Impact Director (College & Career Readiness)

ABOUT 12 PLUS

For over a decade, 12 Plus has worked with thousands of high-school students to access new opportunities after graduation. Whether it’s attending a college, learning a trade, or entering the workforce, at 12 Plus, we believe in every student’s potential for success. 12 Plus' approach to College & Career Readiness is based on a in-school, whole-school model. Our staff work in the high-schools that our students attend, engaging with every student from 9th to 12th grade. This offers not only the opportunity to flexibly advise and implement programming but also become part of each partner school's unique community and culture. Our Mission is to increase educational equity by building school cultures that inspire academic achievement and empower students to succeed in educational opportunities beyond 12th grade. We invite you to join us in redefining what is possible for our students!

POSITION SUMMARY

12 Plus is at an exciting inflection point. We currently partner with 15 public high schools across Philadelphia, PA and Camden, NJ, and are planning to expand our footprint to the southwest Pennsylvania region next year through a partnership with the Heinz Foundation. We will be launching partnerships with three high schools in the region and are looking for a leader to help launch, oversee, and own these expansion efforts — building 12 Plus’ presence from the ground up in a new community. The Impact Director implements 12 Plus’ mission and work at the regional level — serving as a senior program leader, community ambassador, and key organizational strategist.

As the regional director, the southwest PA Impact Director (ID) will drive student outcomes across three partner schools, develop and sustain high-impact school and community partnerships, and ensure strong program execution and long-term sustainability. The ID manages a portfolio of partner high schools by supervising Site Directors and their respective Site Teams, contributes to organizational strategy as a member of HQ, and supports local development efforts to help build a sustainable partnership model.

The ID oversees day-to-day site performance across portfolio schools by managing and developing a high-performing team and by deepening 12 Plus’ presence across partner schools and the broader region’s community. This role leads high-quality implementation of the 12 Plus service model with thoughtful local adaptation to meet student and community needs. With significant autonomy, the ID operates within 12 Plus’ broader leadership structure and works closely with the Managing Director of High School Services (supervisor), the Director of Programming, and the Development team.

The ideal candidate is:

• An entrepreneurial leader who thrives on building and growing programs across a multi-school portfolio
• A skilled relationship builder who can engage school administrators, district officials, donors, and diverse community stakeholders
• A results-driven operator who translates plans into consistent execution and measurable outcomes
• A problem solver with sound judgment who navigates ambiguity and competing priorities with confidence
• A strong communicator who can lead staff, represent the organization externally, and build partnerships with various stakeholders

** Please note: The Impact Director will be required to make weekly visits to the region's partner high schools. Schools will be shared during the interview process, but all 3 are located within a 1 hour drive of downtown Pittsburgh.***

RESPONSIBILITIES & RESULTS

Stakeholder Management & Community Liaison (30%)

Core 12 Plus responsibilities:

• Serve as 12 Plus’ primary external representative in the southwest PA region (Allegheny and Beaver counties), building visibility, credibility, and community trust with school administrators and district officials
• Communicate the organization’s mission and programming value to school stakeholders throughout the year
• Schedule and lead structured meetings with school administration to review goals at the beginning, middle, and end of each year
• Receive and resolve conflicts from school administrators and stakeholders as they relate to site teams
• Manage school logistics including scheduling, permits, and partnership agreements
• Deepen and grow school partnerships to increase the number of students served

Additional responsibilities as local leadership:

• Build and sustain partnerships with local postsecondary workforce development programs, including trade programs, industry certifications, and other non-college pathways, to expand options and outcomes for 12 Plus students
• Develop and steward relationships with higher education institutions, employers, and community organizations that create college, career, and postsecondary opportunities for 12 Plus students
• Represent 12 Plus at community events, panels, and convenings to elevate the organization’s profile across the region

Staff Management (20%)

Core 12 Plus responsibilities:

