Director of Programs & Partnerships

Just Economics of Western North Carolina; Asheville (NC); Hybrid; USD 65,000 - 68,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Flexible Work Schedule

Generous PTO

Health & Wellness Stipend

Job summary

Literacy Together in Asheville, NC seeks a Director of Programs & Partnerships to lead and expand core programs, supervise three Program Directors, and develop fee-for-service workplace literacy contracts across Buncombe County.

This role partners with nonprofits and government agencies, drives family literacy pilots, ensures grant deliverables, and represents the organization in the community to build sustainable growth and impactful collaborations.

Qualifications

• Leadership & staff management experience in nonprofit settings.
• Strong program design and management skills for community programs.
• Ability to cultivate multi-sector partnerships and collaborations.
• Experience overseeing grant deliverables and data compliance.

Responsibilities

• Lead leadership team and supervise Program Directors (Youth Literacy, ESOL, Adult Literacy).
• Expand fee-for-service workplace literacy contracts across Buncombe County.
• Pilot and develop a Family Literacy initiative; oversee program quality and evaluation.
• Oversee grant deliverables, data collection, and reporting for funders.

Skills

Leadership

Program design

Partnership development

Grant oversight

Job description

The Director of Programs & Partnerships is a new, pivotal role on our leadership team designed
to build long-term organizational capacity, deepen community impact, and drive sustainable
growth. As Literacy Together expands, this role provides the dedicated leadership necessary to
oversee our core programs, foster cross-departmental collaboration, and cultivate strategic
partnerships across Buncombe County.

Reporting to the Executive Director, the Director of Programs & Partnerships will supervise our
three Program Directors (Youth Literacy, ESOL, and Adult Literacy), lead the expansion of our
fee-for-service workplace literacy contracts with local employers, explore and pilot a new Family
Literacy initiative, and serve as an active ambassador in the community. Ultimately, this position
strengthens the organizational infrastructure needed to support cohesive program delivery and
thriving community partnerships.

Key Responsibilities

Leadership & Staff Management

• Leadership: Serve as a member of the leadership team, contributing to
  organization-wide strategy, budget planning, decision-making, and long-term
  sustainability.
• Supervision, Team Cohesion & Culture: Provide direct supervision, coaching, and
  support to three Program Directors (Youth Literacy, ESOL, and Adult Literacy) while
  fostering a collaborative, growth-oriented culture that builds internal cohesion and
  aligns cross-program operations with community needs.

Strategic Partnerships, Revenue & Community Engagement

• Employer Partnerships & Revenue Growth: Proactively cultivate and maintain
  relationships with local businesses to scale fee-for-service workplace literacy contracts,
  which deliver tailored on-site instruction across Buncombe County while generating
  earned revenue.
• Community Collaborations: Deepen and expand collaborative partnerships with
  nonprofit peers, government agencies, workforce development partners, and
  educational institutions to align operations with community needs.
• Ambassadorship: Serve as an active, visible representative for Literacy Together across
  community networks, forums, coalition meetings, and civic events to elevate
  organizational presence and engagement.

Program Innovation, Grant Deliverables & Quality Oversight

• Programmatic Quality & Oversight: Guide the overall quality, evaluation, and strategic
  growth of Literacy Together’s program offerings to ensure alignment with our mission
  and community needs.
• Family Literacy Pilot: Research, explore, and lead the development of a pilot initiative
  focused on family literacy to address intergenerational learning needs in Buncombe
  County.
• Grant Deliverables & Compliance: Oversee the execution of programmatic grant
  deliverables across departments. Monitor data collection systems and key performance
  metrics to ensure full compliance and high-quality reporting for funders.

Desired Experience & Skills

Candidates who possess a strong combination of the following qualifications and attributes are
strongly encouraged to apply:

• Leadership & Team Management: Experience in non-profit management with a
  demonstrated ability to supervise, mentor, and coach staff – fostering high performance,
  clear communication, and a supportive team culture.
• Program Design & Management: Proven track record in developing, launching, and
  managing community programs. Demonstrates a deep operational understanding of
  what it takes to build sustainable systems, continuously refine program quality, and scale
  initiatives effectively.
• Partnership Development: Experience cultivating and maintaining multi-sector
  relationships.
• Grant Oversight & Data Compliance: Proven ability to manage program budgets,
  monitor grant deliverables, and utilize data tracking systems/metrics to ensure full
  compliance with grant agreements and funder expectations.

Mindset & Interpersonal Attributes

Candidates who would thrive in this role are passionate advocates for educational justice who
combine strategic vision with strong relational skills. Key qualities include:

• Mission & Advocacy: Deep commitment to equity, accessibility, and the transformative
  power of literacy across Buncombe County.
• Relational Leadership & Communication: Exceptional interpersonal and communication
  skills (verbal, written, and active listening) paired with a natural ability to cultivate
  relationships and build diverse partnerships with empathy, clarity, and professionalism.
• Growth Mindset & Continuous Learning: An adaptable, strategic thinker who
  approaches growth with resilience, curiosity, and humor, while actively modeling
  self-reflection, openness to feedback, and lifelong leadership development.

Compensation and Hours

This is a 40 hour/week (full-time) position with a salary of $65,000 – $68,000, commensurate
with experience.

Benefits

• Flexible Work Schedule: Literacy Together offers a flexible work schedule with partial
  remote work options. Occasional evening or weekend availability is required.
• Generous Paid Time Off: Receive 12 days of PTO in your first year, plus 16 paid holidays.
• Health & Wellness Stipend: Receive $200 per month ($2,400 per year) to be used at your discretion. Please note: We do not currently offer health insurance.

We look forward to hearing from you!