Executive Director

Description

POSITION SUMMARY 

The Executive Director serves as the executive leader of Tulsa Higher Education Consortium and is responsible for advancing the organization's mission through visionary leadership, partnership development, strategic planning, resource development, financial stewardship, organizational management, and board governance. 

The Executive Director leads a talented team while serving as the region's primary convener around postsecondary attainment, student success, workforce alignment, and systems change in higher education. 

Reports to: The Chair of the Board of Directors and Tulsa Community Foundation

Status: Full-time, based in Tulsa, Oklahoma. The role is in-person and community-facing, with regular work across member campuses and partner sites. 

CORE RESPONSIBILITIES 

Strategic Leadership 

• Lead the wind down of the 2024-2027 Strategic Plan, plan and execute related initiatives, and shape the organization's next strategic plan in partnership with the Board. 
• Establish measurable outcomes, milestones, and reporting cadences that keep the organization accountable and data informed. 
• Identify emerging opportunities at the intersection of higher education, workforce, housing, and economic development, and translate them into cross-sector initiatives. 
• Drive systems change by aligning institutional practices, policy, and resources around student success, seamless transfer pathways, and degree attainment. 

External Leadership and Partnerships 

• Serve as THE Consortium's chief external representative and public voice, including at state, regional, and national conferences and in statewide policy conversations on transfer and degree attainment. 
• Cultivate trusted relationships and communicate regularly and effectively with university and college presidents, foundation leaders, elected officials, city and state agency leaders, chamber and business executives, and national partners. 
• Serve as a respected, neutral convener across higher education, philanthropy, government, and business, representing the interests of all member institutions equitably. 
• Navigate an evolving state policy and legislative environment with sound political judgment, maintaining productive relationships across the political spectrum. 
• Lead major convenings, Communities of Practice, and Leadership Council engagement. 
• Build THE Consortium's visibility and influence as a national model for cross-sector higher education collaboration. 

Resource Development 

• Design and lead a diversified revenue strategy spanning federal grants, national and regional philanthropy, corporate partnerships, government contracts, and membership dues. 
• Lead the organization's fundraising efforts, cultivating and stewarding relationships with major funders, supported by contracted grant prospecting and writing services. 
• Oversee grant compliance, implementation, and reporting across a complex portfolio that includes federal awards. 
• Keep member dues affordable by securing outside investment that strengthens programs while protecting institutional budgets. 

Organizational Leadership 

• Lead, develop, and retain a high-performing professional team through clear supervision, coaching, and professional growth opportunities, giving staff autonomy to lead their programs. 
• Build organizational culture rooted in collaboration, accountability, innovation, continuous improvement, and student-centered purpose. 
• Maintain effective performance management, succession planning, and staffing structures aligned to strategic priorities. 
• Ensure the organization has the operational systems, technology, and physical resources to work efficiently and deliver high-impact programs. 

Financial Stewardship 

• Lead annual budgeting, forecasting, and financial planning as an independent nonprofit. 
• Maintain disciplined financial oversight, including budget-to-actual reporting and cash flow monitoring, and maintain a minimum of three months of operating reserves. 
• Ensure federal grant compliance, accurate drawdowns, internal controls, and audit readiness. 
• Provide the Board and Finance Committee with clear, timely financial reporting and dashboards. 

Board Partnership 

• Serve as strategic advisor and thought partner to the Board of Directors and its committees. 
• Support strong governance through agenda development, strategic framing of board discussions, and timely, transparent reporting. 
• Lead board member recruitment, onboarding, and engagement in partnership with the Board Chair. 
• Guide the Board through the organization's early years as an independent 501(c)(3), including policy development and governance maturation. 
• Maintain organizational records and ensure adherence to bylaws and board-adopted policies. 

FIRST-YEAR PRIORITIES 

During the first year, the Executive Director will: 

• Complete and stabilize the 501(c)(3) transition, ensuring independent legal, financial, HR, and governance operations are fully functioning. 
• Build individual, trusted relationships with all nine member presidents, affiliate leaders, and board members. 
• Establish credibility and confidence with the organization's philanthropic and federal funders. 
• Sustain momentum on federal grant programs, including HUD youth housing work and Tech Hubs workforce initiatives, with uninterrupted compliance and reporting. 
• Lead continued implementation of the 2024-2027 Strategic Plan and its quarterly accountability dashboard. 
• Support and strengthen the Communities of Practice and the organization's convening calendar. 
• Develop 2027 strategic priorities in partnership with the Board, positioning the organization for its next strategic plan. 
• Ensure long-term organizational sustainability through revenue development and team leadership. 

QUALIFICATIONS 

Education and Experience 

• Master's degree preferred; doctorate valued. Equivalent senior executive leadership experience will be considered. 
• Significant senior leadership experience in higher education, nonprofit management, collective impact, philanthropy, government, or a related cross-sector field. 
• Working knowledge of higher education, including institutional governance and the distinct roles of academic and student affairs, and experience working across multiple institutions or systems. 
• Demonstrated success leading an organization or major initiative through growth, transition, or transformation. 
• Demonstrated success securing and managing grants and foundation partnerships; federal grant experience strongly preferred. 
• Experience managing organizational budgets, financial reporting, and grant compliance. 
• Track record of building coalitions and aligning diverse stakeholders around shared goals. 
• Experience working with or reporting to a governing board. 
• Experience leading or operating within a 501(c)(3), including oversight of finance, HR, benefits, and compliance functions, strongly preferred. 
• Knowledge of Tulsa's higher education, civic, and philanthropic landscape is strongly preferred; familiarity with Oklahoma's higher education and state policy environment is valued. 

Leadership Competencies 

The Board seeks a leader who demonstrates: 

• Visionary and adaptive leadership, with the ability to see around corners and lead through change. 
• Systems thinking and the ability to connect higher education, workforce, housing, and economic mobility into a coherent strategy. 
• Collaborative leadership and consensus building across institutions with distinct missions and interests, including the ability to keep a coalition together when outside pressures encourage institutions to act independently. 
• Comfort leading through influence rather than authority, serving as a neutral facilitator for all member institutions. 
• A strengths-based orientation that builds on the region's existing higher education assets and partnerships. 
• Political acumen and sound judgment in navigating public, philanthropic, and institutional relationships. 
• Executive presence and exceptional communication skills, with the credibility to represent the region at the national level. 
• High emotional intelligence, humility, and integrity, with a people-first style that makes staff feel valued. 
• A genuine commitment to students and to expanding educational and economic opportunity in the Tulsa region.