Interim NYC Executive Director

STRIVE NYC is navigating an executive leadership transition following the departure of its Executive Director. The interim leader will report directly to the President and CEO, providing day-to-day operational oversight across the Harlem and Brooklyn sites while the organisation prepares to launch a permanent search. The role requires someone equally comfortable reviewing budgets and contracts, coaching senior staff, and engaging external government, philanthropic, and employer partners.

The successful candidate will establish clear organisational priorities, strengthen cross-programme collaboration, lead FY2027 planning, and support the development team in maintaining fundraising momentum. They will also document key decisions, systems, and relationships to ensure a smooth handover to the incoming permanent Executive Director.

• Provide executive leadership for STRIVE NYC, maintaining stability and momentum throughout the leadership transition.
• Establish clear priorities, roles, and decision-making authority for senior staff across both sites.
• Supervise and coach senior NYC staff, including the Interim Program Director, fostering accountability and cross-programme collaboration.
• Lead the development of FY2027 programme plans, budgets, staffing assumptions, and performance goals.
• Partner with the development team to sustain institutional, corporate, and public funding relationships and provide programmatic input into proposals.
• Document key decisions, systems, risks, and relationships to support a structured handover to the permanent Executive Director.

• Proven nonprofit executive experience, with a track record of leading organisations through change or transition.
• Strong operational and financial acumen, including budgeting, grant compliance, revenue forecasting, and cash flow management.
• Experience coaching and supervising senior staff, with the ability to build cultures of accountability and collaboration.
• Demonstrated ability to engage and maintain trust with government, philanthropic, and employer partners.
• Comfort distinguishing immediate transition needs from longer-term decisions best reserved for incoming permanent leadership.
• Workforce development sector experience is advantageous but not required.

STRIVE is a workforce development nonprofit founded in 1984. It operates direct-service sites across New York City, Atlanta, Birmingham, New Orleans, and Northern New Jersey, and has served more than 90,000 individuals nationwide. STRIVE's Five-Pillar Model combines career readiness, skills training, coaching, job placement, and long-term support to help people facing significant employment barriers achieve economic mobility.