Vice President, Employer Mobilization

About JFF 

Jobs for the Future (JFF) drives transformation of the U.S. education and workforce systems to achieve equitable economic advancement for all. Seeing that millions of people are unfairly shut out of quality jobs and the chance for a better life, our goal is to align education, workforce, and employment changemakers toward a shared North Star: In 10 years, 75 million people facing systemic barriers to advancement will work in quality jobs.  

To achieve that goal, we design solutions, scale best practices, influence policy and action, and invest in innovation. With a staff of more than 300 people across the country working remotely and in offices in Boston (headquarters), Washington, DC, and Oakland, California, we operate at the national, state, and local levels, forging deep partnerships with employers, investors, entrepreneurs, policymakers, and education and workforce development providers to break down barriers and reimagine what’s possible.   

We’re on a path of ongoing growth and expanding impact. We have an operating budget of $105 million, and we’re funded by dozens of leading government agencies, foundations, and corporations. Learn more about JFF and join us as we build a future that works—for everyone.  

DEIBW at JFF  

Diversity, equity, inclusion, belonging, and well-being (DEIBW) are core to JFF’s North Star and mission. We employ and build diverse teams across race, ethnicity, sex, gender identity and expression, age, and lived experiences and are constantly working toward ensuring these differences are celebrated and included. We aim to cultivate a culture that centers the overall care, well-being, and success of the employee through flexible work hours, balanced workloads, professional development, and equitable career advancement opportunities. Learn more about what DEIBW looks like in practice at JFF. 

We seek to invest in and learn from those who represent the communities we serve, particularly individuals from populations who have been explicitly or implicitly excluded from the workforce. Knowing its importance to the success of our work and the engagement of our staff members, we aspire to attract and retain a diverse team and welcome people of all backgrounds to apply to our open roles. JFF is a fair chance employer and in alignment to our North Star, we strongly encourage individuals whose highest level of education attained is less than a 4-year degree; People of Color; and people with records to apply. 

About the Employer Mobilization Practice  

JFF’s Employer Mobilization Practice envisions a world where all employers prioritize economic opportunity and mobility for their workers. We support employers in creating inclusive career pathways, adopting skills-based hiring, and developing strategies that improve the economic mobility of workers, particularly those facing systemic barriers. Our Practice includes three core service lines: Knowledge & Insights, Network Mobilization, and Program Design and Consulting. We host multiple large-scale convenings and engagements, including the Impact Employer Summit and the Recover Stronger Coalition, and provide direct support to employers working to implement systemic change.  

Through our work, we envision and enable a world where the private sector champions economic opportunity and mobility for all workers.

About the Position 

The Vice President, Employer Mobilization sits in JFF’s Solutions Group, reporting to the Chief Solutions Officer. The Vice President (VP) oversees JFF’s Employer Mobilization Practice (EMP) and serves on JFF’s Executive Leadership Council. As a nationally recognized expert in inclusive talent practices, the VP will influence national and state-level strategies, policies, infrastructure, and funding mechanisms to drive equitable outcomes and address systemic barriers for workers. The VP will lead JFF’s strategy and initiatives that enable employers to ensure equitable economic advancement for their workers. They will also develop and execute fundraising and business development strategies to secure resources from corporate, foundation, and government sources to build and scale programs.  

In addition to continuing the Practice’s existing work, the new VP will develop and execute a bold vision for the future of the Practice, driving innovative strategies and launching new initiatives to deepen our impact and enhance our reach. They’ll lead a small team of changemakers in the Employer Mobilization Practice who are subject matter experts, responsible for generating ideas and solutions that drive impact in the field, providing thought partnership and vision-setting for the team to align the Practice's work with JFF’s theory of action and strategic priorities. As strategic leaders of the Practice's work, the Employer Mobilization team produces thought leadership that drives the national agenda and conversation, convenes stakeholders and actors to drive change, provides strategic support to partners, clients, and stakeholders, and oversees the execution of successful and impactful programs. Collectively, this team will work together to attract partnerships, funding, and other resources to fund their bold visions that will impact employers and their workers across the country. 

JFF Vice Presidents work closely with Solutions Design & Delivery teams to execute initiatives and projects aligned with their respective areas. You will collaborate across all our Practices and Centers as well as with teams across JFF, including Strategic Engagements, the Policy & Advocacy team, JFFLabs, and more. You will be supported by an Executive Assistant, as well as dedicated business partners from JFF’s People & Culture, Development, Finance, and Marketing & Communications teams. 

This is an exciting opportunity to leverage and expand upon existing assets across JFF to impact employers across the country. This role is ideal for an innovative and strategic leader, who is energized by equitable talent practices and eager to make a significant impact towards JFF’s North Star.  

What You'll Do  

Lead bold strategy, vision and thought leadership for the Employer Mobilization Practice  

• Create, evolve and position JFF’s point of view and theory of action for the EMP, and its work to support employers in prioritizing economic mobility by creating quality jobs and advancing inclusive talent practices 

• Set and communicate strategic goals and priorities and ensure that key initiatives, resources, and budgets are aligned to them      

• Provide organizational and national thought leadership on issues related to domains of expertise, including through speaking engagements at high-profile events, op-eds, publications, and social media; represent JFF on the national stage   

• Serve as a subject matter expert for strategic advising and program design to field partners and clients 

Deliver impactful results through visionary program and project initiatives 

• Lead all major workstreams and bodies of work related to equitable talent practices for employers as a project sponsor and/or by directly running key projects and initiatives; responsible for oversight of all aspects of project management, including budget management, writing proposals, creating staffing plans, etc. 

