About Rainier Scholars

Founded in 2000, Rainier Scholars is the only comprehensive college preparatory program in the greater Seattle area. The program makes a long-term investment in the lives of the Scholars, who as underrepresented students of color, experience the greatest number of barriers to achieving a college education. Scholars are often the first in their family to earn a college degree. Rainier Scholars’ comprehensive and rigorous, twelve-year program offers personalized support from 5th grade through college graduation, as the organization eliminates barriers to educational opportunities and grows new generations of diverse college graduates, career professionals, and community leaders.

Originally based on Prep for Prep’s successful model in New York City, Rainier Scholars’ success has driven its growth over the past several years. The organization is governed by a strong, engaged, and well-managed Board of Directors, boasting several notable executives, community leaders and significant donors. With two sites in Seattle and Tacoma, a budget of nearly $9 million, a staff of more than 50 full-time team members and more than 950 Scholars and families currently served, Rainier Scholars is poised for accelerated growth and impact.

Rainier Scholars recently published a new Five Year Strategic Plan outlining multiple pillars of future work for the organization focused on increasing the number of sites and Scholars it serves, further developing its vibrant alumni network, and strengthening the Scholar and family experience. In navigating and executing this plan successfully, Rainier Scholars has the opportunity to materially change the lives of many more hundreds if not thousands of Scholars and their families in the Pacific Northwest and beyond.

Mission

To cultivate the academic and leadership potential of underrepresented students of color through rigorous, transformative opportunities that increase college graduation rates and empower new generations of leaders.

Vision

Rainier Scholars envisions a more just and inclusive society with equitable representation of people of color at all levels of leadership and influence.

PROGRAM: TWELVE YEARS OF SUPPORT

Recruitment - Rainier Scholars recruits underrepresented students of color from six school districts in and around Seattle and Tacoma.

Prep and Placement - Rising fifth graders join our rigorous academic program over multiple summers, coupled with supplemental classes during the school year. We prepare students for top college preparatory programs in independent and public schools.

Academic Counseling - Rainier Scholars supports the academic and personal development of students from middle school through college completion. Academic counselors build personal and trusting relationships with scholars and families—meeting regularly, organizing socials, and leading workshops.

Leadership and Career Development - We identify and provide access to academic, leadership, and professional development opportunities. Scholars make the most of high school and college internships and skill-building workshops. They leverage opportunities to explore career pathways and build their professional networks.

College Counseling - Rainier Scholars provides one-on-one support for students and families as they navigate the complex college application and decision-making process. From financial aid guidance, essay review, and admissions coaching, we are there every step of the way.

Alumni - Our growing alumni community includes young professionals committed to mutual support, networking, and professional development. This groups stays connected through social activities and mentoring younger scholars.

RESULTS

· 98% of scholars are on college prep pathways.

· 94% of high school graduates attended a four-year college or university.

· 89% of eligible scholars have graduated, or are on track to graduate, from four-year colleges and universities.

· 97% of 2023 college graduates are in full time jobs or enrolled in graduate school programs.

WORKING AT RAINIER SCHOLARS

The Rainier Scholars community is grounded in four core values, referred to as EPIC: Excellence, Perseverance, Integrity, and Courage. Rainier Scholars promotes these high expectations among staff and Scholars alike. An inclusive, collaborative work culture, based on authentic communication, the desire to always keep learning and innovating, and an unwavering commitment to our mission of educational equity, remains key to the organization’s success. The Rainier Scholars team reflects the diversity of the communities the organization serves and is 72% BIPOC.

COMMITMENT TO EQUITY

The organization’s work is rooted in ensuring people from marginalized communities thrive in education and careers that they are passionate about. Rainier Scholars is committed to promoting an equitable and inclusive environment for Scholars, families, and staff.

RAINIER SCHOLARS STRATEGIC PLAN

· Rainier Scholars conducted a deep review of the organization and the local landscape to create a plan that addresses the needs and aspirations of its community.

· This plan includes strategies, measurements of success and desired outcomes to strengthen the Scholar and family experience, build a vibrant alumni network and increase impact by growing the number of sites Rainier Scholars serves.

· Learn more about Building a Bold Future: The Rainier Scholars Strategic Plan.

For more information about Rainier Scholars, please visit: https://www.rainierscholars.org/

POSITION SUMMARY

Rainier Scholars seeks a Chief Executive Officer (CEO) to lead the organization as it accelerates and scales its transformational academic and leadership development program empowering the next generation of diverse leaders to impact the world. In collaboration with the Board of Trustees and the Executive Leadership Team, the CEO will hone, refine, shape, and execute the current strategic plan, provide operational leadership for the organization, and act decisively to achieve Rainier Scholars’ ambitious growth goals.

