Description

Position Summary
TheDream.US seeks a strategic and relationship-driven Director of Higher Education Strategy and Partnerships to lead and strengthen our national network of nearly 80 Partner Colleges and Universities serving Dreamers. This senior leadership role ensures our higher education partnerships and college-to-career programming effectively support TheDream.US Scholars in achieving academic success, graduating, and entering meaningful careers.

The Director will serve as a key bridge between TheDream.US leadership and our national network of Dreamer-serving institutions. Reporting to the Chief Operating Officer, this role will ensure our partner colleges are fully engaged in TheDream.US programming, meeting institutional commitments outlined in partnership agreements, and implementing effective practices that support Dreamers’ success.

Internally, the Director will oversee key programmatic areas supporting Scholar success, manage senior program staff responsible for partner college engagement and career programming, and ensure coordination across the Programs Team. The Director will work closely with leaders across the organization—including Scholarships, Scholar Programming, Career Programming, Development, Communications, and Operations—to ensure strong alignment and execution of organizational priorities.

Why This Role Matters

TheDream.US Scholars attend colleges across the country that serve as gateways to opportunity. The Director of Higher Education Strategy and Partnerships ensures those institutions are not only committed to Dreamers, but are actively building the policies, practices, and partnerships necessary for Scholars to thrive in college and beyond.

Responsibilities and Tasks 

•         Strategic Leadership and Program Oversight

o   Partner closely with the Chief Operating Officer to ensure the Programs Team is advancing TheDream.US strategic priorities and meeting quarterly and annual organizational goals.

o   Drive a data-driven, metrics-oriented culture, ensuring strategy, decision-making, program implementation are grounded in clear goals, measurable outcomes, and actionable insights utilizing systems for tracking, analyzing, and reporting.

o   Provide strategic leadership and oversight to core college and career success initiatives that increase the social and economic mobility of TheDream.US Scholars.

o   Supervise and support senior program staff responsible for Partner College engagement and career programming, ensuring strong execution of program strategies and accountability for measurable outcomes and performance.

o   Facilitate effective coordination across the Programs Team, including Scholarships, Scholar Programming, and Career Programming, ensuring teams are aligned and sharing information to advance Scholar success.

o   Lead monthly program team meetings in partnership with the Director of Scholarship Programs to ensure collaboration, coordination, and progress toward organizational goals.

•         Partner College Strategy and Relationship Management

o   Lead engagement with a national network of approximately 80 Partner Colleges and Universities to ensure strong institutional commitment to supporting Dreamer Scholars.

o   Develop and conduct annual assessments of Partner College partnerships.

o   Develop and maintain high-level relationships with college leadership—including presidents, provosts, and senior administrators—to strengthen institutional buy-in and accountability.

o   Ensure Partner Colleges are fulfilling commitments outlined in Memorandums of Understanding (MOUs), including scholarship administration, Scholar support services, and program participation.

o   Conduct annual or periodic strategic meetings with Partner Colleges to review Scholar outcomes data, program participation, and opportunities for improvement.

o   Identify and elevate systemic or emerging issues impacting Scholars at Partner Colleges and work with internal teams at Partner Colleges and/or Director of Scholarships and Program Team to resolve them.

o   Identify, document, and disseminate innovative institutional practices that support Dreamers’ academic persistence and career readiness.

o   Oversee the development of resources and programming for Partner Colleges, including weekly newsletters, orientations, toolkits, and community-of-practice convenings such as Partner College Power Hours.

o   Identify opportunities for engagement by TheDream.US President & CEO and COO with Partner College leaders.

•         Data, Accountability, and Continuous Improvement

o   Work closely with the organization’s data and evaluation team to translate Scholar outcomes data into actionable insights for Partner Colleges.

o   Ensure partner institutions understand and utilize program data to improve support systems for Scholars.

o   Lead the use of program participation and outcomes data to evaluate institutional engagement and program effectiveness.

o   Collaborate with internal teams to identify the data points most meaningful to institutional partners and align reporting to support strategic conversations with college leadership.

o   Support colleges in translating data insights into policy or programmatic improvements that strengthen Scholar success.

•         College-to-Career Programming Leadership

o   Work with program leadership to identify Scholars’ college and career success needs and develop strategies to address those needs.

o   Oversee implementation and evaluation of college success and career readiness programming.

o   Ensure strong engagement from Partner Colleges in Scholar programming opportunities including career development, mentorship, and professional opportunities.

o   Partner with internal teams to elevate effective career preparation models and inclusive career services practices at Partner Colleges.

o   Support the development of partnerships that expand career opportunities for Scholars.

