Strategist

Job Description

Job Description

Job Title : Strategist

Department : Institute for Capacity Building (ICB)

Reports To : Senior Director of Strategy

FLSA Status : Exempt

Salary : $85,000.00 - $90,000.00

We’re seeking a sharp, strategic communicator to lead efforts that generate transformative opportunities for HBCUs. This role blends relationship-building, policy insight, and thought leadership to forge partnerships and elevate the national conversation around HBCUs.

The ideal candidate is a confident writer and speaker, quick-thinking, and driven to win. You’ll manage key partners, represent the organization in public forums, and help others imagine their role in advancing HBCUs—no higher ed experience required, just a passion for impact.

JOB DESCRIPTION

ICB’s Strategist is responsible for the development of strategic priorities for the Institute for Capacity Building in conjunction with UNCF and ICB leadership. Reporting to the ICB Director of Strategy, the Strategist will join ICB’s Strategy Team, which is responsible for 1) nurturing the mission and vision of ICB, 2) cultivating opportunities for ICB to expand its impact, and 3) ensuring ICB’s work is integrated within UNCF and shared across external stakeholders. The Strategist will be a lead contributor to ICB’s strategic direction and will play a key role in efforts to secure funding and establish new programs and initiatives that improve capacity and institutional outcomes at Historically Black Colleges and Universities.

Successful Strategist candidates will be proven and visionary leaders with demonstrated abilities and prior achievements in one or more of the following fields : communications, research, program development, concept generation, grant writing and professional relationship-building. As a lead contributor to ICB’s mission and external engagement strategies, the position will require an individual that is comfortable with adaptive leadership, collaboration, and persuasive writing and oration. An extraordinary candidate for this role will possess a foundational understanding of higher education, program development, non-profit and philanthropic leadership, and the strengths and challenges of Historically Black Colleges and Universities.

ABOUT UNCF

The United Negro College Fund (UNCF) has been an engine of educational achievement for more than 80 years. UNCF’s mission is to build a robust and nationally recognized pipeline of HBCU students who, because of UNCF support, become highly qualified college graduates. In addition, UNCF ensures that its member institutions remain respected models of best practices in moving students to and through college. Since its inception in 1944, UNCF has raised over $6 billion in private support, distributed scholarships to help students attend school, and enabled more than 500,000 scholars and low-income students to graduate from UNCF’s member historically black colleges and universities (HBCUs) and launch professional careers. UNCF is committed to closing the educational attainment gap by increasing postsecondary access and success for student groups, particularly low-income and first-generation students.

ABOUT ICB

Launched in 2006, UNCF’s Institute for Capacity Building (ICB) provides targeted capacity-building resources to help HBCUs improve their resilience. We define resilience as the institution’s ability to improve its operation today and future-proof them for tomorrow. ICB’s engagement equips UNCF member institutions, and other HBCUs and PBIs, to provide high-quality educational experiences to their students and the broader community. ICB’s work focuses on three areas critical to HBCU success : institutional effectiveness, academic competitiveness, and financial viability. Beyond our strategic advisory and project management support, ICB serves as an innovation hub for Black colleges, connecting institutions to funders, best practices, resources, and subject matter experts both within and outside of UNCF.

Successful candidates will join the Institute for Capacity Building team which is headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia. In addition to specific roles and responsibilities, ICB team members have proven to be successful when they :

• Are driven to serve people and institutions that are often undervalued and overlooked;
• Embrace collaboration as a critical value to ensure effective teamwork and adoption of best practices;
• Seek out opportunities to innovate and improve upon conventional practices and procedures;
• Take personal responsibility for executing key projects and developing relationships; and
• Operate with a sense of mission and purpose.

PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITIES AND DUTIES :

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES

This job has no supervisory responsibilities.

QUALIFICATIONS :

EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE

Bachelor’s degree; graduate or professional degree in law, higher education, policy or administration preferred with 5-7 years of relevant work experience required.

OTHER SKILLS AND ABILITIES

COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS

Benefits include :

Medical, Dental & Vision

Vacation, Sick & Personal Leave

Life Insurance (Basic & Optional)

Flex Spending Accounts

403(b) Retirement Account

Holiday Savings Plan

Annual Success Sharing

Salary Range : $85,000.00 To $90,000.00 per year (Salary is commensurate with experience.) This is a hybrid role : 4 days on-site and 1-day remote per week, located in UNCF’s Atlanta office.

UNCF is EOE M / F / D / V