Our Culture: Why Work With us?
Aspire Institute’s mission is to prepare low-income first-generation college youth, at scale, to be leaders in their communities.
Vision and Mission: Aspire Institute is dedicated to driving transformation in education and community development. We aim to create innovative, evidence-based solutions that address complex challenges in education and promote lifelong learning. There are over 200M English speaking first-generation, low-income (FGLI) youth globally who do not have access to resources and networks to attain their full potential. Our mission is to empower FGLI to achieve their fullest potential and impact their lives and communities through leadership development skills offered by world-class faculty, comprehensive research, thoughtful advocacy, and transformative educational programs.
Values and Philosophy: At Aspire Institute, our core values are rooted in collaboration, innovation, and inclusivity. We believe that true change comes from collective effort, and we strive to bring together diverse voices and perspectives to inform our work. Our commitment to innovation drives us to continuously seek out and apply the latest research and best practices in Aspire’s programs. Inclusivity is at the heart of our operations; we endeavor to create opportunities that are accessible to all underserved and marginalized communities.
Innovation and Adaptability: Innovation is at the core of all we do. We are constantly seeking new ways to provide leadership skills and job readiness training to help bridge the opportunity gap. This involves not only adapting to changes in the educational landscape but also leading the charge in creating new methodologies and practices. Our team is encouraged to think outside the box and take calculated risks to drive meaningful change.
The Role:
Aspire Institute is excited to announce this newly created role based on our growth. The Director of Global Partnerships will lead our global partnerships and manage the strategic and operational aspects of our local Foundries. We are looking for a dynamic, hands-on, innovative and visionary Director who would enjoy spearheading building a network of partnerships globally who would support Aspire graduates on their leadership journey to attain economic mobility in-country. This is a unique opportunity to have a seat at the table and work closely with the CEO and the Programs, Outreach, and Communication teams.
Who We Are:
Co-founded by Harvard Business School faculty, Aspire aims to nurture leaders who will drive significant social impact in their communities. Only a fraction of all college youth has access to the best education that can result in economic mobility. Aspire’s systemic model relies on local partners globally to help identify first generation low-income youth who would otherwise be left behind. Additionally, partners provide local support, mentoring, and internship opportunities to equip our students to excel and lead in diverse fields. Learn more about Aspire Institute at www.aspireleaders.org.
What’s in it For You?
Aspire Institute is excited to announce a newly created role based on our growth — a director to lead our global partnerships and manage the strategic and operational aspects of our local Foundries. We are looking for a dynamic, hands-on, innovative and visionary Director who would enjoy spearheading building a network of partnerships globally that would support Aspire graduates on their leadership journey to attain economic mobility in-country. This is a unique opportunity to have a seat at the table and work closely with the CEO and the Programs, Outreach, and Communication teams.
In this highly visible role, you will be at the forefront of setting, guiding, and implementing the strategic direction to enhance both current and new partnerships, driving Aspire’s mission of global outreach and continuous learning for economic mobility. You will engage directly with in-country partners and Foundries who will assist with mentorship opportunities, internships, job placements, and financial awards for our program participants and graduates.
This exciting role offers the chance to shape the future of Aspire’s partnerships, making a tangible impact on our global outreach and the economic futures of our participants.
Daily, Weekly, and Monthly Activities:
- Daily: Engage with potential and current partners, strategize with internal teams, and manage partnership operations.
- Weekly: Review and report on partnership progress, plan outreach activities, and collaborate on program enhancements that benefit Aspire participants leadership development and economic mobility.
- Monthly: Set strategic goals, assess partnership outcomes, and identify new opportunities for growth and improvement of Aspire’s global partnerships.
Work Environment:
This position is hybrid with in-person at the Cambridge, MA office on Tuesdays-Thursdays. Willingness to work with different time zones, and some evenings and weekends.
Key Responsibilities:
Strategy/Leadership
- Develop and implement local and international partnerships and build upon these communities through collaborations to support the organization’s strategic direction, including building on Aspire’s current partnerships and developing new collaborations.
- Work closely with the Programs team to ensure seamless integration of partnership initiatives with Aspire’s programs.
- Collaborate with the Communications and Outreach team to align partnership strategies with Aspire’s overall mission and goals.
- Collaborate on the creation and dissemination of digital content that promotes programs and partnership activities, while continually monitoring and evaluating outcomes.
Partnerships
- Identification of Partners: Identify local universities, non-profits, and private and public institutions in key countries and determine mutually beneficial areas of collaboration.
- Examples of Partnerships:
- Referral Programs: Partner organizations serving low-income college youth can refer their students to participate in the free Aspire Leaders Program.
- Post-Program Support: After completing the Aspire Leaders Program, partner organizations can provide Aspire graduates with mentorship opportunities, internships, job placements, and financial awards to support their leadership development.
- Examples of Partnerships:
- Partnership Management: Oversee the operational management of partnerships and local Foundries that are physical hubs of Aspire in key countries such as Brazil, India, Pakistan and a few new countries in the coming years.
- Manage and nurture relationships with current local and international partners, ensuring they work with the Aspire team to connect graduates with local and international partners to help secure mentorships, internships, and financial awards for academic and professional development.
- Contribute to the development and management of budgets related to partnership initiatives, ensuring financial sustainability and alignment with organizational goals.
- Build the team as needed as organizational needs grow.
Technology Skills and Proficiency
- Familiarity with generative AI and ML applications and how they can be leveraged for educational purposes, student engagement, and data analysis.
- Experience using AI-powered tools and platforms for data analysis, project management, and communication.
- Knowledge of software solutions that support large-scale collaborations and data-driven decision-making.
Technology Skills and Proficiency
- Familiarity with generative AI and ML applications and how they can be leveraged for educational purposes, student engagement, and data analysis.
- Experience using AI-powered tools and platforms for data analysis, project management, and communication.
- Knowledge of software solutions that support large-scale collaborations and data-drive decision-making.
What we Need From You:
- Bachelor’s degree in a relevant field.
- Must have a minimum of 5+ years of experience in partnership development and management with international exposure.
- Proven ability to think strategically and translate strategic goals into actionable plans to drive organizational goals.
- Demonstrated leadership in managing teams and collaborating across diverse groups.
- Excellent leadership, communication, and interpersonal skills.
- Strategic thinker with strong problem-solving abilities.
- Passion for social impact and serving underrepresented communities.
- Authorization to work in the US.
- Ability to travel domestically and internationally for up to 6 weeks/year to establish partnerships.
Compensation & Benefits
Salary based on experience. Aspire offers a competitive salary; paid vacation and holidays including the week between Christmas and New Year’s Day, illness and personal time off; health insurance; life and ADD insurance and a 403b retirement investment plan.
Reporting:
The Director of Global Partnerships reports to the CEO.
How to Apply:
Please submit to your resume, cover letter, and references to Kathy Orcutt at kathy@psandr.com
Aspire Institute is an equal opportunity employer that does not discriminate against applicants or employees and ensures equal employment opportunity for all persons regardless of their race, creed, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, pregnancy, national origin, age, marital status, disability, citizenship, military or veterans’ status, or any other classifications protected by applicable federal, state or local laws. Aspire Institute’s equal opportunity policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including but not limited to recruiting, hiring, training, promotion, job benefits, and pay.
