What are the responsibilities and job description for the Fellow: Strategy Leadership Program position at The College Board?
STRATEGY LEADERSHIP PROGRAM : STRATEGY FELLOW
The College Board Strategy Leadership Program is a two-year program designed to train the next generation of strategists and leaders in education. Strategy Fellows will develop skill in all aspects of problem-solving, from defining and analyzing problems , to developing and communicating recommendations, in service of advancing innovative and equity-based projects with the potential to improve the lives of students at scale.
The Strategy Team at the College Board tackles some of the organization’s most interesting and challenging problems, with frequent exposure to the CEO and President . Former members of this team have gone on to pursue graduate degrees, like an MBA at Harvard Business School, to leadership roles at mission-driven organizations, like Guild Education and the Gates Foundation , and to high impact roles within the College Board. As an example of the impact you could have, our team recently created and incubated the College Board Opportunity Scholarships Program , a $25m initiative which guides students through the complicated process of applying to college.
The Strategy Leadership Program is designed for professionals with ~2 years of post-college professional experience with a keen interest in growing skill in all aspects of problem-solving . Strong applicants will have an outstanding record of academic and leadership accomplishment and have substantial experience working and building relationships in low-income communities .
Program design:
0-12 months: Resident on Strategy Team, going through formal training program on all aspects of problem-solving while conducting research, analysis, synthesis to support Strategy Team projects
12-24 months: embed on strategy projects within specific College Board team(s) while developing a professional development plan in consultation with the VP of Strategy on pursuits beyond the two-year mark. This may take the form of a permanent role within the College Board or building on the problem-solving skillset in other areas of interest (e.g., graduate school).
Strategy Fellows are full-time paid employees and are eligible for College Board benefits, including health insurance , retirement contributions , and tuition assistance. The position is resident in New York City (relocation assistance available) and reports to the Vice President of Strategy
Note: Cover letters are not required for this application, and they will not be reviewed. In lieu of cover letters, please consider the two questions contained within the application as an opportunity to express more about yourself and your interest in this role.
A BOUT THE ROLE
As a Fellow , you will work closely with strategy team members to support projects. You will:
Work on all stages of the problem-solving process:
Define problems
Formulate and test hypotheses
Conduct market research ( e.g. company profiles, industry overviews), g ather information and analyze it quantitatively and qualitatively
Develop and communicate recommendations
Support team to p resent results to senior management and implement recommendations in collaboration with team members across the organization
Work with a range of experts in the organization, including researchers, program leaders, and data scientists
The Strategy Team prioritizes coaching and development – you’ll receive significant opportunities for challenge and growth. Your experience includes:
Formal training program with session-based practice going through all phases of problem-solving process, management of self, and team/relationship skill development
C oaching and mentorship You’ll be coached by team members who have worked for a variety of organizations, including McKinsey, New York University, Teach For America, Network For Teaching Entrepreneurship, and Obama For America.
Practical s kill development You’ll serve as an analyst to support strategy project s and develop evidence-based recommendations to leadership
E xposure to senior leadership with opportunities to learn about different parts of the education sector and College Board Programs and strategy
Exposure and networking with staff , including those who share aspects of identi ty
ABOUT YOU
Minimum of 2 years professional experience post-college
Outstanding academic performance
Substantial accomplishments in early professional career and/or in colleg e ( e.g. you are someone who proactively solves problems at hand to improve outcomes)
Emerging problem-solving skills and interest in problem-solving and strategy , but not necessary to have formal training and development in consulting- or research-style problem-solving
Strong commitment to excellence and personal and professional growth
Keen interest in addressing systems-level problems and opportunities
Resourceful, intellectually curious, empathetic
Highly effective at building relationships across lines of difference
S ubstantial experience working and building relationships in low-income communities