Chief Of Acumen Academy

The Role:

Overview: By applying the lessons and insights gained from over 22 years of Acumen’s work with social entrepreneurs, the Chief of Acumen Academy will lead the global strategy and operations for Acumen Academy, as it enters its next stage of growth and increased impact.

They will build and lead a high-performing team that runs Academy programs and resources and supports Acumen Academy’s five regional and three affiliate teams, in order to achieve the goal of becoming the world’s school for social change – the place and community where builders gain knowledge, skills, and tools of business grounded in the practices of moral leadership; the place where entrepreneurial leaders come not only to hone their skills but to find each other, to learn from the best practitioners, to build a mutual support network for those who are working to put our humanity and the Earth at the center of our systems.

In 10-15 years, we want to see Academy participants leading major corporations, civil society organizations, and government ministries, supported by a diverse global community. We also want to be known as the go-to place for individuals working on solving tough problems to effectively create a sense of momentum in the regions where we operate.

This leader will get us there.

Reports to: Founder & CEO Acumen (Jacqueline Novogratz)

Location: The preference is for this leader to be in New York City, but leaders in proximity to existing Acumen locations in San Francisco and London will be considered. Acumen operates on a hybrid in-office basis.

Key Responsibilities:

• Clearly communicate the mission, programs, and community of Acumen Academy to builders and funders through a strong understanding of Acumen’s work, Academy’s programs and content, and our Foundry community.
• Lead Acumen Academy’s global Foundry community planning, including support for Foundry initiatives, tool and tech management, global event management, global learning support, global marketing, and media relations, etc.
• Achieve Academy member growth goals and increase awareness of Acumen Academy’s programs and online resources through partnerships, marketing, advertising, media/PR, etc.
• Shape, evolve, and lead a mission-driven, customer-focused, committed, engaged, high-performing globally disbursed Academy team that comprises our central, regional, and affiliate teams.
• Develop the world’s leading, free, online school for social builders, creating and curating content that will support builders with the tools, skills, and moral imagination to solve problems of poverty.
• Achieve Acumen Academy’s revenue and fundraising goals by developing a robust community of partners and donors and collaborating with Acumen leadership, including Acumen’s CEO, Chief Development and Partnerships Officer, and Academy’s Director of Development and Partnerships.
• Develop opportunities to engage Acumen’s online learning community members.
• Assess and understand the leadership and knowledge gaps of social builders, developing scalable research mechanisms, including regular input from Foundry members, Acumen leaders, Acumen investees, Acumen Board members, and Acumen advisors.
• Evaluate technology platforms and solutions and develop partnerships for online resources/curricula and community development tools.
• Guide and develop Acumen Academy’s 5-year global strategic planning, yearly operating planning, and yearly goal-setting process.
• Build mechanisms and programs to identify, link, and inspire the most committed, audacious, effective change-makers across the globe to work collectively to solve the world’s most challenging problems of poverty.
• Develop a global Academy 5-year growth plan (in the context of a sustainable business model), evaluating programs, channels, geographies, and languages to maximize impact.
• Improve data gathering, data management, and data analysis for Foundry members and online Academy learners.
• Ensure Acumen’s Leadership programs continue to operate at world-class standards of excellence and innovation, by creating new programs and adapting existing programs that reflect excellence and contemporary thought leadership in curriculum development, program facilitation, and cohort development.

The Person:

Strong candidates will demonstrate aligned leadership values (see Acumen’s Manifesto) and 20+ years of professional experience that includes:

• 10+ years managing organizations, functions, and/or large teams.
• Collaborative lifelong learner who rolls up their sleeves.
• Demonstrated effectiveness in, and passion for, leading high-performing, diverse teams that have a strong impact in creating positive social change.
• Experience leading a central operations team (e.g. marketing, customer service, finance, legal, recruiting).
• 5+ years building and leading an online platform for individuals (as opposed to businesses), ideally including an online learning and mentoring platform.
• 10+ years with P&L or funding/revenue and cost management responsibility.
• Exceptional oral and written communicator.
• A creative builder with a try, test, and refine mindset.
• Experience evaluating, selecting, and deploying systems, solutions, and technology,
• A demonstrated track record of working collaboratively across functions to drive multiple initiatives, manage competing priorities, and maintain momentum.
• Experience leading a global team, ideally including exposure to the geographies in which Acumen operates.

Compensation:

• Acumen offers competitive compensation, excellent benefits, and a supportive working environment.
• For this position, the base salary range is $250,000 to $275,000, plus an annual bonus. Internal equity considerations and the average salary of the peer range will be reviewed before making a final offer.

Vaccination Requirements:

• Proof of vaccination required.