Embodying the organization’s core values of Excellence, Perseverance, Integrity, and Courage, this leader will bring an expansive vision of more and better impact through strategic growth, an authentic passion for the organization’s mission, its people, and the Scholars and families themselves. This leader will also embrace the opportunity to leverage and expand the organization’s track record of success and its powerful brand. The next CEO will inspire and support a talented and diverse group of staff and Scholars and deepen relationships with underrepresented communities across Seattle, Tacoma, and beyond.

The CEO is appointed by the Board of Trustees and is responsible for the short and long-term success and sustainability of the organization across multiple sites. Managing a capable and passionate Executive Leadership Team, this thoughtful and charismatic CEO will oversee day-to-day operations and holistic program offerings, while inspiring the staff to ensure a vibrant Scholar and alumni experience. The CEO will serve as the leading advocate for Rainier Scholars, nurturing relationships, raising funds, and representing the organization with all constituencies in Seattle, the regional nonprofit community and on the national stage.

KEY RELATIONSHIPS

Reports to: Board of Trustees

Direct reports: 

Associate Executive Director- Seattle

Associate Executive Director- Tacoma

Director of Strategic Growth & Program Design

Chief Advancement Officer

Chief Financial Officer

Other key relationships: 

Staff

Scholars, alumni, parents/guardians/families

Seattle Independent Schools

Seattle and Tacoma Public School Leadership Teams

State and Community Leaders

Philanthropic Partners

CORE PRIORITIES

• Mission, Values, Culture, Team
  • Fulfill our mission with every Rainier Scholar.
  • Exemplify the four core values, known as EPIC: Excellence, Perserverence, Integrity, and Courage.
  • Invest in and advance Rainier Scholars’ culture of diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging.
  • Provide vision and leadership to staff and foster a high performance, collaborative environment in which quality goals are developed and met; promote transparent communication, trust, wellness, cooperation, and mutual respect for all staff, Scholars and families.
  • Build on the success and strong national reputation of Rainier Scholars.
• Operations and Financial Management
  • Effectively and prudently manage a ~$9 million budget, sites of operation, partnership with the Board, and direct all academic and institutional priorities of the organization.
  • Deeply engage in the stewardship of all aspects of the academic, operational, and financial functions of the organization and regularly evaluate their impact on organizational goals.
  • Implement Board policy and develop administrative procedures to manage site operations. Recommend policy updates and adoptions to the board.
  • Leverage metrics, data, evidence, and assessment to monitor the quality of our programs and operations, especially as the organization continues to grow and scale.
  • Ensure all facilties are properly maintained and that adequate provision is made for the safety of Scholars, families, and staff.
• Growth Initiative Oversight
  • Define and navigate growth and scale for the organization and for the communities of Scholars and families that it serves.
  • Evaluate current programs, develop strategy to improve results, and align resources to ensure the Scholars and staff have what is needed to meet the organization’s ambitions.
  • Work strategically with an engaged and effective Board of Trustees and Executive Leadership Team to guide Rainier Scholars’ evolution and continuous growth, ensvisioned in Building a Bold Future: The Rainier Scholars Strategic Plan.
• Relationships, Advocacy & Fundraising
  • Cultivate and build relationships throughout the Seattle and Tacoma communities, including with key community partners, and current and potential donors.
  • Attract philanthropic support for the organization’s ambitions; forge and manage the relationships and have the story-telling skills needed to inspire partners of Rainier Scholars.
  • Remain informed and influence, when appropriate, developments in relevant local, state, and federal laws and policies, and ensure compliance with all applicable requirements.

The CEO must currently live in or be willing to relocate to the Seattle area.

CANDIDATE PROFILE 

IDEAL EXPERIENCE

Mission Orientation - Leadership experience within, and personal commitment to, organizations aligned with Rainier Scholars’ mission and core values. Deep understanding of, and/or demonstrated appreciation for, the landscape of K-12 education.

Inspiring and Enterprising Leader - Experience serving as an inspiring, authentic, and credible leader, as well as communicator and relationship builder to a range of internal and external stakeholders with diverse experiences and viewpoints. A track record of innovative and entrepreneurial leadership within dynamic and growing organizations and diverse operational environments. Experience leading leaders, and empowering high-performing teams while successfully driving results and growth.

Demonstrated Commitment to Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging - An authentic, unwavering, demonstrated commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging in all forms, internally and externally, as a personal and professional value. Track record of impact on organizational culture, systems, practices, and strategies which drive measurable progress on the dimensions of educational access, equity, and belonging.

