Director of Strategy

Harlem Children’s Zone (HCZ) — a world-renowned education and poverty-fighting organization based in New York — seeks an enthusiastic, dedicated, and mission-aligned Director of Strategy at our Strategy & Innovation department. The Director of Strategy will bring a passion for the mission of Harlem Children’s Zone: break the cycle of intergenerational poverty with comprehensive, on-the-ground programming that builds up opportunities for children and families to thrive in school, work, and life.

The Director of Strategy will join our Strategy & Innovation team to support the planning and execution of various high-priority initiatives from HCZ’s Strategic Plan. In this role, reporting to the Managing Director of Strategy & Innovation and working closely with senior leaders across the organization, the Director of Strategy will play a critical role in advancing HCZ’s organizational strategy, ensuring alignment between the organization’s long-term vision and the implementation of transformative initiatives. This position blends strategic planning, data-driven analysis, and cross-functional leadership to shape priorities, identify opportunities, and ensure consistent impact across all areas.

The ideal candidate is a systems thinker who can connect the “big picture” to on-the-ground execution. They bring deep experience in strategic planning, cross-sector collaboration, and performance management—paired with a strong passion for HCZ’s mission of breaking the cycle of intergenerational poverty.

For more information, check out Want to Work at Harlem Children’s Zone? Here’s 7 Things You Need to Know .

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration, Public Policy, Education, or related field required; Master’s degree preferred
• 5-7 years of progressive experience in strategy, consulting, or organizational planning (nonprofit or social impact experience strongly preferred)

Who you are

• Demonstrated success in leading cross-functional strategic planning initiatives and organizational performance management systems.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, with the ability to synthesize complex information into clear, actionable insights.
• Experience using data visualization and project management tools to monitor and communicate strategic progress.
• Exceptional communication, facilitation, and relationship-building skills across all organizational levels.
• Ability to thrive in a fast-paced, mission-driven environment with multiple stakeholders and priorities.
• Commitment to HCZ’s mission and values, with an equity-centered and community-informed perspective.

What you'll do

• Lead the implementation and refinement of HCZ’s strategic plan, in alignment with the Theory of Action
• Collaborate with senior leaders to identify priorities, track progress, and maintain alignment with HCZ’s mission and long-term goals.
• Provides support in developing HCZ departmental metrics of success (OKRs) and assists in monitoring organizational progress against the Theory of Action.
• Facilitate organizational strategic planning processes, guiding teams through structured goal setting and milestone development.
• Lead SWOT analyses to assess organizational positioning and support adaptive strategy development.
• Collaborate with Research & Evaluation and external partners to translate data into actionable insights.
• Identify and assess new growth opportunities, partnerships, and innovation pipelines that advance HCZ’s strategic vision.
• Establish and manage systems to track strategic progress, identify risks, and ensure accountability across all S&I workstreams.
• Develop dashboards and performance reports to communicate progress, challenges, and opportunities to senior leadership.
• Serve as a strategic thought partner to department heads and project leads, fostering alignment between HCZ’s strategic goals and operational execution.
• Lead and co-facilitate strategic planning sessions and collaborative workshops that engage staff across levels and functions.
• Support the Managing Director of S&I in building a cohesive culture of innovation, collaboration, and continuous improvement.
• Support the planning and execution of special meetings and events
• Perform other duties as assigned

Schedule

• Monday - Friday (9 am - 5 pm)
• Hybrid (4 days in the office, 1 day remote)

Benefits

As a member of the Harlem Children's Zone team, you will join a supportive and inclusive community dedicated to helping children, families, and our staff thrive. We offer highly competitive salaries, a comprehensive benefits package, and opportunities for growth.

Our exceptional full-time benefits include: 

• Highly competitive base salaries
• Paid time off
• Employee referral bonus
• Career advancement
• No-cost health insurance
• Life Insurance
• Short-and long-term disability
• Additional voluntary benefits
• Wellness discounts
• Commuter benefits
• Financial wellness perks
• Additional Benefits (Discounts on flights, hotels, theme parks, concert tickets, and more.)

The salary range for this position is $110,000 – $130,000 per year. To be considered, interested applicants should apply directly through the posting. No telephone inquiries or recruiters, please. Replies will only be sent to qualified applicants. Harlem Children’s Zone is an EOE.