EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, LA

About the Organization

For nearly three decades, Bottom Line has worked to help youth get into college, graduate, and go far. Especially for youth from low-income families and potential first-gen-to-college youth—many of whom face systemic barriers to achieving their full potential—Bottom Line’s advisors have been relentless allies who partner with them to find the right college, persist to a degree, and successfully launch a career.

In 2026, Bottom Line and Get Schooled merged with the goal of combining complementary strengths of proven impact and scale. As one organization, the new north star is to become America’s most impactful and scaled college access, success, and early career organization by 2030, with bachelor's degree attainment as the primary goal for youth. While the focus remains on youth from low-income families, the vision extends to every student in America—through digital and/or in-person engagement—providing RCT-proven, best-in-class college access, success, and early career content, tools, and advising support.

In its regions, Bottom Line works via relationships with students, partners, and donors. Advisors serve as steadfast allies, guiding students through college selection, supporting them through degree pursuits, and facilitating successful career launches. On average, graduates achieve nearly double the income of their family in their initial post-college employment, a testament to the organization's profound impact that extends beyond individuals to families and entire communities.

When you join Bottom Line, you’ll find a rewarding, fast-paced, and results-oriented environment. The organization builds authentic relationships with students and each other, balancing kindness and humility with a sense of urgency. A focus on data, metrics, and continuous learning drives success. Bottom Line is committed to creating an inclusive, welcoming, and mission-focused environment, attracting candidates who share these values and help celebrate unique qualities and life experiences.

About the Role

The Founding Executive Director role is an exciting opportunity for a leader interested in having a transformative impact on Bottom Line’s launch in Los Angeles. Reporting directly to the Chief Regional Officer, the Executive Director will build the regional presence from the ground up, establishing an office, hiring and developing a team, forging partnerships across the education ecosystem, and raising the philanthropic capital required to sustain and scale the work.

This leader will have a collaborative and relational mindset, equally comfortable being the local face of Bottom Line and engaging with a wide variety of stakeholders, including students, staff, donors, and the external community. The Executive Director is also a member of Bottom Line’s Senior Leadership Team, setting overall organizational strategy, representing the needs of the Los Angeles area, and driving regional implementation while maintaining a leadership lens across the full organization.

This is an ideal opportunity for a proven leader and fundraiser motivated to deliver incredible outcomes for students in Los Angeles.

Responsibilities

• Strategic Leadership:
  • In partnership with Bottom Line leadership, establish a clear and strategic growth plan for Los Angeles aligned to national goals and program model.
  • Translate vision into actionable milestones, particularly around student recruitment, program delivery, and fundraising.
  • Work closely with the national program team to apply Bottom Line’s model to Los Angeles’s local context with the highest level of fidelity.
  • Collaborate with the Chief Regional Officer and Regional Advisory Board to formulate the annual budget and craft a 3-year operational blueprint, aligning resources with the region's mission and enduring objectives.
  • Build and maintain strong relationships across Bottom Line’s matrixed national organization, serving as an effective collaborator and advocate for Los Angeles.
• Fundraising & External Engagement:
  • Spearhead fundraising efforts and act as the primary advocate for Bottom Line Los Angeles, crafting and implementing a fundraising plan to meet both short-term and long-term regional objectives.
  • Build a robust portfolio of local funders, with emphasis on cultivating and closing relationships with individuals, foundations, and corporations.
  • Elevate Bottom Line’s visibility in Los Angeles, positioning the organization as a leading voice in college access and persistence.
  • Establish, develop, and engage a Regional Advisory Board that will support fundraising and partnership efforts.
  • Serve as the face of Bottom Line Los Angeles, spending the majority of time externally in meetings with donors, community leaders, education partners, corporate partners, and other key stakeholders to build relationships and advance the organization's mission.
• Program Accountability:
  • Hire, develop, and retain a diverse founding team, including program, development, and operations staff.
  • Ensure program outcomes are met, including student recruitment, advisor caseload management, and student success milestones.
  • Provide strong leadership for a team of early-career advisors, fostering professional growth, accountability, and alignment to program goals.
• People & Culture:
  • Build a positive, inclusive, and mission-driven culture that inspires staff to achieve ambitious outcomes.
  • Ensure staff retention and engagement, particularly during the formative years of the region.
  • Advocate for and bolster the organization’s foundational principles, policies, and dedication to racial equity, actively steering the organization towards a more anti-racist and multicultural stance.

Requirements

• Possession of a Bachelor’s degree and legal work authorization.
• Proven track record of effectively leading and overseeing a high-performing organization, business unit, or team, particularly during periods of rapid growth and transition.
• Deep knowledge of the Los Angeles education landscape, including K–12 school systems, higher education institutions, and the college access ecosystem.
• Deep dedication to partnering with underserved students, guiding them towards suitable college options and supporting their journey to a successful career launch.
• Demonstrated capability in formulating strategic direction amidst uncertainty and driving substantial organizational expansion.
• Execution-oriented mindset; unafraid of new challenges and eager to dive in and chart the path forward in the face of challenges and ambiguity.
• Established history of initiating, nurturing, and managing relationships with key stakeholders, including staff, corporations, foundations, high schools, and higher education institutions.
• Experience in revenue generation through personalized fundraising efforts.
• Experience operating in a matrixed organization or multi-site nonprofit environment preferred.
• Proficiency in managing business and financial operations, as well as adept utilization of technological tools essential for organizational success.
• Firm commitment to Bottom Line’s mission, vision, and fundamental principles.
• Proficiency in Bottom Line's seven core competencies: Relationships, Results, Communication, Inclusiveness, Talent Development, Agility, and Planning.

Core Competencies

All employees are expected to demonstrate continued growth within Bottom Line’s seven core competencies. Competencies define, in behavioral terms, what people need to do to produce the results the organization desires, in a way that aligns with its culture. A competency is a cluster of related knowledge, skills, and attitudes that affects a major part of one’s job, correlates with performance, can be measured against well-accepted standards, and can be improved via training and development.

• Relationships: Identifies opportunities and takes action to build and maintain meaningful and collaborative connections with various stakeholders.
• Results: Produces quality outcomes; compiles and analyzes data to drive future plans; uses creative solutions.
• Communication: Effectively articulates information in a clear, concise, and timely manner to a wide range of stakeholders.
• Inclusiveness: Creates and maintains an environment that respects and values the identities and cultures of all colleagues and students served.
• Talent Development: Actively contributes to the hiring, development, retention, and promotion of a highly effective team.
• Agility: Demonstrates adaptability and openness to shifting priorities, needs of stakeholders, and organizational changes.
• Planning: Effectively and efficiently uses resources (people, time, materials, technology) to create, meet, and assess both strategic and task-oriented goals.

Benefits

Bottom Line offers a comprehensive benefits package.

Pay

Bottom Line offers a competitive salary ranging from $180,000 - $200,000.