• Cultivate strong partnerships with the VPs of JFF’s Practices, Centers, Solutions Design & Delivery, Development Team, and JFFLabs to ensure a unified, collaborative approach to advancing the Employer Mobilization Practice (EMP) and that drives progress in building a skills-first economy. 

• Collaborate with the Solutions Design & Delivery team to develop and design replicable frameworks and content, including Corporate Advisory Services and Network services, ensuring these solutions can scale effectively to meet the needs of diverse stakeholders. 

• In partnership with the Finance team, manage the performance of the team’s portfolio of projects and budgets 

• Seek ways to integrate initiatives, foster connections and maximize synergies across JFF that leverage the broad expertise of our staff to achieve greater impact 

Drive fundraising and expand influence of the mission by cultivating and building collaborative partnerships 

• Cultivate and manage high-level relationships with external partners, funders, and clients; with accountability for executing on outcomes and key results, achieving annual business development goals for the EMP, and contributing to shared business development goals for the Solutions Group    

• Design, build, and curate key networks within the sector in accordance with JFF’s overall network strategy    

• Contribute to strategic planning and decision making for the Solutions Group, and the organization, working with colleagues to continuously strengthen JFF’s performance and impact    

• Lead with equity and model inclusive leadership, stewarding a team culture that celebrates the diversity of everyone and ensures that each person has equal opportunity to thrive at JFF   

• Serve on JFF’s Executive Leadership Council, JFF’s senior leadership team, comprising the Executive Team, all Vice Presidents, and JFFLabs Managing Directors     

Who You Are  

The qualifications listed within the job description are intended as a guide and we do not expect candidates to bring all experiences and skills listed. Research supports that self-selecting out of potential professional opportunities is particularly common among individuals with identities that are marginalized in professional spaces. So, if you believe that you can meet the overall expectations of the position, we encourage you to apply so that we have an opportunity to learn more about you and the unique strengths you would bring to the work. 

• You are an innovative, field-recognized subject matter expert who has a track record of success championing and executing innovative strategies aimed at scaling equitable talent practices for employers (New hires at the VP level at JFF typically bring 20+ years of prior professional experience through a combination of full-time, part-time, internship, and/or freelance positions)  

• You bring deep conviction for the work of the EMP and are sought out as a thought leader with a national presence; you are skilled at elevating relevant trends in your field to inform your team and organization’s work  

• You have an established network of relationships with funders and partners recognized in the learn to work ecosystem, including Fortune 500 and 1000 companies 

• You have been successful in raising six and seven figure funds from private, public, and government sources for new and continuing initiatives and are comfortable pitching ideas, writing and shaping proposals, and developing and managing budgets 

• You are skilled at presenting to, and contributing to written communications for, a diverse range of audiences that drive behavior change for employers 

• You are adept at connecting people, projects, and resources in alignment to the mission and strategies of your organization  

• You have championed and executed strategies for innovation, creativity, and continuous learning for a department or practice area and know how to move from vision to action; you have had success advancing initiatives aimed at improving quality, creating value for clients, gaining efficiencies, and promoting equity 

• You model inclusive leadership, working effectively with colleagues from a diverse range of backgrounds, and building and stewarding an organizational culture that embraces diversity, equity, and inclusion 

• You excel in managing senior expert leaders, partnering with cross-functional teams, collaborating with a diverse range of decision-makers, and proactively seeking team input to guide decision making; you are a visionary leader with a proven ability to motivate, mentor, and mobilize teams to produce strong outcomes  

• You develop effective and respectful relationships with all people inside and outside of an organization to build strategic partnerships and greater collaboration 

• You are skilled at designing and carrying out strategic advising, capacity building, and program design with and for partners, and coaching others to do so 

• You possess high energy and passion for JFF’s mission and North Star, and the ability to apply JFF’s core values to all areas of your work    

• You are energized by stewarding JFF’s DEIBW values and practices within your day-to-day work, including embracing the differences and celebrating the diversity that everyone brings to JFF  

• You are able and willing to travel up to 30% 

What We Offer  

At JFF, we’re fueled by the desire to create a world where everyone has equal opportunity for economic advancement. Our team works hard to push the boundaries of what is possible, and in return, we provide a gratifying work experience, competitive salaries, and a comprehensive benefits program that includes flexibility and choice as core values in order to support people wherever they are in their lives and careers.  

JFF has offices in Boston, Oakland, and Washington, DC; employees are welcome to use JFF office space to work in-person or hybrid, or completely remote. To improve the employee experience and promote productivity while working remotely, JFF offers an annual home office stipend to all regular full-time and part-time employees. In addition, new employees receive office equipment as needed.  

  The hiring range for this role is $200,000 - $250,000 annually, in alignment to JFF’s Vice President salary band and our compensation philosophy. Starting salaries for new hires will be determined based on a combination of the new hire’s relevant experience and market demands.  

To Apply  

As part of your application, please include your resume and a thoughtful cover letter, addressed to Susan Gouijnstook, Chief Solutions Officer, outlining how your skills and experience meet the qualifications of the position. At JFF, we’re also committed to accessibility and want to ensure that everyone, including people with disabilities, can fully access and engage with our application and hiring process. 

If you are unable to complete this application due to a disability and/or have specific access/accommodation needs in order to fully participate in our hiring process, please contact us at hiringaccommodations@jff.org. 

Positions at JFF are not eligible for employer-visa sponsorship or open to F-1 student visa holders.