Director of Special Projects

Who We AreHively, derived from ‘lively’ and ‘hive’, is a thriving community full of life and energy. At our core, we are a family-centered social impact organization dedicated to multi-generational well-being. Our mission is to strengthen and support children and their families throughout Alameda County. We believe that through subsidized child care, mental health support, and community services centered in families of all types and backgrounds, we can significantly change children and parents' possibilities to thrive in life. If this resonates with you, we invite you to apply to join our team! 
Our Team & Culture Our Team at Hively is a passionate and diverse group of individuals from a wide range of different lived experiences, backgrounds and professional expertise. We strive every day to create an environment for families and staff that is inclusive and welcoming of different experiences and perspectives. We prioritize learning, listening, and growing together and to foster a culture of respect. 
About the Role: We are seeking an experienced and dynamic Director of Special Projects to build and lead a small, high-performing team within our high-growth nonprofit. This role will serve as the leader of our Innovation Incubator, a key initiative focused on developing, testing, and launching new programs and services that drive growth, market differentiation, and long-term sustainability. 
As the Director, you will be responsible for shaping the direction and strategy of this incubator, fostering a culture of innovation, and executing projects that challenge the status quo. You will work closely with senior leadership to identify emerging opportunities, prototype solutions, and scale successful initiatives across the organization. Your team will be at the forefront of driving transformational change, launching new offerings, and bringing innovative ideas to life.

What You Will Do:

• Leadership & Strategy: Lead and manage the Innovation Incubator team, developing and executing projects that drive innovation in programs, services, and business models. Ensure alignment with organizational goals and potential for client success and future funding.
• Project Management: Oversee all project management activities, from ideation to execution, utilizing strong project management methodologies to ensure on-time and on-budget delivery with expected outcomes. Track project progress and communicate updates to stakeholders.
• Program Development & Launch: Oversee all aspects of new program development, including program design, securing funding, building and managing project teams, and ensuring successful program launch and transition to ongoing operations.
• Team Management & Development: Build, mentor, and lead a high-performing, collaborative team and cross-functional subject-matter experts. Foster a culture of creativity, accountability, and continuous learning.
• Cross-functional Collaboration: Collaborate closely with senior leadership and other departments (Programs, Marketing & Development, Finance, Clinical Services) to ensure alignment and effective execution of incubator projects.
• Metrics & Reporting: Establish OKRs and other metrics to evaluate the success of incubator projects. Regularly report on progress, results, and lessons learned to senior leadership and other stakeholders.
• Market Research & Trends: Stay informed of industry trends, emerging technologies, and market shifts to identify new opportunities for innovation.
• Change Management: Support the organization through the adoption of new programs and services, ensuring smooth transitions and stakeholder buy-in.

What You Should Bring:

• 8-10+ years of progressive experience in innovation, program management, product development, or similar leadership roles, preferably in a mid-sized or fast-growing organization.
• Proven experience leading teams and delivering impactful projects with measurable business outcomes.
• Strong track record of incubating and launching new ideas, services, or products from concept to execution.
• Exceptional leadership, team management, communication, and presentation skills.
• Proficiency in project management methodologies (e.g., Agile, Lean) and tools (e.g., Asana, Trello, Jira). 
• Strong business acumen, analytical skills, and experience with data analysis and reporting tools.
• Bachelor's degree in Business or a related field; an advanced degree (e.g., MBA, MSW) is a plus.
• Entrepreneurial mindset, adaptability to a fast-paced environment, and strong collaboration skills.

Benefits* Medical, dental and vision plans covered at 100% for the employee * Health & Dependent Care FSA * 15 Paid Holidays + flex holidays!* Generous paid time