Braven
About Braven
Braven is a national nonprofit that prepares promising college students to secure a strong first opportunity after college graduation through a career‑accelerating program. We work with higher education and employer partners to offer a life‑changing experience that begins with a semester‑long course for college students, followed by support that lasts through graduation. Together, our ambition is to help rebuild the middle class and revitalize the American Dream.
Job Title Senior Director, Chicago
Team Chicago Region
Location In‑Person in Chicago, IL
FLSA Classification Exempt
Employment Type Full‑time
Start Date ASAP
About The Role In order to achieve its ambition of serving 80,000‑100,000 Fellows over the next decade, Braven is hiring a Senior Director, Chicago, who is responsible for the programmatic success at the Higher Education Partner (HEP). They are responsible for ensuring that students who complete the Accelerator at the HEP secure a strong first job or enroll in graduate school within 6 months of graduation, and maintain a positive, strong presence at the HEP and in Chicago. As a member of the Chicago regional team & the leader of the Higher Education Partnership (a specific program site), you will lead a team of 1‑3 full‑time employees and a team of part‑time interns. The Senior Director of the HEP Partnership will also be responsible for working collaboratively with all of our central and regional teams, including our volunteer recruitment team and the team that manages the delivery of our course. Together, you and the Executive Director (ED) will build and maintain a strong, positive presence at the HEP site and in Chicago. This role is on the Chicago team and reports directly to the Executive Director of Chicago / Chief Regional Success & Innovation Officer.
What You'll Do Deliver Site Outcomes (40%)
Oversee and ensure strong local program implementation at the HEP, including the pre‑course, course, and post‑course experience, to meet programmatic goals
Drive and be responsible for the quality of regionally owned program elements, including (but not limited to) local programming, learning lab implementation, data collection for job campaign, etc
For the elements of the program that are delivered by the center, serve as a check for the HEP satisfaction and fit with local student needs and campus culture; provide feedback to the central teams in a spirit of partnership and continuous improvement
Assess data continuously and ensure students are on track to graduate and secure strong jobs.
Partner with Braven's Product team to develop supports and interventions to achieve student job outcomes
Participate in the organization‑wide efforts to drive program model strategy and decisions, recommending changes as needed to Braven's program model to achieve transformational and sustainable impact
Observe, provide feedback, and collaborate in weekly in‑person and virtual Braven Accelerator course, virtual and in‑person career events, student recruitment events, and other key moments throughout the year
Take initiative to deeply understand Braven's program, outcomes, and indicators of success by collaborating with other site teams, shadowing the Braven Accelerator, becoming a Leadership Coach, and using different strategies that build context, trust, and understanding
Effectively Manage Stakeholders (40%)
Develop and steward strong and formalized partnerships with the HEP leadership and faculty, employers, and community‑based organizations that result in additional resources for our students and improvements to our program model
Cultivate and manage relationships with key HEP stakeholders that foster collaboration and a healthy partnership
Lead and co‑lead meetings with the HEP stakeholders to build Braven into the career ecosystem and ensure that Braven is upholding partnership goals and agreements.
