Head of Leadership Programs & Strategic Design

Bladin Foundation; Grand Rapids (MI); On-site; USD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

Blandin Foundation seeks a Director of Leadership with a mandate to design, oversee, and advance leadership programs aimed at strengthening rural communities in Minnesota. The role sits on the Senior Leadership Team and requires collaboration across Public Policy and Grant Making to maximize impact.

The position emphasizes conceptualization, program management, budgeting, and data-driven assessment, with the goal of sustained excellence aligned to the Foundation’s mission.

Qualifications

• Advanced degree equivalent to a master’s level, Ph.D. preferred
• Minimum of eight years senior level management experience
• Leadership and management experience in the nonprofit sector
• Extensive background in leadership development theory and practice including designing and conducting leadership programs for adults
• Knowledge of, experience with and passion for rural issues
• Program management and conceptualization experience
• Organizational assessment theory and design experience
• Excellent professional abilities, such as personnel management, verbal and written communication, leadership skills, interpersonal skills, conflict management skills, cultural competence and emotional intelligence
• Ability and willingness to learn and adapt to changing needs of the organization
• Ability to thrive in an adaptive culture that relies on teamwork and shared leadership
• Demonstrated abilities in decision making and organizational and Board-level communications
• Ability to support and model organization values and operating principles
• General understanding of organization and non-profit financial issues and statements

Responsibilities

• Serve as a member of the senior leadership team contributing to cultural stewardship, strategic leadership, and decision making
• Leadership Programs—Conceptualization and Design: develop and present new program ideas to the Vice President and provide conceptual direction and implementation planning
• Ensure leadership programs have defensible theoretical frameworks and are integrated with other Foundation programs
• Recommend which leadership programs should be added, dropped, or moved for further development
• Oversee budgeting, staffing, and consultant recruitment for leadership programs
• Oversee rural community program recruitment for leadership programs
• Oversee organizational assessment system and design structures for gathering and documenting data
• Participate in other organizational teams and projects as assigned

Skills

Leadership

Management

Verbal & Written Communication

Interpersonal Skills

Conflict Management

Cultural Competence

Emotional Intelligence

Teamwork & Collaboration

Decision Making

Organizational Awareness

Education

Advanced degree (Master's or PhD preferred)

Tools

Microsoft Office Suite

Job description

Blandin Foundation seeks a Director of Leadership with a mandate to design, oversee, and advance leadership programs aimed at strengthening rural communities in Minnesota. The role sits on the Senior Leadership Team and requires collaboration across Public Policy and Grant Making to maximize impact.

The position emphasizes conceptualization, program management, budgeting, and data-driven assessment, with the goal of sustained excellence aligned to the Foundation’s mission.