Executive Director

Description

The Executive Director serves as the executive leader of Tulsa Higher Education Consortium and is responsible for advancing the organization's mission through visionary leadership, partnership development, strategic planning, resource development, financial stewardship, organizational management, and board governance.

The Executive Director leads a talented team while serving as the region's primary convener around postsecondary attainment, student success, workforce alignment, and systems change in higher education.

Reports to: The Chair of the Board of Directors and Tulsa Community Foundation

Status: Full-time, based in Tulsa, Oklahoma. The role is in-person and community-facing, with regular work across member campuses and partner sites.

• Lead the wind down of the  Strategic Plan, plan and execute related initiatives, and shape the organization's next strategic plan in partnership with the Board.
• Establish measurable outcomes, milestones, and reporting cadences that keep the organization accountable and data informed.
• Identify emerging opportunities at the intersection of higher education, workforce, housing, and economic development, and translate them into cross-sector initiatives.
• Drive systems change by aligning institutional practices, policy, and resources around student success, seamless transfer pathways, and degree attainment.

• Serve as THE Consortium's chief external representative and public voice, including at state, regional, and national conferences and in statewide policy conversations on transfer and degree attainment.
• Cultivate trusted relationships and communicate regularly and effectively with university and college presidents, foundation leaders, elected officials, city and state agency leaders, chamber and business executives, and national partners.
• Serve as a respected, neutral convener across higher education, philanthropy, government, and business, representing the interests of all member institutions equitably.
• Navigate an evolving state policy and legislative environment with sound political judgment, maintaining productive relationships across the political spectrum.
• Lead major convenings, Communities of Practice, and Leadership Council engagement.
• Build THE Consortium's visibility and influence as a national model for cross-sector higher education collaboration.

• Design and lead a diversified revenue strategy spanning federal grants, national and regional philanthropy, corporate partnerships, government contracts, and membership dues.
• Lead the organization's fundraising efforts, cultivating and stewarding relationships with major funders, supported by contracted grant prospecting and writing services.
• Oversee grant compliance, implementation, and reporting across a complex portfolio that includes federal awards.
• Keep member dues affordable by securing outside investment that strengthens programs while protecting institutional budgets.

• Lead, develop, and retain a high-performing professional team through clear supervision, coaching, and professional growth opportunities, giving staff autonomy to lead their programs.
• Build organizational culture rooted in collaboration, accountability, innovation, continuous improvement, and student-centered purpose.
• Maintain effective performance management, succession planning, and staffing structures aligned to strategic priorities.
• Ensure the organization has the operational systems, technology, and physical resources to work efficiently and deliver high-impact programs.

• Lead annual budgeting, forecasting, and financial planning as an independent nonprofit.
• Maintain disciplined financial oversight, including budget-to-actual reporting and cash flow monitoring, and maintain a minimum of three months of operating reserves.
• Ensure federal grant compliance, accurate drawdowns, internal controls, and audit readiness.
• Provide the Board and Finance Committee with clear, timely financial reporting and dashboards.

• Serve as strategic advisor and thought partner to the Board of Directors and its committees.
• Support strong governance through agenda development, strategic framing of board discussions, and timely, transparent reporting.
• Lead board member recruitment, onboarding, and engagement in partnership with the Board Chair.
• Guide the Board through the organization's early years as an independent…