The Partnership
Ballmer Group Philanthropy and TechSoup have partnered to create a “Data and Technology Hub” (“the Hub”) to serve cradle-to-career place-based partnerships. The Hub, hosted by TechSoup, is designed to equip local organizations and their practitioners with the tools, technologies, and community of practice necessary to make data-driven decisions, shape policy, and allocate resources strategically. The vision is for the Hub to serve as a central resource for best practices, technical support, and talent development, helping organizations in the PBP field to improve outcomes for children and families across the US.
The role of the Hub will be as follows:
- Serve as field-wide CTO for PBPs, following trends, sharing expertise and guidance, and identifying solutions for the field.
- Act as a central connector and convenor of people and best practices, collecting, curating, and disseminating best practices, sharing knowledge, and leading events.
- Promote and support talent and technology assistance to the field, providing trainings and mentorship for a skilled workforce.
- Earn and retain trust from the field.
The Organizations
Ballmer Group Philanthropy
Co-Founded in 2015 by Connie and Steve Ballmer, Ballmer Group Philanthropy is committed to improving economic mobility for children and families in the United States, funding leaders and organizations that have demonstrated the ability to reshape opportunity and reduce systemic inequities. Ballmer Group is both a national and regional funder, with offices and focused portfolios in southeast Michigan, Washington state, and Los Angeles County. Learn more at www.ballmergroup.org.
In the US, where you live has a significant impact on your opportunities for upward economic mobility and overall life outcomes. We also believe that improving economic mobility outcomes for populations at scale will take more than high quality programs. Spurred by these beliefs, Ballmer Group has made significant investments in what have become known as “place-based partnerships” (“PBPs”). At minimum, PBPs are characterized by:
- Partners from government, non-profits, philanthropy, business, and the civic sectors working together consistently over the long-term in a specific geography
- These partners agree on a core set of measurable outcomes and set goals for improvement overall and by race to address pervasive disparities
- A local organization called an “intermediary” or “backbone” is endorsed or established to uniquely support partners to work collectively on shared goals and avoid acting in silos
- Partners consistently use local data to identify what services, programs, and policies actually work and to continuously improve, engaging those most impacted to help interpret the data and adapt interventions
- Philanthropy and public agencies actively work to invest new and existing dollars to sustain and scale what works.
To date, there are an estimated 140 PBPs across the country that are supported by one of three national networks, all with a focus on improving cradle-to-career outcomes. And there are an additional 160 PBPs that focus on a unique part of the cradle to career continuum or on outcomes in adjacent sectors like housing and public safety. And these numbers continue to grow annually as more communities embrace the need to work across sectors in intentional ways to move economic mobility outcomes at scale.
TechSoup
Social good needs great technology. At TechSoup, we provide the connections, expertise, and resources to unlock the power of tech for social good. If you work at a nonprofit, library, or foundation in the U.S., your organization is potentially eligible for donated or discounted software, hardware, and services through TechSoup. NGOs, social benefit organizations, and charities worldwide can also get offers through our NGO Tech Marketplace. TechSoup's catalog includes more than 375 products from over 100 companies like Microsoft, Adobe, Cisco, and Intuit. This work is being supported by Ballmer Group. Having committed nearly $1 billion toward PBP related work over the last decade, Ballmer Group sees this work as critical toward achieving their mission of improving economic mobility for children and families in the United States, funding leaders and organizations that have demonstrated the ability to reshape opportunity and reduce systemic inequities. Learn more at www.techsoup.org.
The Opportunity
TechSoup and Ballmer Group seek a solution-focused, pragmatic, mission-driven, and action- oriented Executive Director (ED) to lead the planning, development, and implementation of the
Data and Technology Hub. This will include refining the operating model and implementation plan, as well as overseeing the budget which includes staffing and hiring decisions as well as fiduciary responsibilities.
In collaboration with a deeply committed group of local and national stakeholders, the ED will also be responsible for shaping the data and technology landscape for PBPs, advancing continuous improvement, and fostering impactful collaborations across sectors.
This role is designed for a proactive, servant-leader, capable of building trust with diverse constituencies and driving large-scale change through thoughtful partnerships and innovative solutions. This individual must have a strong and demonstrated commitment to Racial Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion both in how they operate internally as an organizational leader and how they seek to contribute to the advancement of the PBP field.
The ED will report to TechSoup’s COO, while remaining deeply engaged with Ballmer Group, the Hub Advisory Group, and the broader field of practice.
