Managing Director - Democracy, Strategy & Build

Reports to: GDI Americas CEO

GDI is an incubator for transformational development ventures, working to build and scale the next generation of social impact solutions. From climate to agriculture, health to economic inclusion, we build across sectors to drive game-changing impact at scale. Whether the concepts originate from sector experts, or are developed and tested ourselves, we create new approaches to address persistent global issues. 

Over 12–36 months, we deploy our functional teams to help early-stage initiatives design their business strategy and model, develop their brand identity, hire and retain talent, and construct their financial and operational infrastructure. 

Since our founding in 2013, GDI has built a significant track record in our field, having now shaped over 70 social impact ventures.

Global Development Incubator is seeking a senior hire to lead the development of a portfolio of innovative social impact initiatives aimed at strengthening democracy in the United States (and potentially globally) by addressing its fundamental drivers—the deep forces that shape democratic systems and participation. We believe that this is a time for broad experimentation in support of democratic norms and democratic governance in many countries.  We recognize that there are many ways to approach the challenge of strengthening democracy, and we welcome candidates with diverse perspectives on its most pressing needs. Some may take a broad view, while others may focus on a specific driver—such as civic engagement, social trust, economic inclusion, tech or media innovations, electoral process innovations, community organizing, or racial repair. We encourage applicants to bring their own vision and expertise to this work, shaping the portfolio in ways that reflect both their insights and our shared commitment to strengthening democracy.

A successful candidate will 

• Develop and refine a strategic vision for this portfolio while also creating space for new ideas, approaches, and frameworks that can strengthen democracy in meaningful ways

• Engage with a broad range of stakeholders (grassroots organizers, policymakers, experts, entrepreneurs) to build initiatives that are responsive and impactful.

• Identify and pursue opportunities to address the fundamental drivers of democracy

The successful candidate may take on a set of existing opportunities to further design and launch, while also exploring and shaping other opportunities that they believe could create large-scale impact.

What is a Strategy & Build Managing Director? This role is a unique opportunity to shape and lead a portfolio of initiatives. GDI’s S&B Managing Directors collaborate with social sector leaders, experts, and entrepreneurs to address some of the world’s toughest problems, helping to turn big ideas into effective, value-adding organizations. These organizations may be multi-stakeholder initiatives (like Global Opportunity Youth Network and Resilient Water Accelerator), financing facilities (like Emergent and Aceli), and global public goods (like the Global Digital Health Monitor). 

Sometimes S&B Managing Directors hatch initiatives in-house. In other cases, entrepreneurs or donors come to us with a big idea that needs an incubation partner. In either case, you will act as a strategist, advisor, integrator, implementer, and often board member. You will work closely with a cohort of Strategy & Build managers and associates; you’ll also collaborate with GDI’s four other functional teams: finance and operations; brand, marketing, and communications; resource mobilization; and talent. While each Managing Director has significant autonomy to lead her/his own portfolio, we also collectively form a global community of practice of social entrepreneurs and system-strategists.

What does our current democracy portfolio look like? The new Managing Director will have the opportunity to pursue existing opportunities and/or shape other opportunities that could create large-scale impact. For context, GDI has incubated several initiatives aimed at strengthening democracy. These include:

• Tango is exploring approaches that would increase cooperation across divided groups and build a bridge for civic engagement. The effort is based on the evidence-based research and quiz game developed by Professor Joshua Greene from Harvard Psychology, which has shown sustained improvements in goodwill across partisan divides.

• The Dignity Restoration Project is building the operating infrastructure to support the national race reparations movement, starting in Detroit. The effort draws on the pioneering scholarship of Professor Bernadette Atuahene, a lawyer and ethnographer.

• The Reparative Bar Association is a bar association that will equip lawyers to advance and safeguard the reparations movement. The initiative was conceived by Howard University Law Professor Justin Hansford, a civil rights lawyer and social entrepreneur.

• With a team at the MIT Media Lab, we launched Public Mind, a startup that developed AI-powered tools to make online public discourse more useful for democracy.

Responsibilities

Portfolio Leadership

• Cultivate prospects and shape new opportunities for GDI incubation. 

• Serve as the strategic advisor, executive coach, and chief operator to GDI’s incubation partners. 

• Develop a roadmap to scale for initiatives; ensure an iterative approach to developing strategy and then building-the-plane-while-flying-it.

• Deliver end-to-end accountability in managing priority relationships throughout the incubation lifecycle.

• Oversee budgets for financial sustainability of the initiative and of GDI

• Integrate services provided by other GDI teams and external consultants and experts and ensure implementation.

• Support outreach, network-building, and fundraising effort.

• Travel as needed.

GDI Leadership

• Manage an overall portfolio against milestones, budget, and target outcomes; participate in quarterly portfolio reviews with the GDI leadership team.

• Contribute to overall management of GDI as a member of the Global Leadership Team (GLT), including by proactively contributing to the ongoing development of GDI’s incubation practice and mentoring GDI staff.

• Support broader thought leadership and knowledge management, including documenting best practices or authoring articles, blogs and other publications.

• Perform other duties as requested.

• 12+ years of work experience in social enterprises or other impact organizations, management consulting, and/or responsible investing; a mix of strategic and operating professional experiences is ideal

• Deep experience and networks in your area of interest, across innovators, academics, activists, and donors.

• Successful track record of developing strategy and ensuring a team’s ability to deliver against it, including through periods of growth, adaptation, and ambiguity  

• Demonstrated success developing cross-sectoral partnerships

• Entrepreneurial mindset and experiences, in the private, public, and/or social sector

• Exceptional verbal and written communication skills; effective influencer of diverse perspectives with a demonstrated ability to facilitate change at the senior level of organizations

Additional attributes we look for in our incubation practice leadership include:

• Proactive problem-solving skills

• Collaborative leadership style: team player; excellent listening skills; trust-builder 

• Ability to self-manage work streams and tasks; self-directed and resourceful with high standards for quality output.

• A curious and creative intellect and a style that includes flexibility, levelness, and a sense of humor and humility.

Compensation and Benefits

The salary range for this position is $185,000–$210,000. GDI offers a comprehensive benefits package that includes employer contributions to health, dental, and vision insurance plans for employees and dependents and 401(k) matching contributions.

Application Process

If you are interested in this position and meet the qualifications above, please submit a single PDF document containing a one-page cover letter and CV/resume outlining their interest in this position and why they would be a good fit. Please note that the cover letter is considered an important aspect of the application and will be evaluated against the qualifications above. Applications that do not include a cover letter will not be considered. Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.

Global Development Incubator is an equal opportunity employer and we are committed to a diverse and inclusive workplace.