Chief Executive Officer at The Opportunity Network

About The Role

OppNet is seeking a balanced, strategic, and forward-thinking Chief Executive Officer (CEO) to guide the organization through an exciting period of external change and market evolution. Stepping into a highly collaborative ecosystem, the incoming CEO will partner with a deeply dedicated staff and an engaged Board of Directors to champion our mission and scale our impact.

This role presents a powerful dual mandate: serving as the chief external ambassador responsible for cultivating executive-level relationships, advancing strategic growth priorities, expanding and enhancing the OppNet brand, and diversifying revenue, while institutionalizing robust internal operational systems.

Responsibilities

• Serve as OppNet's primary external voice, chief spokesperson, and principal fundraiser, collaborating with teams to champion the mission to media, constituents, and the public
• In partnership with the board, design and execute a sophisticated fundraising strategy to cultivate and diversify new donor revenue streams across individuals, foundations, and corporate funders, with a personal focus on securing seven-figure gifts
• Engage directly as the lead ambassador in high-value donor relationships, modeling innovative philanthropic practices aligned with core organizational values
• Oversee the overarching brand, marketing, and external communications strategy to secure OppNet's reputation as a prominent national thought leader in college and career
• Maintain a transparent relationship with the Board of Directors, designing engagement strategies that actively activate and leverage their unique talents, networks, and fundraising capabilities
• Collaborate with senior leadership to execute and evolve the strategic plan, entering shared decision-making while ensuring that the students and communities served remain the focal point of the work
• Support executive leaders in developing and implementing strategies that address emerging trends such as generative AI
• Lead, coach, and empower a long-tenured executive team, fostering an internal culture of continuous development, collaboration, and high morale across all levels
• Nurture a data-driven culture that leverages institutional learning to maintain exceptional student outcomes while navigating economic and educational landscape shifts
• Partner with senior leadership to strengthen internal systems, scale operational infrastructure, and manage organizational risk and facilities to sustainably support a growing national footprint

Required Skills And Experience

• A minimum of 15 years of professional experience, including at least 7+ years in senior-most leadership roles (CEO, Executive Director, C-suite, or equivalent) navigating organizational growth, complexity, or transformation
• Proven track record of fundraising excellence with proven success personally cultivating, soliciting, and closing major gifts, specifically including seven-figure institutional, corporate, or individual funding streams
• Proven track record of designing, implementing, and executing multi-year strategic plans, with a demonstrated ability to future-proof an organization and align diverse stakeholders through influence and collaboration
• Exceptional capacity to lead comprehensive change management, optimizing internal infrastructure, establishing formal systems, and successfully steering an organization through shifting external landscapes
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills, with the executive presence and sophistication required to serve as a high-profile national advocate, thought leader, and media spokesperson
• Demonstrated experience leading organizational strategy through an active racial equity lens, with the cultural fluency required to authentically connect with, advocate for, and center communities of color and historically underrepresented youth