Pave HER Way, Founding Executive Director

Job Description

Job Description

ORGANIZATION

Pave HER Way is a California nonprofit public benefit corporation established to uplift girls and women into positions of leadership and influence through funding, access, programming, and mentorship. Inspired by proven models of program design and impact measurement, Pave HER Way adapts best practices to its own bold vision of empowerment. We believe women thrive when given the full suite of structural and financial supports—tools that not only enable individual success, but fuel broader social and economic transformation. Our work spans four core program areas :

• Talent Identification & Barrier Removal : We proactively identify high-potential women and girls across diverse sectors—from STEM and finance to law and the arts—and remove logistical, financial, and cultural barriers to advancement.
• Practical Life Supports : These include childcare assistance, housing stipends, and skill-building memberships, ensuring women can focus on growth instead of survival.
• Mentoring & Community Building : Through structured mentor networks, peer events, and leadership retreats, we foster supportive ecosystems that advance long-term success.
• Scholarships & Internships : We provide targeted academic scholarships and assistance to launch women into influential roles.

Pave HER Way is guided by rigorous evaluation and community-informed feedback. An advisory council of educators, mental health professionals, and private-sector leaders helps shape our strategy, ensuring real-world impact. Our founding philanthropists, Jamie Mohn and Joe Blackstone, anchor our work, alongside a growing network of donors, volunteers, and institutional partners committed to removing both visible and invisible barriers for women and girls.

OPPORTUNITY

Pave HER Way seeks a bold, entrepreneurial leader to serve as its Founding Executive Director. This is a rare opportunity to launch and shape a mission-driven organization from the ground up. Reporting to the Board of Directors, the Executive Director will lead all aspects of strategic planning, organizational development, and program design. They will be responsible for building the team, securing partnerships and funding, and designing impactful supports for girls and women across Los Angeles and beyond.

This role calls for a leader who thrives in early-stage environments, understands the unique barriers facing women and girls, and is passionate about building systems that drive long-term opportunity.

MINDSETS

The ideal candidate will demonstrate the following dispositions :

RESPONSIBILITIES

Key Responsibilities of the Founding Executive Director include :

Strategic Vision, Program Development & Organizational Leadership

External Relations, Communications & Strategic Partnerships

Long-Term Fundraising & Sustainability

Board Engagement & Governance

Financial Stewardship & Budget Management

YEAR-1 PRIORITIES

Pave HER Way has identified the following Year-1 priorities for the Founding Executive Director :

Requirements

QUALIFICATIONS

In order to fulfill these responsibilities, the ideal Founding Executive Director candidate will have :

Benefits

COMPENSATION & BENEFITS

This is an exempt full-time position. The Founding Executive Director is expected to be based in the Greater Los Angeles region and work in a hybrid environment. Salary range is $260,000–$290,000 and includes a comprehensive benefits package, including healthcare, dental, vision, PTO, and retirement. The role will also require national travel, particularly to Washington, D.C., as part of building Pave HER Way into a national organization.

TO APPLY

Please submit a resume online at https : / / apply.workable.com / j / B13C159559 / .

Pave HER Way is an equal opportunity employer and an organization that values diversity. Recruiting staff to create an inclusive organization is a priority, and we encourage applicants from all backgrounds. Candidates are evaluated solely on their qualifications to perform the work required.