Empower Success Corps Senior Director of Programs

Empower Success Corps (ESC)'s mission is to empower nonprofits to achieve their goals and contribute to a more just and equitable world. ESC achieves its mission through:

• Consulting services delivered by experienced volunteer professionals

• Providing talent to fill interim and transitional roles

• Training mid-career professionals of color in nonprofit consulting

• Executive coaching and facilitated roundtables for nonprofit leaders

ESC is committed to helping nonprofit organizations more effectively serve their constituencies and to the ongoing work of promoting diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging internally and in relationships with our clients, partners, and supporters. Since its founding in 1982, ESC has helped over 1,000 nonprofits chart their futures, improve governance practices, grow programs, and improve their sustainability.

ESC clients run the gamut from providing childcare to housing to arts education. Many focus their resources on people whose opportunities have been limited by systemic barriers to their inclusion and on issues like climate change, which have a larger impact on communities of color. We serve organizations of all types and with a variety of missions. Typically, our client organizations have budgets between $1MM and $5MM. Testimony to the high quality of ESC's performance, more than 50% of recent clients are repeat clients or referrals from former clients.

ABOUT THE OPPORTUNITY 

The Senior Director of Programs leads ESC's broad suite of programs and services at a moment when the organization is poised for innovation and strategic growth. This is an exciting opportunity for experienced directors to grow from leading programs and services to shaping organizational strategy.

The Senior Director will lead ESC’s consulting practice by managing the full client engagement lifecycle—from initial identification and project scoping through successful contracting and project launch.

Additionally, the Senior Director leads Interim Professional in Residence (IPIR), ESC’s innovative program that provides interim and transitional staffing, matching experienced talent to move critical initiatives forward in interim roles across key organizational functions.

In addition to programmatic leadership, the Senior Director establishes and regularly reports on revenue goals and performance against objectives, and works closely on the recruitment, training, and strategic deployment of ESC's volunteer consultant corps, a pool of seasoned practitioners.

In this highly collaborative opportunity, the Senior Director works closely with multiple team members across communications, training, and other functions to ensure proactive and seamless service delivery. This position reports directly to the CEO, and will serve as a key thought partner in shaping the future of the organization’s consulting services.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES  

Business Development

Client Development & Revenue Growth

• Cultivate new business opportunities with prospective nonprofits while expanding relationships with existing clients

• Provide timely, professional responses to all client inquiries and requests for information

• Conduct needs assessments to recommend appropriate ESC solutions and services

• Create comprehensive project documentation, including proposals, RFP responses, and engagement letters

• Ensure smooth contracting processes and successful project launches

• Set annual revenue targets and maintain a robust sales pipeline to achieve goals

• Manage IPIR, including matching volunteers with organizations seeking interim talent

Market Strategy & Relationship Management

• Monitor nonprofit sector trends and emerging needs to keep ESC services relevant and competitive

• Collaborate with Communications to develop lead generation strategies and marketing initiatives

• Ensure consistent, compelling messaging reaches key stakeholder groups: potential clients, volunteer consultants, funders, and community influencers

• Maintain records of all client relationships, prospects, active projects, and consultant assignments in Salesforce CRM

Client Project Management

• Manage client intake and relationships

• Oversee engagement progress and assign optimal consulting teams to projects

• Maintain consistent communication with clients and consultants

• Address and resolve client and consultant challenges as they arise

• Ensure on-scope project completion

Consulting Management & Support

Recruitment & Retention

• Retain and steward effective members of the volunteer consulting corps

• Recruit seasoned professionals to our volunteer corps, focusing on the skills and experiences most relevant to our client organizations

• Make strategic matches of consultants to client needs based on expertise and availability

• Ensure timely placement of new consultants onto projects

Development & Recognition

• Partner with the Director of Training on consultant onboarding, ongoing engagement, and professional development

• Monitor and enhance consultant engagement

Quality Assurance and Evaluation

• Establish and monitor systems, procedures, and quality control measures for consulting practice

• Provide consultants with timely feedback, acknowledging strengths and coaching on improvement areas

• Measure program effectiveness through systematic learning, evaluation, and feedback collection

• Implement process improvements based on data and stakeholder input

• Maintain high client satisfaction ratings across all engagements

Organization & Administration

• Track project progress and communicate billing information to finance team

• Recruit, select, and oversee consulting program interns as needed

• Oversee volunteer task forces relevant to consultant activities

• Provide consulting services data for monthly key indicator reports

• Attend Board of Directors meetings and record meeting minutes

• Provide CEO with thought partnership on strategic planning and organizational development initiatives

Catalyst Fellowship Program

In collaboration with the Director of Catalyst:

• Promote Catalyst and recruit qualified candidates

• Co-design and develop curriculum

• Assign fellows to ESC projects and ensure quality oversight

• Support the tracking and reporting of fellowship outcomes

QUALIFICATIONS & MINDSET

We understand that people gain skills through various professional, personal, educational, and volunteer experiences. We encourage candidates to review the key responsibilities and qualifications below. If you possess the necessary skills to fulfill the responsibilities of this role, we encourage you to apply.

• Proven leadership skills as demonstrated by at least 5+ years of management experience, preferably in nonprofit or consulting roles

• Superb relationship builder; establishes credibility and trust quickly

• Excellent interpersonal, verbal, written, and presentation communication skills

• Extraordinarily adaptable and well organized, with demonstrated ability to handle multiple work streams, set priorities, and work under pressure

• Demonstrated ability to work collaboratively, independently, and in cross-functional team environments

• Active listener with the ability to grasp complex issues and look beyond the obvious

• Oriented towards solving problems and improving processes with curiosity, energy, and persistence

• Demonstrated commitment to ESC’s mission, including familiarity with and involvement in the nonprofit sector

• Strong background in oversight and coordination of consulting or related professional roles

• Experience in the management of volunteers

• Proficient in MS Office Suite Products and database use, as well as project tools such as Survey Monkey, Zoom, Dropbox, Google Drive, Google Suite

• Extensive experience in consulting, nonprofit management, or coaching preferred

• Experience in volunteer management and program development is a plus

• Previous experience with Salesforce or other CRM programs is a plus

COMPENSATION & BENEFITS

This is a full-time, exempt position with a competitive salary range of $115,000-$125,000 annually. The range has been established after a comprehensive analysis of market data, industry benchmarks, and internal salary structures.

In addition to the base salary, we offer a comprehensive benefits package. To learn more about the benefits, please click here .

This is a full-time hybrid position. Full-time staff currently work from the Boston office a minimum of two times per week.

HOW TO APPLY

Interested candidates are encouraged to submit their applications through the online portal promptly. All applicants will receive a response to their application. Please email [email protected] with questions or for support in submitting your application.

The process will include a screening conversation with the team at Positively Partners, followed by an interview with the ESC’s CEO. Finalists will be invited to participate in a multi-part interview with a range of stakeholders. The expected start is January 2026.

ESC is an equal opportunity employer. We encourage candidates from all backgrounds and identities to apply for this role.

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