Director, Public Funding

$109,680 - $164,520/Yr

College Track - New Orleans, LA

Full-time - Director

New Orleans, LA

Educational Services

About the position

As the Director of Public Funding at College Track, you will play a pivotal role in building and nurturing relationships with public funders, primarily local and state governments, that align with College Track's mission. Your primary goal will be to increase awareness and support for the organization’s mission, which is to equip students facing systemic barriers with the resources they need to earn a bachelor's degree. This position requires a strategic partnership with various internal teams, including Program, Finance, and leadership, to ensure effective communication and compliance regarding the stewardship of public funds within the organization. In this inaugural role, you will report directly to the Vice President of Philanthropy and will be responsible for bringing your public sector funding expertise to the team. You will work on building a portfolio of funders that complements the existing philanthropy efforts of College Track. Your responsibilities will include collaborating closely with the Philanthropy Operations, Finance, and Program teams to execute funding proposals, track deliverables, and manage reporting requirements. Starting in FY26, you will also oversee a Manager of Public Funding, who will assist in managing an expanding pipeline of active funding initiatives. College Track is a comprehensive college completion program dedicated to helping students overcome systemic barriers to achieve their educational goals. We are a values-driven organization that prioritizes commitment, passion, joy, authenticity, and excellence across our 12 sites. This role is ideal for individuals who possess a Bachelor's degree and have a strong understanding of the government and institutional funding landscape, particularly in the context of secondary and postsecondary education. You will need to demonstrate the ability to maintain positive relationships with various stakeholders and possess excellent communication skills, both written and oral, to effectively convey complex concepts in a clear and persuasive manner.

Responsibilities

• Build and maintain relationships with public funders, primarily local and state governments.
• Increase awareness and support for College Track's mission among public institutions.
• Serve as a strategic internal partner to Program, Finance, and leadership teams.
• Ensure cross-department communication and compliance regarding public funds.
• Develop and manage a portfolio of public sector funders that complements philanthropy efforts.
• Collaborate with Philanthropy Operations, Finance, and Program teams to execute funding proposals.
• Track deliverables and manage reporting requirements for public funding initiatives.
• Oversee a Manager of Public Funding starting in FY26 to support funding initiatives.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree required.
• Familiarity with the government and institutional funding landscape, preferably in secondary and postsecondary education.
• Ability to maintain positive relationships with internal and external stakeholders in a professional manner.
• Strong writing, editing, and oral communication skills, including public speaking and presentation skills.
• Experience conveying complex concepts clearly and persuasively.
• Familiarity with program budgets and principles of program design, implementation, and evaluation.
• Experience developing, directing, and managing multiple projects and budgets.

Nice-to-haves

• Experience in program design and evaluation.
• Knowledge of strategic program goals and implementation.

Benefits

• Up to 27 discretionary time off days (sick and vacation).
• 28 paid office closure and holiday days in the first year of employment.
• Access to extensive health care benefits.
• Work-life balance initiatives.
• Financial security programs.