About BUILD
Founded in 1999, BUILD’s mission is to use entrepreneurship to ignite the power of youth in under-resourced communities to build Career success, Entrepreneurial mindsets, and Opportunity. BUILD helps students become the CEO of their own lives. We believe in the potential of every student and are dedicated to breaking down the educational, economic, and social barriers that stand in the way of their long-term success. We have a bold vision to triple the number of students we serve and seek a dynamic leader to help us meet that vision.
Our unique program offers high school students a four-year entrepreneurship experience where students launch real businesses and build 21st century skills. Our curriculum focuses on teaching collaboration, communication, problem-solving, innovation, grit, and self-management. Entrepreneurship is the hook; college, career, and life success are the goals. 97% of BUILD seniors have graduated from high school on time, and over 80% go on to college. Upon completion of the program in high school, students have the opportunity to stay connected through BUILD’s Alumni Program offerings.
With a budget of approximately $15M and a team of over 60 people, we currently serve approximately 2,000 high school students annually in New York City, Boston, the San Francisco Bay Area, Los Angeles, Washington, D.C., and Pittsburgh. We are continuing to grow our national footprint through our new digital offerings that have enabled us to reach over 100 cities across the country. Our staff have trained nearly 400 educators, and over 12,000 youth have participated in our digital BUILD Design Challenge since its launch in 2020.
For more information on BUILD, please visit our web site at www.build.org and view our Annual Report here.
The Chief Executive Officer Opportunity
With a strong foundation that includes more than 20 years of success, BUILD is well positioned to expand our impact exponentially, leveraging digital opportunities and a blended model to reach thousands more students, educators, and skills-based volunteers. We are seeking a growth-oriented, purpose-driven, and strategic Chief Executive Officer to lead this expansion, galvanizing current and future supporters to be part of our mission and impact.
Motivated by a deep commitment to our students and to racial equity, the Chief Executive Officer will serve as a visionary and energizing champion for our work. They will inspire and activate our staff, board, partners, and supporters to propel BUILD’s growth, while keeping students and our mission at the center of all we do. Externally, the Chief Executive Officer will share a vision for BUILD that motivates partners and funders to be part of our growth and to recognize BUILD as a leader in building a movement around youth entrepreneurship. Internally, they will provide strategic leadership for our talented staff and ensure the resources and supports necessary for our team to fulfill our mission as we grow. The Chief Executive Officer will exemplify the spirit of innovation and entrepreneurialism that grounds our work.
Reporting to the Board of Directors, the Chief Executive Officer will provide leadership and management across all aspects of the organization, with specific areas of focus that include:
- Guiding our growth strategy, leveraging experience in scaling organizations and facilitating change to ensure our team can expand our impact while sustaining program quality
- Cultivating and stewarding relationships with BUILD funders and sharing BUILD’s story, vision, and successes with a wide variety of audiences including educators, individual donors, foundations, and corporations
- Engaging partners in the education landscape, both nationally and within BUILD communities, to ensure opportunities for program expansion and to support the success of BUILD’s policy and advocacy agendas
- Collaborating with the President to inspire, motivate, and mentor the National Leadership Team, the Executive Committee, and the broader BUILD staff and to ensure our team has the resources necessary for success
- Upholding and modeling an inclusive organizational culture that celebrates and encourages collaboration, grit, innovation, and entrepreneurial spirit and that puts BUILD students and communities at the center of our work
Read and download the full position profile here.