Act as the "mayor" of the local HEP, deeply understanding the ecosystem, owning local relationships (faculty, professor of record, etc.), and the campaign manager running local campaigns on campus
Build a collaborative team culture of individuals committed to achieving excellence, meeting site goals, and living out Braven's core values
Create Vision and Strategy for the HEP (10%)
Co‑create a strategy in partnership with the Executive Director for the HEP site and drive stakeholders towards the shared vision
Utilize the deep understanding of the local context and assets available to knit together an overarching strategy that brings the right programmatic and structural enrollment supports to the campus
Set goals and key performance indicators for the HEP that drive scale and strong first opportunity outcomes among Fellows and are aligned with Braven's local and national priorities that are set in partnership with central teams
Team Leadership and Management (10%)
Lead and manage the Program Staff
Provide organization‑wide leadership within the One Braven Group — internal staff advisory group
Cultural stewardship of Braven's Core Values
Other duties as assigned
Requirements Minimum Requirements
BS/BA
At least 7 years of leadership experience with a verifiable track record of successful outcomes
Preferred Qualifications
Prior work experience in higher education, 7‑10 years in non‑profit field
Technical Skills and Knowledge: Proficiency in Google Suite, Slack, Jira
Experience in an early‑stage environment launching an initiative, program, or team
Success in managing and developing people and teams while creating and fostering a strong sense of culture
Exceptional communication and relationship‑building skills and ability to facilitate strong partnerships across a range of stakeholders
High degree of flexibility and adaptability, ability to excel in a fast‑paced, team‑oriented environment and comfort with ambiguity
Proven ability to create, operationalize, and manage project plans, meeting milestones and deadlines
Data‑driven mindset with focus on using data and metrics to drive decisions and measure performance
Exemplification of Braven's core values
Experience that has informed your belief in Braven's mission and have prepared you to work with, or for, Braven's student Fellow population
Please know that no one ever meets 100% of the preferred qualifications. If much of this describes you, we encourage you to apply.
Work Demands
Ability to work in‑person in Chicago at least 3 days per week, Tuesday through Thursday, as well as on‑site at the HEP campus. As part of senior leadership, this role may, on occasion, require in‑person attendance more than 3 days per week.
Ability to travel 2‑5 days per quarter for staff training, retreats, and other events
Some non‑traditional hours include the Braven Accelerator course that may take place during the evenings and specific events that take place in the evenings or weekends, such as Homecoming, Student Orientation, Galas, etc
Physical requirements include carrying materials to in‑person events and driving to the HEP, and the surrounding area.
Additional Requirements
Authorized to work in the U.S.
Braven doesn't offer employment visa sponsorship.
Application & Interview Process While the interview process may vary slightly, the general process will be:
Phone screen with Talent Team member
Performance Task
Interview with Hiring Manager
Panel Interview with Key Partners
Reference Checks
Benefits Compensation and Benefits
Braven offers competitive base salaries based on the midpoint of the market among not‑for‑profit organizations of similar size, with opportunities for salary growth over time. We believe in compensating staff members fairly in relation to each other, their qualifications, and their impact on behalf of the organization, and take internal and external equity seriously. Given our commitment to equity, Braven does not negotiate salary offers; instead, each salary offer is determined carefully using external and internal benchmarking. New hires can expect a starting salary at the lower end of the range, as Braven compensates based on the requirements and scope of the role rather than years of experience or prior salary, allowing for growth with performance and maintaining internal equity. The salary ranges, by geographic market, for this role are set forth $122,500–$153,100 in Chicago. This is a full‑time, regular, exempt, and benefits eligible position where you will be working at 100% capacity. Braven also provides competitive, comprehensive benefits, recognition, and career development. While Braven reserves the right to change benefits at any time, current benefits include:
Unlimited vacation time in addition to org‑wide holidays and three team‑wide, week‑long shutdowns in Spring, Summer, and Winter (this is a minimum of 24 days per year)
Braven supports your path to parenthood and beyond with $25,000 in lifetime Carrot benefits for fertility, family‑building, and hormonal health
Match of your 401K contribution up to 5% of your base annual salary, starting your first full month
Coverage of 85% of health insurance premium for employee and dependents
12 weeks of paid parental leave
A one‑month paid sabbatical after 4 years on staff
Please note that Braven is firm in its compensation philosophy; therefore, only candidates who believe that our total rewards package matches what they are looking for in their next opportunity are encouraged to apply.
Location We gather in the office 3 days a week Tuesday through Thursday and work remotely 2 days a week Monday and Friday. Therefore, this role requires teammates to live within commuting distance of Chicago, IL. We believe in the magic, connection, and collaboration that happens when people work together face‑to‑face, and we believe in giving people flexibility to focus, balance personal priorities, and save themselves two commutes per week.
