About Learnvia
Learnvia is a new nonprofit organization and university-affiliated learning collaborative launched with support from Carnegie Mellon University and the Gates Foundation, that develops research-based, interactive, and free-to-students courseware, tools, and supports that empower educators and unlock student success in gateway math.
Grounded in learning science, Learnvia’s approach translates rigorous research into high quality, engaging courseware that elevates instructional excellence, strengthens iterative and evidence-based teaching practices, and advances student success in critical prerequisite coursework for higher level studies. The first pilot program launched in Fall 2025 with Calculus 1, with additional high-enrollment, high-attrition gateway courses to be added over time, based on research findings and continuous feedback from faculty and students.
Founded in 2025 as a nonprofit learning collaborative affiliated with Carnegie Mellon University, Learnvia is supported by Gates Foundation funding for courseware development, technology infrastructure, professional learning development and ongoing research through the inception and implementation phases. This investment enables Learnvia to innovate boldly while remaining grounded in evidence and impact.
Learnvia draws on Carnegie Mellon University’s (CMU) expertise in mathematics education, learning sciences, and AI to reimagine a research-informed math curriculum designed to dramatically advance teaching practices to improve student learning and postsecondary outcomes.
As a nonprofit working in close partnership with faculty from a range of institutions across the country as well as leading technology, curriculum, and research organizations, Learnvia is deeply committed to continuous improvement – designing, testing, and refining its courseware to remain innovative, evidence based, and responsive to the needs of faculty and students.
Learnvia is governed by a five-member board with representation from both Carnegie Mellon University and the Gates Foundation. The organization’s growing team includes experienced educators, researchers, and educational technologists. Key roles already in place include the Executive Director, Director of Engineering & AI, Director of Content Development, Director of Research & Development, engineers, content specialists, a finance manager and an executive assistant.
The Opportunity
This newly created role offers a rare opportunity to make an impact and be part of systemic and transformational educational change. The Managing Director will play a pivotal role in building this early-stage nonprofit born from two world- class institutions known for innovation and excellence. Serving as the senior partner to Executive Director, Norman Bier, helping lead Learnvia as it moves from start-up through growth to a mature and sustainable organization with national impact. Acting as the organization’s chief operating and strategy leader, the Managing Director translates Learnvia’s bold vision into coordinated execution — aligning strategy, people, processes, and resources to achieve meaningful, scalable outcomes.
The Managing Director holds both strategic and operational authority. They drive organizational planning, oversee major program and platform operations, manage relationships with funders and institutional partners, and serve as a trusted decision-making proxy for the Executive Director when appropriate. This role is central to Learnvia’s effectiveness, growth, and long-term sustainability — and to realizing its promise to transform gateway math education for students nationwide.
Key Responsibilities
Strategic Leadership
- Partner with the Executive Director to execute the vision of Learnvia.
- Set organizational priorities, translate strategy into measurable goals, and ensure alignment across all workstreams.
- Lead multi-year strategic and operational planning cycles, integrating inputs from content, technology, faculty success, and research teams.
- Represent Learnvia in senior-level engagements with CMU, the Gates Foundation, and external partners.
- Serve as a thought partner on program direction and innovation opportunities.
- Develop and refine models for organizational sustainability beyond initial grant funding.
Organizational Culture and Team Leadership
- Foster a collaborative, inclusive, and accountable culture within a distributed work environment.
- Unite and empower the talented directors while developing emerging leaders across the organization.
- Champion clear communication, and cross-functional collaboration.
- Model adaptive, evidence-informed leadership and decision-making.
- Provide strategic counsel on prioritization, organizational structure, workforce planning, and implementation to support courseware development and growth.
Organizational Operations
- Oversee integrated operations across content, technology, faculty success, and research teams to ensure coherence and efficiency.
- Supervise senior operations, finance, and project management staff to ensure effective execution.
- Establish and maintain strong systems for planning, workflow, governance, and decision-making as Learnvia grows.
- Ensure compliance with university policies, funder requirements, and ethical standards in research and implementation.
- Lead organization-wide risk management, including operational, reputational, and strategic risks.
Financial and Resource Management
- Partner with the Executive Director and CMU finance leadership to manage multi-year budgets and forecasts.
- Oversee allocation of personnel and resources across multiple workstreams and external partnerships.
- Monitor performance against financial targets and operational metrics; recommend mitigation and optimization adjustments as needed.
- Support preparation of financial reports, proposals, and presentations to board, funders, and institutional partners.
Partnership and Stakeholder Engagement
- Build and maintain strong working relationships with board, senior stakeholders and experienced advisors at Gates and within CMU, and institutional partners.
- Support negotiation and management of high-level contracts and partnership agreements.
- Coordinate clear, accurate, and timely reporting to the board, Gates Foundation and other funders, ensuring transparency and alignment with strategic objectives.
- Represent the initiative externally to communicate its mission, progress, and impact.
Key Success Indicator
- Clear strategic alignment, stable product delivery, and measurable impact.
- Advance operational efficiency and measured effectiveness.
- Timely, accurate reporting and communication with funders and university leadership to inform decision-making.
- Strong internal and external assessments of leadership effectiveness
- A credible, actionable plan for long term organizational sustainability.
Ideal Candidate
The ideal candidate is an inspiring and execution-oriented leader who will successfully implement Learnvia’s vision, organizational strategy, brand, and operating model all while supporting a highly talented team of educators, researchers, technologists, and learning experts.
The role requires an entrepreneurial and hands-on strategist who is comfortable navigating ambiguity, scaling initiatives, and collaborating with a diverse range of partners and institutional stakeholders. A commitment to equity, learning, and innovation in education – and an ability to listen, learn, and respond to feedback – is essential.
The Managing Director will bring strong financial acumen, with experience overseeing team members, budgeting, financial planning, and risk management in a nonprofit or grant funded environment. They will also contribute a thoughtful, business mindset to Learnvia’s revenue and sustainability strategy.
Success in this role requires calm, confident leadership; a collaborative and service-oriented mindset; and the ability to lead a high-performing, geographically dispersed team while balancing the needs and expectations of competing demands of funders, partners, board members, and advisors.
High levels of technology fluency, familiarity with the shared governance model in higher education, and an understanding of how math departments structure and deliver their coursework are strong assets for success.
Qualifications
- Advanced degree (master’s or higher) in Business Administration, Public Policy, Education Leadership, or related field.
- 10+ years of progressively responsible experience in program strategy, operations, or executive management, ideally in higher education, research, start-up, or nonprofit environments.
- Demonstrated success leading complex, multi-stakeholder initiatives with significant budgets and distributed teams.
- Proven expertise in strategic planning, organizational design, change management, and scaling programs.
- Exceptional leadership, communication, and relationship management skills across academic, technical, and external partner settings.
- Experience with grant-funding, financial, and contractual management strongly preferred.
- Familiarity with nonprofit management and financial requirements.
Location & Salary
The salary range for this role is $220,000 – $260,000. While there is a slight preference for this position to be based in Pittsburgh, it can be remote, with frequent travel to Pittsburgh and to other locations to meet team members and institutional partners.
To Be Considered
Please submit your resume and cover letter expressing your interest in the position and fit for the role via the “Become a Candidate” button.
For additional questions, please reach out to learnvia-strategyops@goodcitizen.com.
Applicants applying by Friday, February 6th will be given priority consideration, with the position open until filled.
First round interviews with the GoodCitizen team will take place in mid-January and February, followed by 3 rounds of interviews with the Learnvia leadership team in March.