Financial and Operational Expertise - Extensive management experience with a strong financial and organizational acumen. A demonstrated ability to build, manage, and empower teams to perform at the highest level of quality, unity, stability, trust, and effectiveness. Successful leadership and management of a multi-site organization, and budget of similar size and scope to Rainier Scholars, preferred.

Education Leadership Experience - Working knowledge of, and appreciation for school leadership, both in independent and public schools. Strong familiarity with how to manage a team overseeing a high-performing academic program committed to equity, access, and opportunity.

Strategic Stewardship and Fundraising - A demonstrated ability to develop and execute strategy, manage, and align resources, use data, implement plans with fidelity, identify challenges and assess progress, and address gaps to achieve strong and consistently high results across all functional areas. A creative and ambitious advocate for philanthropic support with a track record of successful fundraising, including cultivating and stewarding major donors and external partners, preferred.

Partnership with a Board - Experience partnering and collaborating effectively and transparently with a Board of Trustees/Directors.

CRITICAL LEADERSHIP CAPABILITIES

Building Organizational Capacity

• Provides clear leadership and understanding of Rainier Scholars’ financial, physical, and human assets, meeting the needs of the organization’s evolving needs, as outlined in the strategic plan.
• Anticipates future challenges and opportunities, illuminates, and builds awareness of emerging priorities and potential, and works with the Board, Executive Leadership Team, and other partners to proactively adjust the organization’s direction accordingly.
• Balances short-term decision-making while conveying a long-term vision for how Rainier Scholars can evolve and scale to drive greater impact and results.
• Provides critical leadership to attract, retain, and empower a talented and diverse team; Promotes and sustains a culture of accountability.
• Develops a strong relationship with the Rainier Scholars Board of Trustees, ensuring that both governance and leadership are aligned to set and achieve organizational priorities.
• Challenges assumptions and conventional wisdom with specific, data-driven, and well-reasoned proposals, exhibiting clear vision and the ability to follow through on a focused mission with measurable outcomes.

Inclusive Orientation

• Engages, inspires, and empowers a diverse, motivated, and high-performing team, bringing out each team member’s personal best while modeling a passion for Rainier Scholars’ mission and delegating responsibilities as appropriate.
• Holds the organization accountable for its commitments and EPIC values, providing clarity, fairness, and constructive feedback, and motivates team members to reach their full potential as they achieve organizational goals. Invests in and promotes professional development and wellness for self and staff.
• Builds and sustains a culture where every member of the team can bring their full identity and experience to their work. Partners with staff as they think proactively and boldly about the future.
• Demonstrates a deep, authentic commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion for scholars, staff, and the extended Rainier Scholars community.
• Capacity for Board building, development, and alignment.

Collaborating and Partnering

• Articulates Rainier Scholars’ mission, culture, value proposition, and impact effectively and with passion, and serves as an authentic and compelling internal and external spokesperson.
• Cultivates and builds relationships with current and potential donors and partners, ultimately increasing Rainier Scholars’ funding to support greater impact. Partner closely with the Advancement team to meet the ambitions of the organization.
• Impeccable credibility, integrity, and ability to create and maintain strong relationships built on trust and transparency with staff, Scholars, families, donors, and the extended Rainier Scholars community.

OTHER PERSONAL CHARACTERISTICS

• Authentic connection to, and infectious passion for the Rainier Scholars’ mission to cultivate the academic and leadership potential of underrepresented students of color and empower new generations of leaders.
• A love and passion for being around students and in partnership with school communities. Genuine interest in the lives of scholars, colleagues, and members of the extended Rainier Scholars community.
• An empathetic, transparent, courageous, and decisive leader with good judgement in alignment with Rainier Scholars’ core values.
• Confidence and willingness to listen openly, empower others, make challenging decisions, and share credit.
• Exceptional organizational, written, and verbal communication, public relations, and interpersonal skills. Thoughtful, inspiring, and able to articulate decisions in a clear manner.

Compensation

$300,000-$375,000 based on skills, experience, abilities, and organizational needs. In addition to the annual salary, Rainier Scholars offers a strong benefits package.

APPLICATIONS AND NOMINATIONS

To express interest or to nominate a potential candidate for the Rainier Scholars CEO position, please email: RainierScholars@spencerstuart.com.

Rainier Scholars is rooted in ensuring people from marginalized communities have the opportunity to thrive in education and careers that they are passionate about. Rainier Scholars is an equal opportunity employer committed to promoting an equitable and inclusive environment for our scholars, families, and staff.

We welcome applications from people of all backgrounds, and strongly encourage people of color, first generation college graduates, and people from working class backgrounds to apply.