EEO Statement Braven is an equal opportunity employer and considers qualified applicants for employment without regard to race, color, creed, religion, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, age, disability, veteran status, or any other protected factor. We encourage talented individuals of all backgrounds to apply.
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Job Title Senior Director, Chicago
Team Chicago Region
Location In‑Person in Chicago, IL
FLSA Classification Exempt
Employment Type Full‑time
Start Date ASAP
About The Role In order to achieve its ambition of serving 80,000‑100,000 Fellows over the next decade, Braven is hiring a Senior Director, Chicago, who is responsible for the programmatic success at the Higher Education Partner (HEP). They are responsible for ensuring that students who complete the Accelerator at the HEP secure a strong first job or enroll in graduate school within 6 months of graduation, and maintain a positive, strong presence at the HEP and in Chicago. As a member of the Chicago regional team & the leader of the Higher Education Partnership (a specific program site), you will lead a team of 1‑3 full‑time employees and a team of part‑time interns. The Senior Director of the HEP Partnership will also be responsible for working collaboratively with all of our central and regional teams, including our volunteer recruitment team and the team that manages the delivery of our course. Together, you and the Executive Director (ED) will build and maintain a strong, positive presence at the HEP site and in Chicago. This role is on the Chicago team and reports directly to the Executive Director of Chicago / Chief Regional Success & Innovation Officer.
What You'll Do Deliver Site Outcomes (40%)
Oversee and ensure strong local program implementation at the HEP, including the pre‑course, course, and post‑course experience, to meet programmatic goals
Drive and be responsible for the quality of regionally owned program elements, including (but not limited to) local programming, learning lab implementation, data collection for job campaign, etc
For the elements of the program that are delivered by the center, serve as a check for the HEP satisfaction and fit with local student needs and campus culture; provide feedback to the central teams in a spirit of partnership and continuous improvement
Assess data continuously and ensure students are on track to graduate and secure strong jobs.
Partner with Braven's Product team to develop supports and interventions to achieve student job outcomes
Participate in the organization‑wide efforts to drive program model strategy and decisions, recommending changes as needed to Braven's program model to achieve transformational and sustainable impact
Observe, provide feedback, and collaborate in weekly in‑person and virtual Braven Accelerator course, virtual and in‑person career events, student recruitment events, and other key moments throughout the year
Take initiative to deeply understand Braven's program, outcomes, and indicators of success by collaborating with other site teams, shadowing the Braven Accelerator, becoming a Leadership Coach, and using different strategies that build context, trust, and understanding
Effectively Manage Stakeholders (40%)
Develop and steward strong and formalized partnerships with the HEP leadership and faculty, employers, and community‑based organizations that result in additional resources for our students and improvements to our program model
Cultivate and manage relationships with key HEP stakeholders that foster collaboration and a healthy partnership
Lead and co‑lead meetings with the HEP stakeholders to build Braven into the career ecosystem and ensure that Braven is upholding partnership goals and agreements.
Act as the "mayor" of the local HEP, deeply understanding the ecosystem, owning local relationships (faculty, professor of record, etc.), and the campaign manager running local campaigns on campus
Build a collaborative team culture of individuals committed to achieving excellence, meeting site goals, and living out Braven's core values
Create Vision and Strategy for the HEP (10%)
Co‑create a strategy in partnership with the Executive Director for the HEP site and drive stakeholders towards the shared vision
Utilize the deep understanding of the local context and assets available to knit together an overarching strategy that brings the right programmatic and structural enrollment supports to the campus
Set goals and key performance indicators for the HEP that drive scale and strong first opportunity outcomes among Fellows and are aligned with Braven's local and national priorities that are set in partnership with central teams
Team Leadership and Management (10%)
Lead and manage the Program Staff
Provide organization‑wide leadership within the One Braven Group — internal staff advisory group
Cultural stewardship of Braven's Core Values
Other duties as assigned
Requirements Minimum Requirements
BS/BA
At least 7 years of leadership experience with a verifiable track record of successful outcomes
Preferred Qualifications
Prior work experience in higher education, 7‑10 years in non‑profit field
Technical Skills and Knowledge: Proficiency in Google Suite, Slack, Jira
Experience in an early‑stage environment launching an initiative, program, or team
Success in managing and developing people and teams while creating and fostering a strong sense of culture
Exceptional communication and relationship‑building skills and ability to facilitate strong partnerships across a range of stakeholders
High degree of flexibility and adaptability, ability to excel in a fast‑paced, team‑oriented environment and comfort with ambiguity
Proven ability to create, operationalize, and manage project plans, meeting milestones and deadlines
Data‑driven mindset with focus on using data and metrics to drive decisions and measure performance
Exemplification of Braven's core values
Experience that has informed your belief in Braven's mission and have prepared you to work with, or for, Braven's student Fellow population
Please know that no one ever meets 100% of the preferred qualifications. If much of this describes you, we encourage you to apply.
