Strategy Director Jobs in Maryland

INTRODUCTION

Founded in 1979, the Johns Hopkins Center for Talented Youth (CTY) is a center for innovation dedicated to advancing the field of gifted education through research, testing, programs, and other supports for advanced learners. On the premise that advanced learners come from every community and every demographic, we aim to understand and inform how these students need to be nurtured to achieve their full potential as learners and global citizens. CTY also runs in-person and online academic programs for bright learners in order to cultivate a community of advanced learners and connect students in and outside the classroom.

We are seeking a Sr. Director Strategic Initiatives & Public Affairs who will serve as CTY’s chief strategy officer, focusing on mission-aligned initiatives and outcomes. The role oversees strategic programming and leads the center’s public affairs functions, including its communications and marketing team, as well as its strategic partnerships. The incumbent has broad oversight over administrative and programmatic initiatives ranging from organizational change management and project execution to issues management and cross-departmental coordination. Working closely alongside the administrative and academic leaders of the center, the role helps execute and communicate the vision outlined in CTY’s strategic roadmap and maintains key internal and external relationships to achieve outcomes critical to the center’s success, including its focus on increasing access and sharing knowledge and expertise with the field.

The role provides strategic thought partnership to the executive director, including but not limited to creating structure and process; cohesion and alignment; and overseeing the implementation of critical priorities as needed. The senior director of strategic initiatives and public affairs supports CTY Research by facilitating connections to CTY programs and to the broader university community. This role, which reports to the Executive Director, requires strong organizational, communication, and management skills, including judgement, strategic planning, writing, project management, coordination of groups, implementation, and analysis. As needed, the role will represent the executive director and center both internally and externally.

Specific Duties and Responsibilities

Strategy and Partnerships

• Collaborate with the Executive Director and other senior leadership to develop and execute on institutional goals and priorities; ensure implementation plans and progress are effectively communicated to senior leaders and across the center, as well as to university stakeholders and leadership.
• Drive key strategic, cross-unit initiatives to fruition via project leadership, serving as executive sponsor and as needed, project manager.
• Under the Executive Director’s direction, support a culture of continuous organizational improvement, integration, excellence, inclusion, and professionalism.
• Assess risk and issues that serve as barriers to the center’s operation and mission fulfillment; work with staff to develop and implement solutions.
• Anticipate and identify opportunities for CTY leadership and staff to participate in events, meetings, and other activities within the university community and within the broader educational field that the center serves.
• Serve as one of the executive director’s primary strategic liaisons to internal and external constituencies and committees, representing the executive director at the university level and elsewhere as appropriate.
• Monitor priorities and action items related to the center’s established goals and objectives.
• Provide budget oversight of multiple cost centers reporting up to this role.
• Build strong working relationships with the School of Education, relevant academic schools and centers, and university administration to facilitate connections for CTY’s research and programming.
• Advocate for integration of research in CTY programming.
• Support the planning of symposia and other research-centered events.

Strategic Programming

• Oversee CTY’s principal access and partnership programs, taking the lead on high-profile external relationships and ensuring excellence in program delivery.
• Responsible for bringing revenue-generating, mission-aligned offerings to CTY’s priority audiences, collaborating with subject-matter experts, program managers, marketing staff, and administrative functions.
• Collaborate with Research and Program staff on grant applications and reporting.
• Engage with and develop proposals for prospective donors.

Communications and Marketing

• Act as point person to the executive director and senior leadership regarding issue management, crisis communications, and stakeholder relations.
• Prepare the executive director for a variety of key/important meetings, presentations, discussions, etc., including researching and gathering critical information and intelligence on issues, creating reports, presentations, and speeches, developing and proposing agenda items, conducting necessary follow-ups, and briefing the Executive Director on critical points and sensitivities.
• Supervise the director of communications and marketing in the development and execution of enrollment marketing plans that support enrollment goals.
• Inform enrollment goals and marketing budget requirements.
• Work closely with communications staff and other members of the executive director’s office on leadership communications for both internal and external constituencies.
• As needed, collaborate with the central university’s issues management team.
• Oversee the development of communications plans and strategies that promote the visibility and reputation of CTY.

Supervisory Responsibility

This position directly manages the Director of Communications and Marketing and the Director of Strategic Programs and Partnerships and has oversight for a unit of 5-7 additional full-time and 1-2 casual staff members.

