LGW Senior Director of Programs
Job Description
Position Summary
Leadership Greater Washington (LGW), the DC area’s premier leadership incubator, seeks a Senior Director of Programs to oversee the strategic direction and implementation of the organization’s range of leadership programs: the Signature Program, for DC area executives, the Rising Leaders Program, for mid-career professionals, and the Youth Leadership Program, for high school juniors and seniors. The Senior Director of Programs also provides direction and support for a myriad of other event offerings that LGW offers to its membership (graduates of the Signature Program).
The main focus for the Senior Director of Programs will be to develop and support its Signature Program, an experiential leadership development program that exposes DC area’s most accomplished executives to the region’s civic issues through education, knowledge-sharing, and peer connections. The Signature Program has been intentionally designed to teach the participants about the region while creating space for peer-to-peer exchanges that forge common ground, build meaningful relationships, and exchange trusted counsel. For many, the Signature Program is the starting point for life-long friendships and productive professional connections.
The Senior Director of Programs will partner with the Signature Program facilitator, a contract role, and the Events and Programs Manager, a full-time staff member, on the program’s design and delivery. The Senior Director of Programs will add subject matter expertise and connections with regional leaders, to advance program participants’ dialogue about issues throughout the area. They will also provide additional strategy and administrative support to class impact projects, a new opportunity for each class to identify an issue area that needs their focus and make a positive impact on that issue.
The Senior Director of Programs reports to the President & CEO and supervises the Events and Programs Manager.
The successful candidate will have a passion for making a difference in the Greater Washington region, excellent interpersonal skills, and communicates LGW’s mission with clarity. They will bring expert organizational, administrative, and partnership-building skills to advance the goals of the Signature Program. They will be an eager ambassador for the organization, forging new relationships with subject matter experts to build program participants’ knowledge and connection to the region. They will be eager to support strong program facilitation that deepens participants’ affiliation with LGW and commitment to the region. Additionally, they will provide support to the Event and Program Manager’s management of Rising Leaders, Youth Leadership Greater Washington, and events and programming for LGW’s membership.
About Leadership Greater Washington
Founded in 1986, LGW is a nonprofit organization dedicated to bringing leaders together to make positive community impact in the DC region. LGW’s Signature Program has served nearly 2,000 local leaders since its inception.
The Signature Program takes place over a 10-month period from September to June. Monthly program days include community site visits and meetings with regional business, government, and nonprofit leaders on a wide range of topics that are important to the success of the region, including education, human needs, public safety, housing, community health, the arts, workforce development, and environmental sustainability. The themes of regionalism and diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging are throughlines for each session.
Beginning in 2014, LGW’s Rising Leaders Program provides early-career or management professionals the tools they need to succeed as leaders. Through engaging activities and discussion, the five-month program teaches skills essential to professional development and leadership. Participants gain insight and experience they can apply in any professional environment.
Founded in 1991, Youth Leadership Greater Washington (YLGW) is a five-month interactive youth leadership development and community education program. This powerful program serves high school sophomores and juniors in the Greater Washington region. YLGW provides leadership training to these youth leaders while raising their voices around critical issues in the region.
Position Responsibilities
1. Organize Signature Program Days and work with contracted Signature Program Facilitator and Events and Programs Manager to design and deliver each Program Day session. The Senior Director of Programs helps to identify speakers and locations to ensure that the Signature Program advances program participants knowledge of regional issues. They will be involved with organizing support materials and optional learning opportunities for class participants.
2. With the Signature Program Facilitator and Events and Programs Manager, the Senior Director of Programs will enhance the Signature Program through:
- Further developing and refining the Signature Program syllabi and learning objectives
- Identifying appropriate readings, sessions, speakers, and experiential learning opportunities
- Identifying new speakers and topics to be included in various programs
- Working with existing speakers to refine presentations and sessions to meet participants’ needs.
3. Review the current Mindtrust program and create a structure to maximize its impact both during the Signature Program and after.
4. Develop and manage the Class Impact Project involving a case competition of regional issues to be solved with each current class and ongoing support of one project per year.
5. Work with Events and Programs Manager before and during each program and event, to organize day-of planning, including preparing materials; notifying and assisting speakers; securing all audio-visual needs and related program items; advancing to off-site program locations to ensure that all needs and materials are set; maintaining and sharing relevant information with off-site locations; arranging for conference rooms, food and beverage, and local transportation; making arrangements for site-visits to locations; and related responsibilities
6. Be the main point of contact for ongoing class communications, coordination, and relationships with class participants.
7. With CEO and Events and Programs Manager, support the development of program-related budgets, as needed. With Director of Membership and Development, support program sponsor requests and relationships.
8. Support the Events and Programs Manager in their management of Rising Leaders, Youth Leadership Greater Washington, and events and programs for LGW’s membership. Provide guidance and idea generation for format and speakers for program days.
Ideal Qualifications
This position is a challenging and rewarding opportunity that benefits from a diverse set of skills and experiences. While we understand that no single candidate can possess every qualification listed below, the following are priority areas for this position:
- Passion for LGW’s mission with an ability to inspire and persuade people to support it.
- Professional experience in program and/or project management; record of taking initiatives to the next level.
- Team management experience
- Strong network within the Greater Washington region; solid understanding of regional issues in the Washington, DC area.
- Highly organized and able to multitask, prioritize and make efficient decisions.
- Excellent interpersonal communication skills and good sense of humor. Appreciates the value of working in a small team environment.
- Consensus-oriented and highly collaborative; builds strong and enduring working relationships.
- Develop best practice strategies based on research
- Proficient in office-related technology software.
- Self-motivated, driven, and ability to operate with significant autonomy.
- Positive and outgoing personality.
- Comfortable engaging and soliciting subject matter experts in a wide variety of settings.
Working Arrangement & Compensation
Compensation for this role has been budgeted in the $115,000-$125,000 range. LGW offers employees health, dental insurance, short- and long-term disability and life insurances, paid vacation, sick leave, all federal holidays, expense reimbursement, and a matched contribution retirement plan.
LGW’s administrative headquarters is in downtown DC. The LGW staff continue to work remotely primarily, although the full team is on-site during Program Days and events and travels throughout the region as needed.
LGW has a small full-time team of six and works closely with a 31-person Board of Directors. The budget is approximately $1.7million, of which 47% is raised through program revenue.
Application Process
Send your resume with a cover letter describing your interest and qualifications for this position to careers@lgwdc.org. For best consideration, please apply by May 26, 2023. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis, and due to the pace of the search we encourage early submissions.
Equal Employment Opportunity
LGW bases employment decisions on each person’s performance, qualifications, and abilities. It does not discriminate in employment opportunities or practices on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, national origin, age, disability, or characteristics protected by District of Columbia and federal law. All employment offers are contingent upon satisfactory proof of eligibility to work in the United States.