Fast Facts

The Executive Director will lead Per Scholas’ initiatives in the National Capital Region, focusing on fundraising, strategic growth, and enhancing workforce development opportunities for adult learners.

Responsibilities: Key responsibilities include leading fundraising efforts, managing relationships with donors and community partners, overseeing campus operations, and developing regional strategies for program impact.

Skills: Candidates should have senior leadership experience in fundraising, partnership development, and strong strategic planning skills with a focus on education or workforce development.

Qualifications: Preferred qualifications include over 10 years in senior leadership roles, proven success in managing fundraising portfolios, and knowledge of the NCR workforce and economic development.

Location: Based in Silver Spring, Maryland, USA.

Compensation: $170000 - $180000 / Annually

Position Title: Executive Director (ED), NCR

Reports to: Lead Regional Senior Vice President

Office: National Capital Region (DC/MD)

Salary: Range $170,000 - 180,000 USD

No relocation offered

Position Overview

The Executive Director (ED), National Capital Region (NCR), is a senior leadership role responsible for advancing Per Scholas’ mission across the National Capital Region which encompasses D.C., Maryland and Northern VA, overseeing two campuses (currently) that collectively serve 1,000+ adult learners annually. Based in the National Capital Region, the ED will focus primarily on fundraising, external engagement, and strategic growth to secure significant and sustainable funding to drive long-term impact.

As the primary external representative for the region, the ED will cultivate relationships with donors, employers, government agencies, and community partners to advance sustainability, program innovation, and job attainment opportunities. The ED will also oversee campus alignment and collaboration, working with Managing Campus Directors, National Teams, and the Lead Regional Sr. Vice President to ensure excellence in training delivery, workforce impact, and learner success

Key Responsibilities

Fundraising, External Relations & Strategic Growth (70%)

Fundraising Leadership

• Lead regional fundraising efforts to secure multi-million-dollar support annually, including philanthropic gifts, corporate sponsorships, major gifts, public funding, and grants.
• Partner with the National Development team on prospect strategy, proposal development, stewardship, and impact reporting.
• Develop a multi-year growth strategy to scale Per Scholas’ impact in the National Capital Region (covering D.C., MD, and Northern VA), supported by diversified and sustainable revenue streams.

External Engagement & Representation

• Serve as the primary spokesperson for Per Scholas throughout the National Capital Region, strengthening brand visibility and thought leadership through public speaking, media, panels, and conferences.
• Build and steward high-impact relationships with donors, employers, policymakers, and community leaders across both cities and the broader region.
• Expand and lead a regional board composed of business, civic, and philanthropic leaders to elevate influence and investment.
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Regional Strategy & Policy Alignment

• Lead the development of a National Capital Region strategy encompassing D.C., MD and Northern VA, and ensuring alignment with Per Scholas’ mission and compliance with local/state workforce policies.
• Establish partnerships with industry, workforce boards, and government entities to drive innovation and workforce equity.
• Monitor and support adherence to applicable regulations, accreditation standards, and workforce development best practices.

Internal Leadership & Campus Oversight (30%)

Team Leadership & Collaboration

• Supervise and support Managing Campus Directors who oversee day-to-day operations, faculty, and learner success initiatives.
• Build a high-performing, mission-aligned leadership team that fosters accountability, inclusion, and a culture of continuous improvement.
• Partner closely with national leaders (e.g., Talent Solutions, Training, Operations) to ensure local strategies align with organizational goals.

Performance & Accountability

• Define and monitor KPIs for campus success, including learner enrollment, graduation, job attainment, funder satisfaction, and employer partnerships.
• Use data and stakeholder feedback to drive strategic improvements and ensure program effectiveness.
• Ensure financial sustainability through effective budget management and alignment with revenue growth strategies.

Qualifications

• 10+ years of senior leadership experience in fundraising, external affairs, or strategy, preferably in nonprofit, education, or workforce development sectors.
• Proven success managing multi-million-dollar fundraising portfolios and cultivating cross-sector partnerships.
• Experience leading multi-site operations or regional initiatives with strong strategic planning and execution skills.
• Deep knowledge of the NCR / DMV workforce, economic development, and philanthropic ecosystems highly preferred.
• Strong communicator, relationship builder, and ambassador with a passion for advancing economic mobility and racial equity.
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Core Competencies

• Strategic Fundraising & Business Development
• Regional Strategy & External Partnerships
• Cross-Team Leadership & Collaboration
• Performance & Data-Driven Decision-Making
• Budget Oversight & Financial Stewardship
• Public Speaking & Stakeholder Engagement
• Commitment to Equity & Workforce Inclusion

Li# Onsite 

Compensation 

For this role specifically, we are targeting a salary range of $170,000 - $180,000, where the difference in salary is typically determined by several factors, including the geography in which the selected candidate resides, and alignment with qualifications and experience.