Special Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Builds and maintains strong networks and professional relationships (superiors, subordinates, and peers), and influences others to achieve outcomes.
• Experience working with higher education institutions and executive management.
• Experience in wide-ranging or cross-functional areas (HR, Academic Affairs, Finance, Marketing, Development, etc.).
• Demonstrates ability to identify, analyze and address/resolve difficult multi-faceted problems.
• Demonstrates ability to work independently, exercise discretion and sound judgment, and manage competing priorities at once.
• Excellent writing and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to work well under pressure and meet deadlines.
• Should be a self-starter, creative and imaginative.
• Ability to maintain confidences and exhibit discreet, tactful, and professional behavior at all times.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

• Bachelor’s Degree required.
• Minimum seven (7) years of experience in business, consulting, program development, or project management.
• At least 10 years of relevant work experience in higher education or nonprofit organizations preferred.
• Must be able to travel occasionally (including internationally) and work nights/weekends as needed, particularly during summer sessions. CTY operates on a hybrid Tuesday-Thursday in-office schedule, but this position may be required to come into the office on Mondays and Fridays on occasion as needed.
• Additional education may substitute for required experience, and additional related experience may substitute for required education beyond a high school diploma/graduation equivalent, to the extent permitted by the JHU equivalency formula.

LOCATION

Location: Hybrid/Mount Washington Campus

COMPENSATION

• Starting Salary Range: $127,300 - $223,000 Annually ($170,000-$180,000 targeted; Commensurate w/exp.)

Total Rewards

The referenced base salary range represents the low and high end of Johns Hopkins University’s salary range for this position. Not all candidates will be eligible for the upper end of the salary range. Exact salary will ultimately depend on multiple factors, which may include the successful candidate's geographic location, skills, work experience, market conditions, education/training and other qualifications. Johns Hopkins offers a total rewards package that supports our employees' health, life, career and retirement. More information can be found here: https://hr.jhu.edu/benefits-worklife/.

Education and Experience Equivalency

Please refer to the job description above to see which forms of equivalency are permitted for this position. If permitted, equivalencies will follow these guidelines: JHU Equivalency Formula: 30 undergraduate degree credits (semester hours) or 18 graduate degree credits may substitute for one year of experience. Additional related experience may substitute for required education on the same basis. For jobs where equivalency is permitted, up to two years of non-related college course work may be applied towards the total minimum education/experience required for the respective job.

Applicants Completing Studies

Applicants who do not meet the posted requirements but are completing their final academic semester/quarter will be considered eligible for employment and may be asked to provide additional information confirming their academic completion date.

Background Checks

The successful candidate(s) for this position will be subject to a pre-employment background check. Johns Hopkins is committed to hiring individuals with a justice-involved background, consistent with applicable policies and current practice. A prior criminal history does not automatically preclude candidates from employment at Johns Hopkins University. In accordance with applicable law, the university will review, on an individual basis, the date of a candidate's conviction, the nature of the conviction and how the conviction relates to an essential job-related qualification or function.

Diversity and Inclusion

The Johns Hopkins University values diversity, equity and inclusion and advances these through our key strategic framework, the JHU Roadmap on Diversity and Inclusion.

Equal Opportunity Employer

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, or status as a protected veteran.

EEO is the Law

https://www.eeoc.gov/sites/default/files/2023-06/22-088_EEOC_KnowYourRights6.12ScreenRdr.pdf

Accommodation Information

If you are interested in applying for employment with The Johns Hopkins University and require special assistance or accommodation during any part of the pre-employment process, please contact the Talent Acquisition Office at jhurecruitment@jhu.edu. For TTY users, call via Maryland Relay or dial 711. For more information about workplace accommodations or accessibility at Johns Hopkins University, please visit: https://accessibility.jhu.edu/.

Vaccine Requirements

Johns Hopkins University requires all faculty, staff, and students to receive the seasonal flu vaccine. Exceptions to the flu vaccine requirements may be provided to individuals for religious beliefs or medical reasons. Requests for an exception must be submitted to the JHU vaccination registry.

The following additional provisions may apply, depending upon campus. Your recruiter will advise accordingly.

The pre-employment physical for positions in clinical areas, laboratories, working with research subjects, or involving community contact requires documentation of immune status against Rubella (German measles), Rubeola (Measles), Mumps, Varicella (chickenpox), Hepatitis B and documentation of having received the Tdap (Tetanus, diphtheria, pertussis) vaccination. This may include documentation of having two (2) MMR vaccines; two (2) Varicella vaccines; or antibody status to these diseases from laboratory testing. Blood tests for immunities to these diseases are ordinarily included in the pre-employment physical exam except for those employees who provide results of blood tests or immunization documentation from their own health care providers. Any vaccinations required for these diseases will be given at no cost in our Occupational Health office.