Managing Director, School Strategy and Investments

Managing Director, School Strategy and Investments

• Managing Director, School Strategy and Investments

Rochester Education and Development for Youth (READY)
Location: Rochester, NY, or Remote, with approximately 25% travel
Reports to: Chief Executive Officer

READY , Rochester Education and Development for Youth, is a 501(c)(3) strategic intermediary working to triple the number of Rochester K–12 students enrolled in high-quality schools, from approximately 3,000 students today to nearly 10,000 by 2034. We identify, evaluate, and invest in schools with the potential to deliver strong outcomes while helping build a broader ecosystem in which families are informed, educators reflect the diversity of the community, and policies and systems create the conditions for excellent schools to grow and thrive.

READY launched in 2023 and is entering an important period of growth. We partner with school leaders, families, funders, community organizations, business leaders, and other stakeholders who share our commitment to expanding educational opportunity and improving long-term outcomes for Rochester’s young people.

The Managing Director, School Strategy and Investments will develop and execute READY’s evidence-informed school investment strategy to increase the number of Rochester students attending high-quality schools. This includes identifying and evaluating promising founders, schools, and operators; structuring investments and support; overseeing launch, expansion, improvement, and technical assistance; monitoring performance; and determining where READY should continue, expand, adjust, or conclude its investment.

As a trusted partner to school leaders, the Managing Director, School Strategy and Investments will build strong relationships while maintaining clear expectations, surfacing risks early, and bringing sound judgment to complex decisions. This senior leader will also serve as a close thought partner to the CEO and contribute to broader organizational strategy, partnerships, and growth.

The role may be based in Rochester or remotely, with approximately 25% travel to Rochester and portfolio schools. Willingness to relocate to the Rochester area is welcomed but not required.

• Build a deep understanding of Rochester’s school landscape, including school quality, enrollment patterns, community priorities, unmet needs, and opportunities for growth
• Develop and refine a multi-year school investment strategy aligned with READY’s goal of expanding access to high-quality schools
• Recommend how READY should balance investments in new-school incubation, local school expansion, national replication, and school improvement
• Translate the strategy into clear priorities, timelines, resource needs, and measures of success

• Identify and cultivate aspiring founders, strong local schools, and national operators with the potential to serve more Rochester students
• Oversee READY’s school incubation work, including the development of fellows, coordination of supports, and assessment of readiness for continued investment
• Partner with local schools considering grade expansion, enrollment growth, replication, or additional sites
• Work with the CEO to recruit high-quality school operators from other communities to explore expansion into Rochester
• Ensure prospective school models are responsive to Rochester’s students, families, and community context

• Develop consistent criteria and processes for evaluating prospective founders, schools, operators, and investments
• Assess academic quality, leadership capacity, financial sustainability, operational readiness,…