Keys Priorities and Responsibilities
As the Executive Director of the National Data & Technology Hub, the candidate will be responsible for the following functions and activities:
1. Evangelist. Act as the principal evangelist for the innovative and exemplary use of data and technology in PBPs, inspiring and influencing a wide range of stakeholders. Support and disseminate the development of a unified vision for data and technology use within PBPs, ensuring it aligns with broader goals and objectives.
2. Leadership. Oversee the overall direction and strategic vision of the Hub, ensuring it aligns with the evolving needs of PBPs. Lead and engage the Hub’s Advisory Group and stakeholders, fostering a collaborative environment and ensuring strategic alignment. Ensure all organizational activities and initiatives align with the organization's core values and objectives. Provide leadership, guidance, and supervision to the organization's staff, fostering a culture of excellence and innovation.
3. Partnership. Build and maintain strong partnerships, securing ongoing non-financial support for the Hub’s mission from diverse stakeholders. Represent the Hub in external forums, collaborations, and partnerships to enhance its visibility and influence.
Skills and Experience
To succeed in this role, the ideal candidate will possess the following attributes and qualifications:
Required Experience and Skills:
- A minimum of 10 to 15 years directly managing complex organizations and/or cross- functional programs and partnerships in a technical or tech-adjacent (i.e., product) role/capacity.
- Strong data and technology experience, including leadership and individual contributor roles.
- Proven ability to manage organizational finances and staff, with expertise in handling complex organizational structures and successfully navigating work towards defined outcomes.
- Proven track record of effectively hiring, training, and building high-quality teams.
- Intellectually curious self-starter with the initiative and drive to exceed expectations of the role.
- Eager to learn, share, and collaborate with others to advance national initiatives.
- Able to manage internal and external relationships working with diverse constituencies and build strong working relationships with deep commitment to contributing to the broader health and cultivation of the invested community.
- Capable of defining and holding a clear organizational direction and ability to incorporate multiple, sometimes disparate, perspectives from stakeholders across the country.
- High emotional intelligence with sound judgement; capable of handling confidential and sensitive information and of discerning when to escalate issues/concerns.
- Exceptional written, verbal, and presentation skills with a specific talent for translating highly technical concepts to layman audiences.
- Energetic, good-humored, and a highly adaptive approach to problem-solving.
Other:
- Experience in philanthropy, public policy, and/or the nonprofit sector a plus.
- Familiarity with the “Tech/Data for Good” ecosystem strongly preferred.
Remote Work & Travel:
The position is remote and operates as a virtual role during the team-building phase. Typical team norms would be set and defined as required as the organization is developed.
Travel would be expected and determined by the necessities of the role.
Compensation
The anticipated base salary for this role is approximately $240,000 - $250,000 plus bonus, commensurate with experience and qualifications.
Featured Benefits & Perks
TechSoup provides a comprehensive benefits package to its employees including health and dental insurance, vision plan, participation in a 403(b) Retirement Plan, voluntary Medical and Commuter Flexible Spending Accounts, as well as generous vacation, sick leave, and holiday policies.
Contact
Koya Partners has been exclusively retained for this engagement. Express interest in this role by filling out our Talent Profile or emailing the search team directly at [email protected]. All inquiries and discussions are strictly confidential.
Koya Partners l Diversified Search Group is committed to providing reasonable accommodation to individuals living with disabilities. If you are a qualified individual living with a disability and need assistance expressing interest online, please email [email protected]. If you are selected for an interview, you will receive additional information regarding how to request an accommodation for the interview process.
Ballmer Group is an equal opportunity employer and strongly encourages applications from people of color, persons with disabilities, women, and LGBTQ+ applicants.
About Koya Partners l Diversified Search Group
Koya Partners, a Diversified Search Group company, is the nation’s premier search firm dedicated to mission-driven leadership. Since its founding in 2004, Koya has had an exclusive focus on mission-driven clients and was founded on the belief that the right leader can transform an organization and have a deep and measurable impact on our world. Koya works with nonprofits & NGOs, responsible businesses, and social enterprises in local communities and around the world.
Diversified Search Group is consistently recognized by Forbes on its top 10 list of “America’s Best Executive Recruiting Firms” and is an industry leader in recruiting transformational leaders for a changing world. The firm is deliberately different in its approach, with best-in-class teams who have decades of experience in cultivating inclusive leaders, understanding the dimensions of diversity, and building equitable teams.
Learn more about Koya Partners l Diversified Search Group via the firm's website.