Executive Vice President, Operations and Special Projects

Executive Vice President, Operations and Special Projects

Reports To: Chief Executive Officer

Location: Flexible, Home Office (EST working hours preferred)

America Achieves is launching the Good Jobs Economy initiative - a bipartisan effort working alongside governors and state leaders to modernize talent systems and connect hundreds of thousands of people to good jobs. This transformative initiative will work across 6-10 states to build talent systems that generate billions in additional wages while creating a jobs fund to place over 10,000 people into good jobs within four years.

Role Overview

The Executive Vice President of Operations and Special Projects is a peer member of the senior leadership team responsible for organizational coordination, performance management, and operational excellence across the Good Jobs Economy initiative. This high-impact position requires exceptional strategic thinking, systems coordination, and the ability to work collaboratively with senior leaders who each bring deep expertise and responsibility in their functional areas - from fundraising to state partnerships to policy development.

As EVP of Operations and Special Projects, you will ensure the organization has clear goals, robust performance tracking, and seamless coordination across all workstreams. This role is designed for a thoughtful, effective leader who can identify operational roadblocks, facilitate solutions, and create the organizational infrastructure and support needed for the leadership team to drive maximum impact in their respective areas of responsibility.

Key Responsibilities

Organizational Coordination

• Work with CEO and leadership team to establish and maintain organization-wide performance dashboard systems, clear goals, and KPIs to track progress and identify issues needing attention across all workstreams and strategic initiatives

• Coordinate across senior leadership team and all organizational functions to ensure alignment, identify operational roadblocks, reinforce clarity of decision-making for each leadership team member, and ensure solutions to address challenges

• Lead leadership team meeting preparation, facilitate cross-functional coordination discussions, and ensure systematic follow-up. Identify where coordination is needed across workstreams

• Design and maintain comprehensive systems that proactively surface critical insights, emerging opportunities, and potential organizational risks before they become problematic.

• Foster collaborative relationships and help ensure strong communications and alignment between the CEO and senior leadership, board members, and external stakeholders, including providing frequent and relevant updates. Facilitate communications between leadership team members, board members, and cross-functional teams to ensure alignment

• Mentor and advise team members across the organization, promoting collaboration and continuous improvement while respecting the autonomy of fellow senior leaders.

CEO Support & Special Projects

• Support the CEO with strategic priorities and special projects, ensuring efficient information flow and follow-up on key initiatives

• Manage high-priority special projects identified by the CEO that require senior-level attention and cross-functional coordination

• When appropriate, join the CEO in key meetings, proactively ensuring all follow-up actions are completed in a timely manner

• Oversee preparation and dissemination of regular performance reports to the CEO, board, and key stakeholders, including analysis of progress toward goals

What You’ll Bring

• Senior Leadership Experience: 10-15 years of progressive leadership experience in complex, multi-stakeholder environments with demonstrated success in strategic planning, operational management, and organizational development

• Complex Initiative Management: Proven ability to manage complex, high-priority cross-organizational initiatives, ideally involving government, policy, or public-private partnerships

• Strategic Communication: Strong written and verbal communication skills across all organizational levels, with ability to engage governors, funders, and diverse stakeholder groups

• Analytical Excellence: Exceptional analytical and strategic thinking capabilities, with experience translating complex challenges into actionable solutions

Preferred Experience

• Government/Policy Background: Experience in state government, working with governors’ offices, or managing multi-jurisdictional initiatives

• Workforce Development Knowledge: Familiarity with education, workforce development, economic development, or talent system modernization

• High-Pressure Environments: Demonstrated ability to work effectively in fast-paced, high-stakes environments while maintaining attention to detail and strategic perspective

• Mission-Driven Organizations: Experience in nonprofit, advocacy, or mission-driven organizational cultures

Core Competencies

• Collaborative Leadership: Ability to lead through influence and work effectively as a peer member of senior leadership team, building consensus without hierarchical authority

• Operational Excellence: Strong project management, process improvement, and systems thinking skills

• Political Acumen: Understanding of complex stakeholder dynamics and ability to navigate bipartisan political environments

• Integrity & Discretion: Unquestionable integrity, discretion, and commitment to representing America Achieves’ values and mission

• Adaptability: Comfort with ambiguity, rapid change, and the dynamic nature of scaling a national initiative

Success Indicators

Organizational Impact

• CEO and senior leadership team report increased effectiveness and ability to focus on highest-value activities

• Clear organizational systems and processes support seamless execution across multiple state partnerships

• Strategic initiatives and special projects are delivered on time, within budget, and with measurable impact

• Performance measurement systems provide actionable insights that drive continuous organizational improvement

Stakeholder Relationships

• Strong collaborative relationships with all senior leadership team members and external partners

• Board members and key stakeholders report high confidence in organizational execution capabilities

• State governors and partners view America Achieves as highly effective and reliable implementation partner

• Funders see clear evidence of operational excellence and strategic impact

Operational Excellence

• Multi-state initiatives are coordinated effectively without compromising quality or stakeholder relationships

• Organizational culture maintains mission-driven, collaborative character while scaling rapidly

• Resource allocation and budget management support strategic priorities and sustainable growth

• Risk management systems prevent operational challenges from becoming strategic problems of governors and state leaders, shared prosperity.