Career Opportunities

 
 
 

Strategy & Growth Lead

About the Practical Wisdom Project

The Practical Wisdom Project at the Abigail Adams Institute is a research–practice partnership advancing practical wisdom in those who lead and form others across sectors. Its flagship initiative, Wisdom at Work: Revitalizing School Leadership, engages school leadership teams through executive education, design-based research, and field-building evidence based tools and publications. 

Wisdom at Work has three aims: 

  1. Revitalize formative school leadership in practice serving (75+ school leaders across 25 schools) 

  2. Establish practical wisdom as central to formative leadership in mainstream, policy, and academic discourse 

  3. Build a sustainable, scalable model for cross-sector replication 

We are now moving from program development to a sustainable, scalable program model. 

The Role

The Strategy & Growth Lead is responsible for translating the project’s vision into an executable, sustainable model. This includes: 

  • Building the path from a grant-funded initiative to a sustainable model 

  • Establishing the systems, processes and operating structures required for scale 

  • Developing revenue pathways (subscription, licensure, partnerships, philanthropy) 

  • Leading the development of the central website platform, the hub that will house our content, establish our brand presence and leverage our dissemination and inbound marketing strategy 

This is a senior strategic execution role. It operationalizes the project's vision, leverages its leadership and assets and ensures the work is coordinated, resourced, and scalable within a focused remit. 

Operating Context 

This is a build-stage initiative. Core systems and operating structures are not yet fully in place. The role is responsible for establishing the systems, rhythms, and coordination required to develop and scale the vision, while ensuring the PI and Co-PI are positioned to operate at highest leverage as field leaders and influencers. 

Leadership Structure 

  • Principal Investigator (PI): Vision, pedagogy, external leadership and publications 

  • Co-PI: Research and design-based research model and publications 

  • Strategy & Sustainability Lead: Strategic execution and sustainability build the offerings, business model and website platform hub (this role) 

The role works in close partnership with the PI and Co-PI, with clear responsibility for execution across domains. 

Core Responsibilities 

1. Strategic Alignment & Execution 

  • Translate vision into clear priorities, milestones, and decision points 

  • Coordinate work across research, pedagogy, communications, and operations 

  • Establish core operating systems (planning, coordination, vendor management, reporting) 

  • Maintain alignment with grant deliverables and timelines

2. Platform, Brand, and Dissemination 

  • Lead development of the Wisdom at Work Hub 

  • Oversee brand identity and user experience 

  • Structure content for multiple audiences (leaders, educators, public, scholars) 

  • Ensure consistent and effective dissemination across channels 

3. Revenue & Sustainability Model 

  • Design and launch subscription and licensure pathways 

  • Support cohort recruitment and program growth 

  • Maintain and refine the financial model through regular forecasting 

4. Partnerships & Development 

  • Cultivate institutional partnerships and donor relationships 

  • Lead grant writing and continuation funding strategy 

  • Leverage the PI and Co-PI’s relationships, scholarship, and convening power to expand reach 

What Success Looks Like 

Within 12 months: 

  • A functional platform serving multiple audiences 

  • Initial subscription and licensure pathways in place 

  • A defined and consistently applied brand and communications strategy 

  • An active donor and funding pipeline 

By Year 4: 

  • A sustainable, scalable program model in operation 

  • Revenue from subscription and licensure supporting core functions 

  • Expanded reach of practical wisdom in leadership discourse across sectors 

Role Focus: From R&D to Scalable Model 

The core mandate is to move Wisdom at Work from a research–practice initiative into a sustainable, scalable program model with three integrated components: 

Practice

Executive education and a networked Community of Practice supporting school leadership teams 

Design-Based Research

An evidence base that generates practitioner-facing tools and contributes to scholarly understanding of practical wisdom in leadership 

Dissemination

Platform, content, and public engagement that extend the work into professional, policy, and academic discourse 

One-Line Synthesis 

The role builds the systems, strategy, and pathways required to scale a research-based leadership program into a sustainable model with impact across practice, research, and public discourse. 

What You Bring 

  • Experience scaling mission-driven initiatives from grant-funded to sustainable 

  • Strength in strategy, execution, and cross-functional coordination 

  • Familiarity with subscription, licensure, or professional learning models 

  • Experience in partnerships, fundraising, or institutional development 

  • Ability to translate research into applied strategy for multiple audiences 

  • Strong judgment working within a senior leadership team 

  • Commitment to education, leadership, and human flourishing 

FTE 

0.80 time position, based on experience. The scope is designed for high-leverage execution within a focused remit. 

Profile 

  • Candidates should have a BA or BS and 4+ years work experience as a senior team member who: 

  • Has taken a program or initiative to scale 

  • Can integrate strategy, operations, and growth 

  • Works effectively alongside academic leadership 

  • Balances long-term vision with focused execution 

How to Apply 

Please submit a cover letter, CV, and a short example of relevant work (e.g., evidence of a relevant project completed, a growth plan, or platform brief) and three references to Dr. Karen Bohlin at kbohlin@abigailadamsinstitute.org.