Director, Strategic Initiatives

Axim Collaborative; Cambridge (MA); Hybrid; USD 155,000 - 190,000; Full time

Job summary

Axim Collaborative, a Harvard-MIT joint initiative, is seeking a Director of Strategic Initiatives to shape strategy and emerging areas of work. The role requires rigorous research, analytical thinking, and execution with an entrepreneurial mindset.

The position is hybrid, based in Cambridge, MA, with in-person work two days per week and periodic programming three times a year. Reporting to the Chief of Staff & Strategic Initiatives, you will advance organizational strategy, synthesize insights,

Qualifications

• Deep commitment to education equity and experience applying an equity lens in all strategies and work streams.
• At least 5 years of professional experience, including significant experience in strategy and/or research.
• Experience working in or with government, higher education, philanthropy, or other mission-driven organizations, particularly on issues related to education, workforce, or economic mobility is preferred.
• Strong strategic judgment and ability to bring structure to ambiguity, including defining the right questions, determining an analytical approach, connecting detailed analysis to the broader picture, and moving work from exploration to action.
• Exceptional written and visual communication skills, with the ability to synthesize complex ideas into clear, concise, and compelling memos, presentations, briefings, and other materials for senior audiences.
• Strong project management skills, including managing multiple priorities and effective coordination across internal and external stakeholders and multi-stakeholder efforts across organizations or sectors.
• Experience designing and driving complex programs, partnerships, or strategic initiatives from concept through execution with the understanding of what it takes for promising models to become sustainable and scale.
• High attention to detail and a track record of producing accurate, high-quality work in dynamic, fast-moving environments.
• Experience using AI and other emerging technologies effectively for research, analysis, synthesis, and knowledge work; familiarity with education technology, data systems, or other technologies shaping education and workforce systems is a plus.
• MBA, MPP, MPA, or other relevant advanced degree or bachelors + 5 years consulting experience.

Responsibilities

• Support the Chief of Staff & Strategic Initiatives in developing and advancing Axim’s organizational strategy, including research and analysis on emerging trends, opportunities, and challenges relevant to Axim’s mission.
• Work in a project-based capacity across the organization, partnering with the Chief of Staff & Strategic Initiatives, as well as Vice Presidents of Partnership, on multiple strategic priorities and bringing additional analytical capacity, structure, and an organization-wide perspective to complex questions.
• Take on projects that begin with an open-ended question, determine what Axim needs to understand, structure the research and analysis, and translate findings into clear strategic implications and actionable recommendations.
• Conduct rapid, rigorous landscape analyses of complex topics, drawing on research, data, stakeholder perspectives, policy developments, and examples from the field.
• Identify promising opportunities for new programs, partnerships, investments, or strategic initiatives and help move them from early exploration to well-developed concepts for consideration by Axim leadership.
• Synthesize lessons across Axim’s work, identifying themes, emerging questions, and implications that can inform future strategy and strengthen organizational learning.

Skills

Strategy & research

Executive communication

Project management

Stakeholder coordination

AI for research

Education

MBA/MPP/MPA or BA + 5 years consulting

Job description

Director, Strategic Initiatives

Cambridge, MA

Job Type

Full-time

Description

ABOUT AXIM COLLABORATIVE Axim Collaborative is a nonprofit that transforms education-to-work pathways by facilitating collaboration and innovation to build an ecosystem of solutions that drive better outcomes for millions of learners. Axim uses catalytic funding to foster partnerships, convene leaders, and scale innovations that strengthen pathways for learners. These pathways engage students in their course of study, enable them to persist through their programs, and prepare them to excel in their careers. Axim Collaborative is a joint endeavor between Harvard and MIT that evolved from edX, the pioneering online learning platform launched in 2012.

ABOUT THE STRATEGIC INITIATIVES DIRECTOR ROLE

Reporting to the Chief of Staff & Strategic Initiatives, the Strategic Initiatives Director will help shape and advance Axim Collaborative’s strategy and emerging areas of work. The Director will take on high-priority, often ambiguous projects that require rigorous research, expansive thinking, and strong execution. The ideal candidate combines the analytical rigor of a strategist or researcher with an entrepreneurial mindset: able to quickly develop expertise in unfamiliar topics, identify implications for Axim’s work, and translate complex analysis into clear recommendations and actionable initiatives.

This is a hybrid role that will require regular in-person work in our Cambridge office, so candidates must be able to commute in at least two days per week from the following states: in MA, ME, NH, RI or VT. Additionally, all staff are required to attend in-person programming three times a year.