• Holistically support, guide, and advise Site Directors in their key responsibilities, with a focus on site team management and school relationship-building
• Conduct formal evaluations for Site Directors and oversee the annual performance management process, including mid-year reviews, end-of-year evaluations, and compensation conversations
• Hold regular team meetings and 1:1s with all direct reports, providing consistent support, feedback, and accountability toward individual and site-wide goals
• Plan and facilitate additional Site Director training; support ongoing professional development throughout the year; and help hire or retain talented staff in the region as 12 Plus’ expansion efforts continue.
• Foster a collaborative, student-centered, data-driven, and outcomes-focused team culture
• Fill in for Site Teams based on emergency absences

Metrics, Reporting & Documentation (15%)

Core 12 Plus responsibilities:

• Meet regularly with Site Directors to collect and assess programming objectives through data trackers
• Compile monthly reports of key statistics for the organization and school stakeholders
• Discuss metrics and goals with school administration and key district staff as needed
• Establish measurable relationship-management benchmarks with school principals and district stakeholders
• Use data to monitor progress across all sites, identify gaps, and continuously improve program performance
• Oversee site team budgets and collaborate with the organization’s central leadership to ensure compliance, efficiency, and disciplined financial practices

HQ Communication, Logistics & Strategic Planning (20%)

Core 12 Plus responsibilities:

• Participate as a member of HQ to discuss and plan the organization’s future in the region as well as identify and address current challenges and needs
• Report regularly to the Managing Director of HSS on site performances, team health, and key priorities
• Coordinate regularly with Site Directors, Director of Advancement & Partnerships, and other 12 Plus leaders on projects and cross-functional requests
• Advocate for site team needs and supports within the broader organization
• Aid and eventually lead expansion planning in the region, from exploring potential new sites with the CEO to overseeing regional staff hiring, partnership launches, and establishment through Year 2

Development & Sustainability (15%)

This is an expanded responsibility for this role, drawing on the organization’s broader development model:

• Identify and help pursue local development opportunities to build sustainable funding in the area.
• With the Director of Development, shape the narrative around programming impact and student outcomes for grant applications and reports
• Cultivate and steward relationships with regional donors, foundations, corporations, and public partners

CANDIDATE QUALIFICATIONS

To be eligible for consideration, applicants should have:

Education and Experience

• Bachelor’s degree required; additional degrees or professional experience in nonprofit management, education, teaching, or counseling a plus
• At least 5+ years of leadership and management experience in education, nonprofit, or a related field
• Demonstrated experience managing teams and other managers, developing staff, and driving measurable outcomes through strong people management
• Track record of cultivating school administrator and district stakeholder relationships
• Experience working in or partnering with schools (e.g., principal, instructional leader, or education nonprofit leader)
• Demonstrated experience with development work or partnership management to support service programs

Skills and Knowledge

• Strong communication skills, written and verbal, across diverse audiences including school leadership, potential funders, and community partners
• Ability to manage budgets, operations, and multi-site program execution effectively
• Comfort with data tracking tools, metrics reporting, and using data to drive decisions

Additional Requirements

• Personal transportation and ability to travel to multiple school sites across the region
• Availability to travel to organizational headquarters in Philadelphia, PA for required training and reporting (15-20 days per year)

ORGANIZATION VALUES

12 Plus team members:

• Seek excellence, holding ourselves and our students to high expectations and demonstrating accountability in all that we do.
• Are always learning, approaching our work with curiosity and a growth mindset, continuously seeking feedback and opportunities to improve.
• Drive results that matter, staying focused on impact, purpose, and measurable outcomes that create meaningful change for our students and community.
• Draw on collective strength, building strong relationships rooted in trust, and collaborating with partners and teammates to advance shared goals.

You’ll thrive in this role if you:

• Enjoy building partnerships that drive both impact and resources
• Are motivated by ambitious, measurable outcomes for underserved students
• Can be flexible in fast-paced, evolving environments
• Take ownership and operate with a high level of accountability and humility
• Bring both “builder” and “operator” energy to leading teams and systems

• Employer subsidized health, dental, and vision insurance
• 401(k) Retirement plan with 3% employer matching contributions
  • Eligible after 1 year of employment
• Flexible Spending Account matching
• Transportation stipends
• Professional Development and Continued Education reimbursements
• Vacation and Wellness (Sick) PTO and Parental Leave