Executive Director | Takeoff Institute
The Takeoff Institute, New York, NY, United States
Overview
The Takeoff Institute provides resources and mentorship specifically tailored to support undergraduate students on their young professional journey. Our work helps students gain the skills they need to succeed by bridging the gap between what they learn in school and what they need to compete in competitive real world environments. Takeoff’s flagship program is an 8-week summer fellowship program that includes one-on-one mentorship, real-world professional experience, career discovery, networking and more. The Fellowship prepares the next generation of diverse leaders for careers in business and tech, and our Fellows have gone on to secure positions at Google, Facebook, Tesla, Morgan Stanley and many other exciting companies.
Position We are looking to hire our first Executive Director (ED) to help accelerate the growth of our organization. The ED will work closely with the Founder and team to shape the organization’s strategic direction, oversee program design and execution, drive fundraising and partnership efforts, and build the operational foundation for long-term impact. This role represents a unique opportunity to steer a fast-growing organization into its next stage of development and influence within the undergraduate professional training ecosystem.
Key Responsibilities Provide strategic leadership and oversight across all organizational functions, including programming, fundraising, partnerships, and communications. Oversee program operations, ensuring an exceptional experience for fellows, advisors, and partners throughout the summer and beyond. Develop, implement, and monitor strategies for fundraising events, donor engagement, and revenue growth. Lead and empower staff and future hires, building a high-performing team aligned with The Takeoff’s mission and values. Work directly with speakers, mentors, and stakeholders to strengthen relationships and ensure seamless execution of events and initiatives. Establish and manage systems to track, analyze, and communicate impact metrics to donors, board members, and the broader community. Partner with the Junior Advisory Board to expand The Takeoff’s reach and incorporate community feedback in program development.
Required Qualifications 5+ years of progressive leadership experience in nonprofit, social impact, education, or related sectors. Proven ability to lead teams, manage budgets, and oversee organizational growth and operations. Demonstrated success in fundraising, partnership development, or community engagement. A proactive, entrepreneurial mindset with strong strategic and executional capability. Comfort with designing and managing hybrid or virtual programming experiences.
Preferred Skills Deep familiarity with issues impacting the Black community, particularly in professional and educational contexts. Experience working with undergraduate students or early-career professionals.
Compensation and Structure Competitive compensation commensurate with experience. Initial engagement as a part-time contract role (20–30 hours/week for the first 3–6 months), with a planned transition to a full-time (40 hours/week) position upon mutual agreement within 6 months.
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Position We are looking to hire our first Executive Director (ED) to help accelerate the growth of our organization. The ED will work closely with the Founder and team to shape the organization’s strategic direction, oversee program design and execution, drive fundraising and partnership efforts, and build the operational foundation for long-term impact. This role represents a unique opportunity to steer a fast-growing organization into its next stage of development and influence within the undergraduate professional training ecosystem.
Key Responsibilities Provide strategic leadership and oversight across all organizational functions, including programming, fundraising, partnerships, and communications. Oversee program operations, ensuring an exceptional experience for fellows, advisors, and partners throughout the summer and beyond. Develop, implement, and monitor strategies for fundraising events, donor engagement, and revenue growth. Lead and empower staff and future hires, building a high-performing team aligned with The Takeoff’s mission and values. Work directly with speakers, mentors, and stakeholders to strengthen relationships and ensure seamless execution of events and initiatives. Establish and manage systems to track, analyze, and communicate impact metrics to donors, board members, and the broader community. Partner with the Junior Advisory Board to expand The Takeoff’s reach and incorporate community feedback in program development.
Required Qualifications 5+ years of progressive leadership experience in nonprofit, social impact, education, or related sectors. Proven ability to lead teams, manage budgets, and oversee organizational growth and operations. Demonstrated success in fundraising, partnership development, or community engagement. A proactive, entrepreneurial mindset with strong strategic and executional capability. Comfort with designing and managing hybrid or virtual programming experiences.
Preferred Skills Deep familiarity with issues impacting the Black community, particularly in professional and educational contexts. Experience working with undergraduate students or early-career professionals.
Compensation and Structure Competitive compensation commensurate with experience. Initial engagement as a part-time contract role (20–30 hours/week for the first 3–6 months), with a planned transition to a full-time (40 hours/week) position upon mutual agreement within 6 months.
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