IDEO.org improves the lives of poor and vulnerable communities through design. To affect that change, we work directly with foundations, nonprofits, and social enterprises; create tools and resources that teach human-centered design; and influence the social sector with stories of human-centered design in action. IDEO.org works directly with organizations across a range of focus areas including health, financial services, gender equity, education, and agriculture.

Position Summary

The Location Lead and Senior Program Director will join the IDEO.org team as part of an exciting phase of growth for the organization. After building a strong base in San Francisco over the last four years, IDEO.org is now ready to launch its second studio in New York City, and we’re looking for an entrepreneurial leader to partner with IDEO.org’s Executive Director and NYC Creative Director to bring this studio to life. Together, you’ll build the team, nurture the studio’s creative culture, make sure we deliver high impact work to our partners, and most importantly, set the studio’s content and program strategy (tackling a mix of domestic and international challenges) and then build the relationships to bring that strategy to life. This position is ideal for someone who thrives in an entrepreneurial environment, loves building cross-sector networks, and deeply believes in the potential of design to transform the lives of those living in poverty.

Areas of Responsibility

Building IDEO.org New York’s portfolio and presence:

- Design and build a flagship program focused on applying design to a critical poverty-related challenges in NYC (e.g., financial inclusion, early childhood development).

- Integrate IDEO.org into the fabric of NYC’s social sector such that others see IDEO.org and design as key assets in poverty alleviation in the city.

- Cultivate and maintain a wide portfolio of cross-sector partnerships (e.g., foundations, companies, philanthropists, nonprofits) that bring critical resources and opportunities to IDEO.org. 

- Position IDEO.org as a high-impact, design-forward brand amongst priority audiences through speaking and writing.

- Deepen IDEO.org’s strategic relationship with IDEO’s New York office.

Growing and nurturing IDEO.org’s team and creative culture: 

- Mentor the next generation of designers and leaders in the New York location alongside the Creative Director. 

- Set and reinforce IDEO.org New York’s culture by leading by example and finding creative ways to reinforce IDEO.org’s values and inspire the team.

- Monitor and support the health of working relationships throughout the location.

- Manage critical location staff. 

- Maintain a high level of cohesion between IDEO.org locations.

Overseeing the programmatic, financial, and operational health of IDEO.org’s New York location:

- Maintain high quality programs and outcomes for IDEO.org’s portfolio in New York by working with the Creative Director to ensure design teams deliver to IDEO.org’s partners.

- Partner with IDEO.org’s Impact Lead to track and analyze the impact of the New York location’s programs.

- Provide active site leadership in all financial and operational areas including talent management, human resources, grant management and reporting, budgeting, and expense management, working collaboratively with the IDEO.org San Francisco team.

- Set and drive revenue targets for the location, based on budget and strategic goals, in partnership with IDEO.org’s Executive Director.

Ideal Candidate

You are passionate about the social sector and design. You have played a significant role building a mission-driven organization in the past, and you can’t wait to roll up your sleeves and do it again for an organization with huge ambitions. You love building networks to unlock opportunities, inspire others, and create impact. You know how to close the deal, mobilize the team, and get things done. You’re guided by your business sense and your people sense, and you know how to make decisions that are good for the organization, its strategy, its impact, its people and its sustainability. Balancing multiple projects and prioritizing your time comes naturally to you. You have strong qualifications, including:

- 10+ years of relevant experience—ideally some within design and/or creative organizations—with at least three years in a leadership position.

- A track record of creating and running new initiatives and building teams around those initiatives.

- Multiple strong relationships and partnerships throughout the social sector.

- Fundraising and business development experience, especially with nonprofits, foundations, and individual philanthropists.

- Excellent, demonstrated management skills including the ability to inspire, motivate, influence, and hold colleagues accountable to high standards (ideally with some experience with creative talent). 

- Comfort with driving results in a highly ambiguous environment.

- Strong consulting and customer service skills, which help you listen to the needs of others and frame opportunities around them.

- Exceptional communication skills.

- A penchant for problem solving.

- Passion for IDEO.org’s mission to spread human-centered design throughout the social sector.

All your information will be kept confidential according to EEO guidelines.