Pave HER Way, Founding Executive Director

ORGANIZATION 

Pave HER Way is a California nonprofit public benefit corporation established to uplift girls and women into positions of leadership and influence through funding, access, programming, and mentorship. Inspired by proven models of program design and impact measurement, Pave HER Way adapts best practices to its own bold vision of empowerment. We believe women thrive when given the full suite of structural and financial supports—tools that not only enable individual success, but fuel broader social and economic transformation. Our work spans four core program areas:

• Talent Identification & Barrier Removal: We proactively identify high-potential women and girls across diverse sectors—from STEM and finance to law and the arts—and remove logistical, financial, and cultural barriers to advancement.
• Practical Life Supports: These include childcare assistance, housing stipends, and skill-building memberships, ensuring women can focus on growth instead of survival.
• Mentoring & Community Building: Through structured mentor networks, peer events, and leadership retreats, we foster supportive ecosystems that advance long-term success.
• Scholarships & Internships: We provide targeted academic scholarships and assistance to launch women into influential roles.

Pave HER Way is guided by rigorous evaluation and community-informed feedback. An advisory council of educators, mental health professionals, and private-sector leaders helps shape our strategy, ensuring real-world impact. Our founding philanthropists, Jamie Mohn and Joe Blackstone, anchor our work, alongside a growing network of donors, volunteers, and institutional partners committed to removing both visible and invisible barriers for women and girls.

OPPORTUNITY 

Pave HER Way seeks a bold, entrepreneurial leader to serve as its Founding Executive Director. This is a rare opportunity to launch and shape a mission-driven organization from the ground up. Reporting to the Board of Directors, the Executive Director will lead all aspects of strategic planning, organizational development, and program design. They will be responsible for building the team, securing partnerships and funding, and designing impactful supports for girls and women across Los Angeles and beyond.

This role calls for a leader who thrives in early-stage environments, understands the unique barriers facing women and girls, and is passionate about building systems that drive long-term opportunity.

MINDSETS

The ideal candidate will demonstrate the following dispositions:

• You are a systems builder and strategist. You excel at translating a vision into operational strategy and structure. You can build from the ground up—designing scalable systems, recruiting early-stage teams, and putting mission into motion.
• You are action-oriented and solutions-focused. You don’t wait for all the answers before moving. You solve problems creatively and with urgency, learning and adjusting as you go.
• You are a connector. You build trust with a broad range of communities, sectors, and stakeholders. You understand the power of authentic partnerships and know how to engage and inspire across lines of difference.
• You are a passionate advocate for women. You bring a deep understanding of the systems that hold women and girls back.
• You are a strategic communicator. You are a compelling storyteller and brand builder who can shape public perception and raise awareness of the organization’s mission and impact.
• You are comfortable fundraising. While not an immediate priority, you are ready to develop and lead long-term fundraising strategies as the organization grows.
• You are a team builder. You know how to recruit, develop, and retain high-performing staff and create a culture where people thrive.

RESPONSIBILITIES

Key Responsibilities of the Founding Executive Director include:

Strategic Vision, Program Development & Organizational Leadership

• Refine and operationalize Pave HER Way’s founding mission, vision, and theory of change;
• Lead the design, piloting, and launch of Pave HER Way’s core programs across its four focus areas;
• Build and manage a lean, high-performing team grounded in learning and collaboration;
• Establish internal systems for evaluation, data tracking, continuous improvement;
• Lead HR functions in the early years, including hiring, onboarding, performance management, and retention practices until additional capacity is built.

External Relations, Communications & Strategic Partnerships

• Own and execute the organization’s outreach, marketing, and communications strategy;
• Cultivate and grow partnerships with local and national nonprofits, educational institutions, government agencies, employers, and community organizations;
• Serve as the external face of Pave HER Way in Los Angeles and beyond;
• Build trust-based relationships with communities most impacted by gender-based barriers.

Long-Term Fundraising & Sustainability

• Prepare the organization for future fundraising by identifying long-term revenue opportunities;
• Support the design of an initial fundraising roadmap to be activated in future phases;
• Steward relationships with founding donors and lay the groundwork for future philanthropic engagement.

Board Engagement & Governance

• Partner with the Board of Directors to refine strategic priorities and ensure sound governance;
• Lead board recruitment and development with a focus on diverse lived and professional experience;
• Educate and equip board members to fully understand and support the mission, ensuring they are engaged and effective stewards of the organization.

Financial Stewardship & Budget Management

• Partner with the Board’s Finance Committee to develop, manage, and monitor the annual budget, ensuring adherence to approved plans and maintaining strong financial controls and transparency;
• Provide regular financial reports to the Board, highlighting performance, risks, and opportunities, while educating members on key financial considerations;
• Build scalable systems for accounting, compliance, and reporting, recognizing that a CFO may not be hired for 2–3 years;
• Balance financial discipline with strategic investments to support long-term sustainability and organizational growth.

YEAR-1 PRIORITIES

Pave HER Way has identified the following Year-1 priorities for the Founding Executive Director:

• Program Development: Design and pilot initial program offerings aligned with Pave HER Way’s core areas: leadership development, access, mentoring, and scholarships.
• Partner and External Relations: Build a coalition of key partners including community-based organizations, employers, public officials, and future funders.
• Outreach: Lead branding, outreach, and marketing initiatives to increase visibility and credibility.
• Team and Culture: Build and lead a high-performing team, fostering a culture of collaboration, innovation, and accountability. Quickly and thoughtfully establish operational infrastructure, including financial systems, compliance, staffing, HR processes, and evaluation practices.
• Fundraising & Financial Stewardship: Develop a long-term fundraising strategy to be activated in subsequent years, while establishing strong financial systems and budget management practices in partnership with the Board’s Finance Committee.

QUALIFICATIONS 

In order to fulfill these responsibilities, the ideal Founding Executive Director candidate will have:

• Minimum of 10 years of senior leadership experience in nonprofit management, with a proven track record of success in strategic planning, program development, and organizational growth.
• Experience working in a startup or entrepreneurial environment with a track record of creating or significantly growing an organization, including the infrastructure and team to drive organizational success.
• Excellent communication and public speaking skills with a demonstrated ability to build and lead high-performing teams.
• Demonstrated experience in HR functions, including hiring, retention, staff development, and building strong organizational culture.
• Strong fundraising experience, including a track record of securing significant grants and donations. Experience with government grants is a major plus.
• Evidence of leading and building authentic relationships across the public and/or private sector with community partners, elected officials, funders, and other supporters, and an ability to engage with various individuals and audiences.
• Strong systems thinking and analytical abilities, with a focus on data-driven decision-making and continuous improvement.
• Proven experience managing nonprofit finances, including budgeting, reporting, and working with a Board finance committee; ability to build early-stage financial systems and ensure compliance before dedicated finance staff are hired.
• Advanced degree preferred, bachelor’s degree required.

COMPENSATION & BENEFITS

This is an exempt full-time position. The Founding Executive Director is expected to be based in the Greater Los Angeles region and work in a hybrid environment. Salary range is $260,000–$290,000 and includes a comprehensive benefits package, including healthcare, dental, vision, PTO, and retirement. The role will also require national travel, particularly to Washington, D.C., as part of building Pave HER Way into a national organization.

TO APPLY

Please submit a resume online at https://apply.workable.com/j/B13C159559/.

Pave HER Way is an equal opportunity employer and an organization that values diversity. Recruiting staff to create an inclusive organization is a priority, and we encourage applicants from all backgrounds. Candidates are evaluated solely on their qualifications to perform the work required.