•         Cross-Team Coordination and Organizational Leadership

o   Serve as a key connector across TheDream.US teams, ensuring alignment between Programs, Scholarships, Career Initiatives, Development, and Communications.

o   Collaborate across TheDream.US Teams to ensure strong project management, delegation, and execution through clear structures and accountability.

o   Work closely with leadership across the organization to ensure program implementation supports fundraising, advocacy, and field-building goals.

o   Partner with the COO to identify and resolve operational bottlenecks and ensure timely execution of priorities.

o   Coordinate closely with the finance team to ensure program contracts, budgets, and systems operate efficiently.

o   Represent TheDream.US in external engagements, conferences, and partnerships within the higher education and workforce development ecosystem.

Requirements

Education, Experience, Knowledge, Skills and Ability   
 

o   10+ years of professional experience in higher education leadership, nonprofit program leadership, or initiatives focused on college access, student success, or workforce development

o   5+ years of experience in a senior leadership or director-level role, with responsibility for setting strategy, managing teams, and overseeing complex programs or partnerships

o   Bachelor’s degree required in Education, Public Policy, Higher Education Administration, Public Administration, or a related field; Master’s or PhD degree preferred

o   Demonstrated experience managing partnerships with colleges and universities or large institutional networks

o   Ability to lead from a strategic, systems-level perspective - setting vision, managing workflows, and ensuring high-quality execution through staff, partners, and cross-functional teams

o   Proven success supervising and developing senior program staff and leading cross-functional teams

o   Experience serving as a trusted advisor to senior leadership, utilizing data and evaluation to inform strategy, strengthen programs, and drive continuous improvement

o   Excellent relationship-building, communication, and facilitation skills, particularly the ability to represent the organization with credibility and authority with senior institutional leaders such as presidents, provosts, and administrators

o   Strong understanding of the barriers impacting undocumented and immigrant students in higher education

o   Demonstrated ability to manage up at the senior leadership level to translate organizational priorities into effective program implementation and institutional partnerships

o   Strong judgment and discretion in handling sensitive information and navigating complex organizational dynamics.

o   Self-starter with the ability to develop and implement new initiatives that improve Scholar success and career outcomes

o   Commitment to working collaboratively with Partner Colleges, external organizations, team members, and stakeholders

o   Deep commitment to expanding educational and economic opportunity for undocumented and immigrant students

o   Ability to travel up to 10% domestically. 

How to Apply
Email the following to careers@thedream.us 

•         Resume
•         Cover letter
•         Contact information for 2 professional references

 Optional (encouraged):

        A brief paragraph describing an example of how you have worked with colleges or universities to improve student success, institutional partnerships, or career outcomes.

Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis from April 1st to April 24th, 2026

Compensation and Benefits

Salary range: 

$125,000 to $135,000 per year (Depending on experience and expertise)

Benefits:

Comprehensive benefits package that includes 100% employer-paid health, dental, and vision insurance for employees (and their families). Employees are able to enroll in 401k retirement plan and are eligible for a 3% automatic contribution and up to a 3% employer match on 401k contributions. Employees are also eligible for pre-tax transportation benefits. Employees will receive 80 hours of vacation time, 80 hours of health leave, up to 2 days of casual leave, and 20 hours of volunteer leave annually. Employees will also receive 13 paid holidays throughout the calendar year. Employees are eligible for 12 weeks of paid family and medical leave after 90 days of employment.

Hiring Statement
TheDream.US is a project of New Venture Fund (NVF), a 501(c)(3) public charity that incubates new and innovative public-interest projects and grant-making programs. NVF is committed to attracting, developing and retaining exceptional people, and to creating a work environment that is dynamic, rewarding and enables each of us to realize our potential. NVF’s work environment is safe and open to all employees and partners, respecting the full spectrum of race, color, religious creed, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, national origin, political affiliation, ancestry, age, disability, genetic information, veteran status, and all other classifications protected by law in the locality and/or state in which you are working. 

E-Verify
NVF participates in E-Verify and will provide the federal government with employees’ Form I-9 information to confirm authorization to work in the United States. Job candidates and employees authorized to work may not be discriminated against on the basis of national origin or citizenship status.