Executive Director, California College Guidance Initiative

For our client, we are seeking a Executive Director, California College Guidance Initiative to join the team of a leader in the Education, Government & Non-Profit space. This executive will guide a mission-driven initiative serving students and partners across California's education landscape. The role will provide strategic leadership, align organizational priorities with equity-centered goals, and ensure the team is positioned to deliver meaningful impact through strong execution and accountability. In this highly visible position, you will serve as the primary representative to key stakeholders, including education systems and government partners. You will also lead a distributed leadership team, strengthen organizational structures, and use data-driven decision-making to support long-term effectiveness and compliance. Location: Remote Compensation: $220,000 – $240,000 annually Responsibilities Provide executive leadership to achieve the mission and strategic objectives Establish and communicate strategic direction and priorities Hold executive leaders accountable for performance and adjust strategies based on data Build and maintain trust with education systems and government partners Lead and support the leadership team in strategic and operational decisions Ensure organizational structures align with mission and values Serve as the principal representative with key stakeholders Qualifications 7+ years of organizational leadership experience, preferably in education or nonprofit sectors Proven track record in equity-centered strategy and policy implementation Strong background in government relations, particularly with California's education system Experience managing a distributed team of 50+ members Familiarity with data-informed operations and student data privacy regulations Expertise in financial stewardship, including budgeting and resource allocation Understanding of nonprofit and public-sector compliance and operational constraints Benefits Competitive compensation, generous PTO, and paid holidays Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision plans, along with wellness offerings CalPERS retirement program and optional 403(b) and 457 plans Reproductive health and fertility support through Carrot Tuition reimbursement for professional development Public Service Loan Forgiveness certified employer Our client is an equal opportunity employer. We encourage you to apply even if you don’t meet every qualification—your background could be exactly what this team needs.