 days remote per week. This may change based on business needs.

Reports To: Chief Executive Officer

Overview:

Leading a newly created Center of Excellence (CoE), the Chief Impact Officer (CIO) will collaborate with internal and external leaders to support program design, implementation and evaluation. Leading a staff of four, the CIO will provide leadership, integration of best practices as well as project, program, and portfolio management support.

The CIO will be a subject matter expert in higher education access and success a visionary leader responsible for driving excellence and innovation within our programs and services, particularly focusing on addressing the evolving landscape of post-secondary education, gaps in access, persistence, retention, and completion rates. The CIO will report to the CEO and serve on the Executive Leadership team.

Essential Functions:

• Best Practices and Innovation:
  • Identify and support the integration of best practices in college access and success programs and services.
  • Research and design innovative program pilots and strategies to address barriers and improve outcomes for underrepresented students.
• Strategic Leadership:
  • Design, develop, and implement strategic initiatives to enhance access, retention, and completion rates for various stakeholders and beneficiaries.
  • Guide program direction and innovation, ensuring alignment with organizational goals and emerging trends.
  • Lead and manage staff responsible for executing projects and initiatives of the COE.
• Program Management and Compliance:
  • Support program implementation with data and information ensuring compliance with relevant regulations and standards.
  • Monitor and evaluate program effectiveness, providing regular reports to stakeholders.
• Collaboration with other Program and Services:
  • Work closely with internal departments, external partners, and stakeholders to advocate for and support effective solutions for access and completion issues.
  • Foster collaborative relationships to enhance program impact and reach.
• Research and Analysis:
  • Conduct comprehensive research on current higher education trends, challenges, and gaps, particularly concerning marginalized populations.
  • Analyze data to identify needs, track progress, and inform strategic decisions.
• Reporting and Communication:
  • Prepare and present detailed reports on program performance, impact, and strategic initiatives to executive leadership and other key stakeholders.
  • Communicate findings and recommendations effectively to diverse audiences.

Must-Have Skills:

• Demonstrated expertise in addressing access and completion issues, particularly for marginalized groups.
• Strong analytical and research skills with the ability to translate data into actionable strategies.
• Excellent leadership and strategic thinking abilities.
• Effective communication and interpersonal skills, with a demonstrated ability to work collaboratively with diverse groups.
• Experience in program evaluation, reporting, and compliance.

Desired Attributes:

• Passion for advancing equity and inclusion in higher education.
• Innovative mindset with a commitment to continuous improvement.
• Ability to navigate complex organizational dynamics and advocate for systemic change.

Previous Work Experience:

• Proven experience in higher education administration and program management, or a related field with at least 10 years of experience.
• Project management and supervisory experience.

Education Requirement:

• Masters degree in Higher Education Administration, or a related field. Doctorate preferred.

Disclaimer: "Nothing in this position description restricts management's right to assign or reassign duties and responsibilities to this job at any time."