Senior Director (YPIE Jersey City)

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ORGANIZATION OVERVIEW

YPIE creates pathways to college and career success. With a focus on mid-sized cities, our proven approach is grounded in high expectations, personalized opportunity, and deep community partnership. We envision a future where all young people are equipped to thrive in communities that support their pathways to success.

Founded in 2007, YPIE has built a proven model in Yonkers that has guided thousands of students on their path to and through college. YPIE now has a budget of $4.3 million, with 45 staff members across our Yonkers, Jersey City, and Nashville sites. Our original site, YPIE Yonkers, has worked with 13,000 students during that time and maintained a focus on measurable outcomes. This past year YPIE students earned a bachelor’s degree at 18 percentage points higher than a similar peer control group (63.7% vs. 45.5%). Of our most recent high school graduates, 88% enrolled in a four-year college. We recently expanded our support for our college students to help them get internships and jobs upon graduation; 119 students in the pilot secured jobs from more than 20 corporate partners.

In 2023, YPIE expanded to Jersey City, marking an exciting new chapter of growth and impact.

YPIE Jersey City (YPIE JC) is now at an exciting inflection point. We currently serve 300 students across three public high schools with a team of five full-time and five part-time staff, and we are ready to scale. Over the next several years, we aim to partner with three additional high schools, reaching hundreds more students across one of the most dynamic cities in the country.

As only the second leader in YPIE JC's history, the incoming Senior Director, Jersey City will inherit a site with a strong foundation, promising partnerships, and a proven model ready to grow. This is a rare opportunity for an exceptional leader to step in at a pivotal moment and:

• Shape outcomes for hundreds of students annually

• Expand YPIE JC's presence across additional schools and the broader community

• Build a sustainable local funding base from an existing foundation

• Lead and grow a high-performing team in a major, dynamic city

• Play a meaningful role in YPIE's broader national expansion

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POSITION SUMMARY

As the senior leader of YPIE Jersey City, the Senior Director, Jersey City (SD, JC) drives student outcomes, develops local partnerships, and ensures strong program execution and long-term sustainability.

Reporting to the Chief Program Officer, the SD, JC oversees day-to-day site performance, manages and develops a high-performing team, and deepens YPIE's presence across partner schools and the broader Jersey City community. This role leads high-quality implementation of YPIE's proven model with thoughtful local adaptation to meet student and community needs. With significant autonomy, the SD, JC operates within YPIE's broader multi-site structure and works closely with central program, development, and operations teams to achieve shared goals.

The ideal candidate is:

• An entrepreneurial leader who thrives on building and growing programs

• A skilled relationship builder who can engage diverse stakeholders

• A results-driven operator who translates plans into execution

• A problem solver with sound judgment who navigates ambiguity with confidence

• A compelling communicator who can inspire others around a shared vision

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RESPONSIBILITIES & RESULTS

Drive Program Quality & Student Outcomes (30% of time)

• Lead high-quality implementation of YPIE's proven program model (~85%) with thoughtful local adaptation (~15%)

• Use data to monitor progress, identify gaps, and continuously improve program performance

• Ensure consistent program delivery across all partner schools

• Partner with central program leadership to implement curriculum, systems, and program enhancements

• Share insights and lessons learned to strengthen YPIE's broader program and expansion efforts

Build Partnerships & Community Presence (25% of time)

• Serve as YPIE's primary external representative in Jersey City, building visibility, credibility, and community trust

• Develop and steward relationships with school leaders, district officials, higher education institutions, and community organizations

• Deepen and grow school partnerships to increase the number of students served

• Activate and expand a high-impact Jersey City Advisory Board to broaden community partnerships, advance fundraising, and strengthen strategic direction

Fuel Fundraising & Financial Sustainability (25% of time)

• Lead local fundraising to maintain ~$600K in existing support and cultivate ~$500K from new sources

• Cultivate and steward relationships with donors, foundations, corporations, and public partners

• Manage the site budget with disciplined financial oversight aligned to strategic priorities

• Collaborate with central finance and operations teams to ensure compliance, efficiency, and long-term sustainability

Lead & Develop a High-Performing Team (20% of time)

• Hire, coach, and retain talented staff, directly managing managers and frontline team members

• Hold regular team meetings as well as 1:1s with all direct reports, providing consistent support, feedback, and accountability toward individual and site-wide goals

• Oversee YPIE JC's annual performance management process for direct reports, including mid-year reviews, end-of-year evaluations, compensation conversations, and refreshing goals and development plans

• Foster a collaborative, student-centered, data-driven, and outcomes-focused team culture

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ORGANIZATION VALUES

YPIE team members:

• expect more, holding ourselves and our students to high expectations and demonstrating fierce accountability in all that we do.

• pursue relentlessly, doing whatever it takes to achieve our goals with integrity, while sweating the details and never compromising on quality.

• 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.

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CANDIDATE QUALIFICATIONS

To be eligible for consideration, applicants should have:

• Education and Experience

  • Bachelor’s degree; Master’s in nonprofit management, teaching, or counseling, a plus

  • At least 7+ years of leadership/management experience in education, nonprofit, or a related field

  • Demonstrated experience managing teams and managers, developing staff, and driving measurable outcomes through strong people management

  • Track record of cultivating stakeholders and fundraising to support programs

• Skills and Knowledge

  • Strong communication skills (written and verbal)

  • Ability to manage budgets, operations, and program execution effectively

  • Teach Like a Champion best practices a plus

  • Spanish, Arabic, or other bilingual fluency a plus

• Personal Attributes

  • Self-awareness and the ability to lead with humility

  • Experience working in or partnering with schools (e.g., principal, instructional leader, or education nonprofit leader)

  • Flexibility to work some evening and weekend hours based on program needs

  • Commitment to improving outcomes for economically underserved youth

  • Personal transportation and availability to get to multiple sites

You’ll thrive in this role if you:

• Enjoy building partnerships that drive both impact and resources

• Are motivated by ambitious, measurable outcomes for students

• Thrive in fast-paced, evolving environments

• Take ownership and operate with a high level of accountability

• Bring both “builder” and “operator” energy

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JOB DETAILS

• Location: In-person across multiple program sites in Jersey City, NJ

• Hours: Full-time, 12 months/year

• Salary range: $110,000 - $130,000, depending on qualifications, expertise, experience

• Reporting to: Chief Program Officer

• Start Date: July 1, 2026

• PTO: 3 weeks vacation, plus December holiday break (~5 days), July holiday break (5 days), Fridays off over the summer, personal time, sick time

• Benefits: YPIE offers a competitive compensation and benefits package commensurate with experience. Benefits include:

  • Health, dental, and vision insurance

  • Retirement plan with 3% employer matching contributions

  • Flexible Spending Account

  • Commuter Benefit Account

  • Life insurance

  • Employee assistance program (EAP)

  • Partial cell phone reimbursement

  • Personalized staff learning opportunities