The posting
Stand Together is a philanthropic community that helps America’s boldest changemakers tackle the root causes of our country’s biggest problems, from education to the economy, broken communities, and toxic division, among dozens of other pressing issues. We provide our partners with access to resources including funding, thought leadership, a network of peers, and a playbook for applying proven principles to transform lives and society.
As the Priority Initiative Leader for our Strong & Safe Communities portfolio, you will serve as the key strategic leader accountable for developing and refining the strategy and theory of change for how Stand Together and its network of partners shift the national paradigm on Strong and Safe Communities—from one that treats people as problems to be managed, to one that empowers citizens and communities as problem solvers.
This role sits at the intersection of movement strategy, coalition leadership, and organizational influence. You will bring together a complex and diverse set of stakeholders—including Stand Together organizations, philanthropic partners, nonprofits, donor partners, policy advocates, and community leaders—around an ambitious, comprehensive strategy designed to move the needle on a national scale. You will integrate the full breadth of Stand Together’s capabilities, from activations and storytelling to fundraising and partner development, to ensure our efforts are coordinated, compounding, and driving paradigm-level change.
The ideal candidate brings experience from a sizable and complex philanthropic or corporate environment and has a track record of shaping and executing strategies that cross organizational boundaries and produce measurable, durable impact. Done well, this role will accelerate a fundamental shift in how Americans think about, talk about, and tackle the challenges facing their communities.
How You Will Contribute
- Set and steward the overarching strategy and theory of change for the Strong & Safe Communities portfolio, ensuring that clear and well-reasoned points of view actively inform the strategy on how paradigm-level change is achieved
- Partner with internal teams to develop and lead audience identification and engagement strategies—defining who the right audiences are, how to reach them, and how to activate them toward meaningful action and sustained engagement
- Convene and align a diverse network of stakeholders—philanthropic partners, nonprofits, advocates, and community leaders—around a shared, ambitious agenda for community empowerment and safety
- Serve as an external face of Stand Together’s work, translating complex strategies into compelling narratives for partners, funders, and the broader field
- Integrate Stand Together’s full range of capabilities—including activations, marketing and communications, and fundraising—into a cohesive portfolio strategy that maximizes collective impact
- Partner with internal investment specialists to structure complex, nine-figure-and-above opportunities with philanthropic partners, bringing sound judgment to deal design without owning execution
- Establish and steward the structures that keep knowledge moving across PI, capability, and business teams, clarifying ownership and closing feedback loops so insight and decisions travel as fast as the opportunities do
- Assess progress across the portfolio, identify high-level trade-offs, and continuously optimize for whole-system outcomes rather than individual workstream metrics
- Partner with capability leaders, Talent, and direct supervisors to build the bench that carries the strategy forward, developing sub-issue leaders and emerging talent through intentional delegation and stretch assignments so execution does not depend on any single person
- Lead through Principle Based Management® day to day: giving and receiving direct challenge, running consistent feedback loops, and holding partners and teams accountable through influence rather than formal authority
What You Will Bring
- Enthusiasm to contribute to Stand Together's vision and principled approach to solving problems, and a commitment to stewarding our culture, which champions values including transformation and innovation, entrepreneurialism, humility, and respect.
- Significant leadership experience within a large, complex philanthropic organization, foundation, or corporate social impact function—with a track record of driving strategy at national scale
- Demonstrated ability to develop and execute audience identification and engagement strategies
- Demonstrated ability to convene and align diverse, high-profile stakeholders—including funders, nonprofit leaders, and policy advocates—around a shared, ambitious agenda
- Experience developing and executing complex theories of change across multiple sub-issues or portfolios simultaneously
- Proven track record of leading through influence in a matrixed or decentralized environment, without relying on direct authority
- Strong external presence and communication skills, with the ability to represent an organization compellingly to partners, funders, and the public
- Genuine belief in bottom-up, community-driven solutions to social challenges and enthusiasm for Stand Together’s principled, empowerment-based approach
Standout Candidates Will Bring
- Demonstrated strength in management and strategic thinking, with the ability to build teams, set clear goals, rally others around a shared vision, and drive measurable progress as a leader of leaders
- Existing subject matter expertise in one or more of the specific issues this portfolio works on, such as criminal justice reform, poverty alleviation, or community empowerment, is an added plus
What We Offer
- Competitive benefits: Enjoy a 6% 401(k) match with immediate vesting, flexible time off, comprehensive health and dental plans, plus wellness and mental health support through Peloton and Talkspace.
- A meaningful career: Join a passionate community of over 1,300 employees dedicated to improving lives and driving innovative solutions to complex social challenges.
- Commitment to growth: Thrive in a non-hierarchical environment that empowers employees to discover, develop, and apply their unique talents.
- Competitive compensation: Our approach rewards the value you create through competitive salaries and bonus opportunities, allowing you to share in the success you help drive.
Our Values: Working for an organization within the Stand Together philanthropic community is different from many other places. The culture is deeply rooted in Principle Based Management® (PBM®), a framework guided by the principles that drive human progress, such as dignity, openness, and bottom-up empowerment. PBM® empowers employees to be entrepreneurial, to innovate, and to continually drive transformation.
We believe diversity fuels creativity, broadens knowledge, and helps drive success. That is why we’re proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer and strive to treat all employees and applicants with honesty, dignity, and respect.