Work Demands
Ability to work in‑person in Chicago at least 3 days per week, Tuesday through Thursday, as well as on‑site at the HEP campus. As part of senior leadership, this role may, on occasion, require in‑person attendance more than 3 days per week.
Ability to travel 2‑5 days per quarter for staff training, retreats, and other events
Some non‑traditional hours include the Braven Accelerator course that may take place during the evenings and specific events that take place in the evenings or weekends, such as Homecoming, Student Orientation, Galas, etc
Physical requirements include carrying materials to in‑person events and driving to the HEP, and the surrounding area.
Additional Requirements
Authorized to work in the U.S.
Braven doesn't offer employment visa sponsorship.
Application & Interview Process While the interview process may vary slightly, the general process will be:
Phone screen with Talent Team member
Performance Task
Interview with Hiring Manager
Panel Interview with Key Partners
Reference Checks
Benefits Compensation and Benefits
Braven offers competitive base salaries based on the midpoint of the market among not‑for‑profit organizations of similar size, with opportunities for salary growth over time. We believe in compensating staff members fairly in relation to each other, their qualifications, and their impact on behalf of the organization, and take internal and external equity seriously. Given our commitment to equity, Braven does not negotiate salary offers; instead, each salary offer is determined carefully using external and internal benchmarking. New hires can expect a starting salary at the lower end of the range, as Braven compensates based on the requirements and scope of the role rather than years of experience or prior salary, allowing for growth with performance and maintaining internal equity. The salary ranges, by geographic market, for this role are set forth $122,500–$153,100 in Chicago. This is a full‑time, regular, exempt, and benefits eligible position where you will be working at 100% capacity. Braven also provides competitive, comprehensive benefits, recognition, and career development. While Braven reserves the right to change benefits at any time, current benefits include:
Unlimited vacation time in addition to org‑wide holidays and three team‑wide, week‑long shutdowns in Spring, Summer, and Winter (this is a minimum of 24 days per year)
Braven supports your path to parenthood and beyond with $25,000 in lifetime Carrot benefits for fertility, family‑building, and hormonal health
Match of your 401K contribution up to 5% of your base annual salary, starting your first full month
Coverage of 85% of health insurance premium for employee and dependents
12 weeks of paid parental leave
A one‑month paid sabbatical after 4 years on staff
Please note that Braven is firm in its compensation philosophy; therefore, only candidates who believe that our total rewards package matches what they are looking for in their next opportunity are encouraged to apply.
Location We gather in the office 3 days a week Tuesday through Thursday and work remotely 2 days a week Monday and Friday. Therefore, this role requires teammates to live within commuting distance of Chicago, IL. We believe in the magic, connection, and collaboration that happens when people work together face‑to‑face, and we believe in giving people flexibility to focus, balance personal priorities, and save themselves two commutes per week.
EEO Statement Braven is an equal opportunity employer and considers qualified applicants for employment without regard to race, color, creed, religion, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, age, disability, veteran status, or any other protected factor. We encourage talented individuals of all backgrounds to apply.
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