Chief Growth Officer

Start date: January 6, 2025 (with paid training and onboarding starting in November)

Employment Type: This is a full-time position

Location: New York City/NJ (preferred), Atlanta, Washington, DC

Reports to: CEO

General Overview

The Knowledge House’s mission is to empower and sustain a talent pipeline of technologists, entrepreneurs, and digital leaders, who will lift their communities out of poverty.

The Knowledge House (TKH) approach is to (1) close gaps in the education­-to-­employment pipeline in underserved communities in the Bronx NY, Newark NJ, Atlanta GA, and Los Angeles CA, neighborhoods by teaching youth and young adults the skills needed to launch careers or ventures in technology, and (2) support links between local youth, tech innovation, and business development that bring positive community impact.

Headquartered in the South Bronx, the poorest congressional district, TKH has served more than 2,500 students since 2014. Current core programs include our Innovation Fellowship focused on software engineering, cybersecurity, and digital design for adult job trainees, and our Karim Kharbouch Coding Fellowship for high school students learning computational thinking and web design.

TKH team members value the opportunity to: apply their skills while giving back to low-income youth and other underrepresented communities; lead innovation in the emerging tech movement in the Bronx, Newark, Atlanta, and Los Angeles; and join a scaling nonprofit where every team member is expected to contribute to strategy, create solutions and helps shape improve organizational culture.

Role Overview

TKH seeks a founding Chief Growth Officer (CGO) to lead the innovation and external relations teams during a critical time in the organization’s history. In 2024, TKH celebrates 10 years of impact and is seeking a CGO to oversee its next 5-year strategic plan. From FY14 to FY22, TKH grew revenues by 6000%, raising $9M million in FY23 through institutional partnerships and individual giving. To scale our work, TKH seeks a scrappy, dynamic, and entrepreneurial leader to grow the organization’s revenue by 100% by 2030.

As a member of the executive leadership team, the CGO is a senior leader who develops and executes strategies to increase a company's influence, revenue, and impact. The CGO works cross-functionally with the Chief Program Officer and Chief Operating Officer to break down silos and foster collaboration, ensuring activities work together instead of duplicating efforts. Together they monitor important metrics, such as program impact, participant outcomes, secured partnerships, sales, and fundraising while identifying and developing talent that can help achieve the organization’s growth goals. The CGO works closely with the CEO and Board to create the development strategy to grow and diversify financial support for TKH. Their goal is to accelerate growth by identifying and capitalizing on opportunities, such as expanding new revenue teams, entering into new markets, innovating programs and services, and forming strategic partnerships.

Responsibilities

National and Regional Management, Relationship Building, and Donor Stewardship (30%)

• Serve as the architect of TKH's national fundraising strategy, securing significant contributions from foundation, corporate, and individual donors
• Develop and implement a comprehensive fundraising strategy to raise approximately $8M annually – generating at least 25% from earned revenue – with 15% growth per year
• Build and maintain strong relationships with the Board, expanding and strengthening its fundraising capacity
• Hire, onboard, and manage regional leaders in key markets, developing and overseeing the successful execution of regional fundraising strategies.
• Work with the Senior Director of Development and External Affairs to grow and develop the Development Board Committee
• ​​Represent the organization to fundraising partners, including foundations, corporations, and individual donors
• Work with regional leadership and other departments across the national team to set annual fundraising goals and develop comprehensive strategies to meet these goals

Brand Marketing, Communications, and Thought Leadership (25%)

• In partnership with the CEO, serve as the lead representative of TKH, cultivating and stewarding key stakeholders across the public and private sectors, including technology companies, government institutions, community organizations, peer organizations, higher education institutions, and school districts towards partnership and investment in the organization
• Oversee the brand marketing and communications team, developing strategies that enhance TKH's public reputation
• Develop and execute thought leadership initiatives, ensuring The Knowledge House’s voice is prominent in relevant industry conversations
• Lead the planning and execution of major events and conferences that elevate the organization’s profile