Core Responsibilities

Research & Strategy

• Support the Chief of Staff & Strategic Initiatives in developing and advancing Axim’s organizational strategy, including research and analysis on emerging trends, opportunities, and challenges relevant to Axim’s mission.
• Work in a project-based capacity across the organization, partnering with the Chief of Staff & Strategic Initiatives, as well as Vice Presidents of Partnership, on multiple strategic priorities and bringing additional analytical capacity, structure, and an organization-wide perspective to complex questions.
• Take on projects that begin with an open-ended question, determine what Axim needs to understand, structure the research and analysis, and translate findings into clear strategic implications and actionable recommendations.
• Conduct rapid, rigorous landscape analyses of complex topics, drawing on research, data, stakeholder perspectives, policy developments, and examples from the field.
• Identify promising opportunities for new programs, partnerships, investments, or strategic initiatives and help move them from early exploration to well-developed concepts for consideration by Axim leadership.
• Synthesize lessons across Axim’s work, identifying themes, emerging questions, and implications that can inform future strategy and strengthen organizational learning.

Executive Communications & Thought Leadership

• Develop high-quality written and visual materials for the CEO, Chief of Staff, and other senior leaders, for external meetings and convenings.
• Support preparation for Board meetings and other key organizational discussions by developing presentations and briefing materials, synthesizing input from across teams, and helping ensure complex topics are communicated clearly and concisely.
• Partner with the Vice President of Strategic Communications and other senior leaders to support Axim’s thought leadership, translating insights from the research and strategy work into articles, presentations, convenings, and other external communications.

Complex Initiatives & Partnerships

• Serve as an additional layer of strategic and project management capacity for high-priority, complex partnerships and initiatives that require significant coordination across internal teams and external stakeholders.
• Provide targeted strategic support to Axim partners as they work to strengthen and scale promising models, helping them address critical questions related to sustainable business models, growth strategy, and pathways to scale through research, market and landscape analysis, stakeholder input, and lessons from across Axim’s portfolio.
• Help design and manage multi-stakeholder efforts and convenings.
• Capture and synthesize learning across convenings, partnerships, and strategic initiatives, identifying recurring themes, lessons, and implications that can strengthen future convenings, inform partnership development, and shape Axim’s broader strategy and investments.

Requirements

Qualifications

• Deep commitment to education equity and experience applying an equity lens in all strategies and work streams.
• At least 5 years of professional experience, including significant experience in strategy and/or research.
• Experience working in or with government, higher education, philanthropy, or other mission-driven organizations, particularly on issues related to education, workforce, or economic mobility is preferred.
• Strong strategic judgment and ability to bring structure to ambiguity, including defining the right questions, determining an analytical approach, connecting detailed analysis to the broader picture, and moving work from exploration to action.
• Exceptional written and visual communication skills, with the ability to synthesize complex ideas into clear, concise, and compelling memos, presentations, briefings, and other materials for senior audiences.
• Strong project management skills, including managing multiple priorities and effective coordination across internal and external stakeholders and multi-stakeholder efforts across organizations or sectors.
• Experience designing and driving complex programs, partnerships, or strategic initiatives from concept through execution with the understanding of what it takes for promising models to become sustainable and scale.
• High attention to detail and a track record of producing accurate, high-quality work in dynamic, fast-moving environments.
• Experience using AI and other emerging technologies effectively for research, analysis, synthesis, and knowledge work; familiarity with education technology, data systems, or other technologies shaping education and workforce systems is a plus.
• MBA, MPP, MPA, or other relevant advanced degree or bachelors + 5 years consulting experience.

This role is exempt under the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA). This role is not eligible for visa sponsorship.

Benefits Statement:

We offer a comprehensive benefits package including comprehensive medical and dental insurance, generous paid time off, paid parental leave, life and disability insurance, a competitive 401(k) plan, and a generous employer match.

Axim Collaborative is committed to building a diverse and inclusive workplace where everyone is welcomed, valued, and supported. We believe that a diverse workforce is critical to enabling our partners and the learners they serve to realize their educational and career aspirations. Axim is an equal opportunity employer and encourages people from all experiences, abilities, and perspectives to apply. If reasonable accommodation is needed to participate in the job application or interview process, to perform essential job functions, and/or to receive other benefits and privileges of employment, please contact Axim HR at [e-mail].

Salary Description

$155,000 - $190,000