Chief Executive Officer (CEO)

At a time of profound transformation in global education – where AI is redefining how knowledge is accessed and skills are acquired, where international student mobility faces new headwinds from shifting visa regimes, and where the barriers to higher education remain deeply unequal – Project Access stands at a critical inflection point. The demand for equitable, tech-powered pathways to opportunity has never been higher. As the rules of higher education are rewritten, we have a once-in-a-generation chance to reshape who gets to participate, who gets to thrive, and who gets left behind. To seize this moment, we are looking for a bold, mission-driven leader to guide Project Access into its next chapter of global impact, building on a strong foundation of almost 10 years as a leading global charity expanding access to top universities for thousands of students from around the world.

About Project Access

At Project Access, we believe that passion and potential – not socioeconomic background – should define a young person’s future. Founded at Oxford University in 2016, we’re a global nonprofit on a mission to break down the barriers of higher education for underrepresented students. Through tech-powered mentorship, targeted resources, and a thriving community, we’ve supported over 6,000 students from 127+ countries to chase their academic dreams and make them real. Now, we’re ready to scale our mission further and we’re looking for a bold, strategic, and values-driven leader to guide us into our next chapter, building on our learnings from operating in the university access space for10 years. If you know what real mentorship feels like, if you care deeply about breaking down the barriers that hold talent back, and if you can balance vision with action, this role is for you!

The Role

Project Access is at an exciting moment: new partnerships with leading companies and donors have strengthened our financial foundation, enabling us to invest in our tech platform and organisation while expanding our programs. Now we’re looking for a leader who can build on this foundation – strengthening both our financial resilience through new partnerships and fundraising, and sharpening our impact through strategic program leadership in a rapidly changing world.

As our CEO, you’ll sit at the intersection of vision and execution. You’ll shape where we go next, drive the daily operations that get us there, and ensure that our entrepreneurial team of volunteers and global mentor community work together to break down educational barriers. You’ll be part strategist, part operator, part ambassador – keeping us grounded in our mission while pushing us forward.

This is a full-time, paid role with competitive compensation for the nonprofit sector. The work is demanding and deeply meaningful and we’re committed to supporting the right leader to make it both sustainable and transformative.

You will:

  • Set our long-term strategy and keep us focused on what matters.

  • Lead cross-functional operations with clarity, momentum, and accountability.

  • Build and steward high-value partnerships and secure funding to fuel our next phase of growth.

  • Serve as a visible and compelling advocate for Project Access in diverse settings – from boardrooms to bootcamps around the world.

  • Support and nurture our exceptional global volunteer community.

  • Make the key decisions that protect our mission and propel us toward greater impact.

This is a leadership role for someone who thrives in both the big picture and the day-to-day – who can navigate complexity, move quickly, and inspire others to do the same, working closely with our experienced Board of Trustees and global group of advisors.

Key Responsibilities

  • Craft and deliver a clear, bold vision for where we go next.

  • Oversee our operations, ensuring alignment, transparency, and impact.

  • Lead our fundraising strategy and nurture partnerships with funders, universities, and mission-aligned organizations.

  • Foster a high-trust, high-impact culture across our global team.

  • Ensure our outreach and mentorship programs are effective, data-informed, and scalable.

  • Champion our story and voice, shaping how the world sees Project Access.

  • Embed tech and data into the core of how we work and measure success.

  • Uphold strong governance and work closely with our global Board of Trustees on strategy and accountability.

What We’re Looking For

We care more about who you are and what you can do than what’s on your CV.

You’ll thrive in this role if you:

  • Have led teams and launched initiatives that made a difference.

  • Are an executer with the ability to step back and see the big picture.

  • Know how to build trust, rally communities, and drive results.

  • Can make thoughtful, fast decisions under pressure, and keep people aligned.

  • Are fired up about education equity and scaling impact sustainably.

  • Communicate with clarity, conviction, and heart.

  • Are excited to shape a growing volunteer organization and bring people along the journey.

  • Thrive in ambiguity and are quick to troubleshoot when things go off-script.

It’s a bonus if you bring:

  • Experience in nonprofit leadership, startups, education, or community-building.

  • A background in mentorship, tech-for-good, or global access initiatives.

  • Fundraising experience or familiarity with social impact business models.

Previous Project Access CEOs include Emil Bender Lassen (Co-founder of Home.Earth [$400M AUM] and now a fellow at Harvard), Anna Gross (Product Manager at Fever), Rune Kvist (Co-founder of Aula Education, Kernel and the Center for AI Safety), and Ingrid Sundvor (Co-founder & Executive Director of the Carbon Balance Initiative).

Meet our Board of Trustees at: projectaccess.org/who-we-are

Project Access International is a registered UK Charity (1190102).