Product Development and Innovation (25%)

• Lead the strategy and execution of new revenue generation initiatives, including innovation projects and securing earned revenue through fee-for-service programs
• Oversee TKH’s web development and emerging technology strategy, including AI integration and fee-for-service product development
• Collaborate with the CPO and COO on program model implementation, ensuring alignment with organizational goals
• Work with the Senior Director of Strategy and Innovation to grow and develop the Program Impact Board Committee
• Lead decision-making for TKH’s new site development and launch of new program pilots and products
• Liaise between the external affairs and innovation departments to ensure new projects are resourced
• Design a strategic team growth plan and oversee efficient hiring, training, onboarding, & offboarding processes for these teams

Organizational Leadership (20%)

• Working with the Leadership Team, translate the 5-year strategic plan into operational annual plans and assess performance against goals quarterly
• Work with the leadership team to support a shift to a regional structure, aligning people, systems, and policies
• Partner with the executive leadership team to build a culture of collaboration and impact and contribute to the long-term impact of the organization
• Working with the CEO and Senior Director of Strategy and Innovation, oversee the development and execution of organizational strategy, with specific ownership of national growth objectives
• Lead, manage, and develop a cross-functional team of approximately five direct reports
• Foster a work culture centered on a commitment to racial and economicjustice

Qualifications

Experience

• 10+ years of senior leadership in the nonprofit sector with successful experience in fundraising, communications, and marketing roles
• Proven experience building and growing a comprehensive fundraising program with a particular focus on individual, corporate, and foundation giving to achieve fundraising goals over $8M annually
• Extensive and proven management experience including ability to inspire, motivate, lead, set objectives, train, develop, and manage the performance of a team
• Experience designing and implementing major marketing + communications initiatives
• Experience building and managing relationships with stakeholders including underrepresented and/or diverse communities

Skills & Approach to Work

• Ability to independently produce high-quality work, delegate, and problem-solve. Additionally, ability to collaborate with teammates to drive results.
• A passion and love for our students and their genius. A tenacious desire to smash all barriers in the way of our students accessing rewarding, high-paying careers in technology.
• Exceptional organizational skills and ability to manage complex projects, as well as balance multiple priorities and deadlines in a constantly changing and fast-paced environment.
• Superior interpersonal and persuasive communication skills that enable tact, discretion, judgment, and diplomacy with internal and external stakeholders.
• Ability to travel and participate in frequent evening and weekend activities for work-related purposes.
• Computer proficiency, including MS Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Google Drive (esp. Sheets, Docs, Classroom), social media, and Salesforce.

Working Expectations

• 2 days expected to be in the office per week with 3 days remote (with some weeks requiring more time in-person, for example for donor events)
• Some evening work, for example to attend donor events, is required
• Work travel is expected 1-2 times quarterly
• Please note that while the role begins in January 2025, there will be paid training and onboarding starting in November 2024

Compensation & Benefits

• Full-time $160,000-$205,000-year salary
• Competitive health, dental, and vision insurance
• 2% 401k match
• A monthly tech stipend of $100
• Unlimited days of paid time off
• A summer and winter week-long PTO holiday for all staff

How to Apply

Click on “apply” and submit your resume and a cover letter (required) as one document. In your cover letter please include an answer summarizing the following qualifications (1) experience working in partnership with a visionary CEO to cultivate partnerships that drive transformative and sustainable growth; (2) a record of developing and implementing a comprehensive development and communications strategy to generate at least $8M in annual revenue through diverse funding streams; (3) a passion for managing teams across state lines; and (4) a commitment to systematizing and leveraging data to support account management and decision making.

It is the policy of The Knowledge House Fellowship, Inc. to promote and provide equal employment opportunity without discrimination based on age, race, creed, color, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, disability, marital status, Veteran status, genetic predisposition, or carrier status.