Director, Rural Early Childhood Systems

Partnersrural; Berea (KY); Hybrid; USD 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Insurance plans

Flexible spending accounts

Paid time off

Professional development

Tuition assistance

Job summary

Partners for Rural Impact (PRI) seeks a Director of Rural Early Childhood Systems to lead the rural early childhood initiative. This role translates strategic priorities into concrete plans, coordinating staff, partners, and resources to achieve program goals while advancing systems-level solutions for families in rural communities.

The position is grant-funded for an initial two-year period with potential for continuation based on funding.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Early Childhood Education, Education, Public Administration, Public Policy, Community Development, Human Services, Nonprofit Management, Business Administration, Organizational Leadership, Social Work, or a related field required; Master’s degree or higher preferred.
• 5+ years of progressively responsible leadership experience in nonprofit management, early childhood, education, community development, philanthropy, public administration, or related field.
• At least three years of experience supervising professional staff and leading cross-functional teams.

Responsibilities

• Translate established strategic priorities into annual and project-level implementation plans, timelines, milestones and deliverables.
• Manage day-to-day implementation across the initiative's core focus areas.
• Coordinate activities across projects and workstreams to ensure alignment with portfolio goals.
• Monitor project goals, budgets, timelines, contracts, deliverables, compliance requirements, and reporting obligations.
• Track implementation progress, identify operational risks and barriers, and develop solutions or elevate issues requiring senior-level decisions.
• Coordinate staff, partners, consultants, and other resources necessary for successful project delivery.
• Manage implementation-focused relationships with community partners, school districts, higher education institutions, government agencies, philanthropic partners, and other stakeholders.
• Coordinate partner engagement activities necessary to achieve project goals and deliverables.
• Support organizational leadership in funding development activities by contributing program information, implementation plans, data, and other materials.
• Coordinate implementation of established evaluation, continuous improvement, and learning processes across assigned initiatives.
• Ensure implementation experiences, outcomes, challenges, and lessons learned are appropriately documented.
• Develop and coordinate practical tools, resources, and learning products based on implementation experiences.
• Use program data and stakeholder feedback to identify opportunities to strengthen implementation.
• Provide implementation findings and recommendations to senior leadership to support portfolio planning and decision-making.
• Track established performance goals, key performance indicators, milestones, and other measures of implementation progress.
• Collaborate with Strategic Impact and other internal teams to collect, analyze, and report program and portfolio data.

Skills

Leadership

Cross-functional leadership

Stakeholder engagement

Data-driven decisions

Budgeting

Education

Bachelor's degree in a relevant field

Master’s degree or higher preferred

Tools

Microsoft Office

Job description

Partner for Rural Impact's (PRI) work began more than 30 years ago with a place-based partnership in Appalachian Kentucky, where we’ve shown demographics don’t have to determine destiny. Today, we partner with rural leaders and allies across the country to share that work and build local partnerships that put young people on a path to economic mobility.

Position Summary

The Director, Rural Early Childhood Systems, reporting to the Chief of Staff- Level II, provides operational leadership and day-to-day management for PRI's Rural Early Childhood Initiative. The Director is responsible for translating the initiative's strategic priorities into effective implementation plans and coordinating the people, partnerships, processes, and resources necessary to achieve established goals.

The Director manages the implementation of complex, cross-sector initiatives while supporting the development of the organizational infrastructure, partnerships, staff capacity, learning agenda, and funding strategy necessary for long-term success. Working collaboratively across PRI and with community partners, philanthropic organizations, government agencies, and higher education institutions, this position advances systems-level solutions that elevate family leadership, strengthen trusted caregiver networks, promote continuous learning, and improve outcomes for children and families in rural communities.

This is a grant-funded position with an initial funding period of two years. Continued employment is dependent upon future funding and organizational needs.

Primary Duties and Responsibilities

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each primary duty satisfactorily. The requirements of the position are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required, with regular and predictable attendance essential. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Program & Implementation Management:

• Translate established strategic priorities into annual and project-level implementation plans, timelines, milestones and deliverables

• Manage day-to-day implementation across the initiative's core focus areas

• Coordinate activities across projects and workstreams to ensure alignment with established portfolio goals

• Monitor project goals, budgets, timelines, contracts, deliverables, compliance requirements, and reporting obligations

• Track implementation progress, identify operational risks and barriers, and develop solutions or elevate issues requiring senior-level decisions

• Coordinate staff, partners, consultants, and other resources necessary for successful project delivery

Partnership Development & Stakeholder Engagement:

• Manage implementation-focused relationships with community partners, school districts, higher education institutions, government agencies, philanthropic partners, and other stakeholders

• Coordinate partner engagement activities necessary to achieve project goals and deliverables

• Support the cultivation of new partnerships by providing implementation expertise, project information, and relationship coordination

• Participate in meetings, convenings, and other external engagements related to assigned initiatives

• Support organizational leadership in funding development activities by contributing program information, implementation plans, data, and other materials

Learning, Evaluation & Continuous Improvement:

• Coordinate implementation of established evaluation, continuous improvement, and learning processes across assigned initiatives

• Ensure implementation experiences, outcomes, challenges, and lessons learned are appropriately documented

• Develop and coordinate practical tools, resources, and learning products based on implementation experiences

• Use program data and stakeholder feedback to identify opportunities to strengthen implementation

• Provide implementation findings and recommendations to senior leadership to support portfolio planning and decision-making

Performance & Reporting:

• Track established performance goals, key performance indicators, milestones, and other measures of implementation progress

• Collaborate with Strategic Impact and other internal teams to collect, analyze, and report program and portfolio data

• Maintain implementation dashboards and other project-management tools that provide visibility into progress, risks, and deliverables

• Prepare routine updates, reports, and recommendations for senior leadership, funders, and other stakeholders as appropriate

Cross-Functional Coordination & Operational Capacity:

• Coordinate across PRI departments to support successful implementation and integration of rural early childhood initiatives

• Implement established processes, tools, systems, and operating practices that strengthen program delivery

• Identify opportunities to improve implementation processes and recommend operational improvements

• Facilitate communication, coordination, and shared accountability among teams involved in initiative implementation

• Support documentation and standardization of processes that enable consistent and effective program delivery

• Other roles/duties will be assigned as necessary to assist and support in the attainment of our mission

Position Location & Schedule

This position is designated as a hybrid position and is based at Partners for Rural Impact’s (PRI) Berea Office, located in Berea, KY. Employees are expected to work onsite at the Berea office on designated in-office days and at other times as required to meet business or program needs. Location requirements are subject to change based on organizational needs. Remote work may be performed in accordance with PRI's Hybrid Work Policy and applicable departmental guidelines. The approved hybrid work schedule is established by the department based on operational needs and may not be modified without prior management approval. PRI reserves the right to adjust or discontinue hybrid work arrangements at any time to meet business or program needs.

The standard work schedule is Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. ET. Occasional evening and weekend work may be necessary to support schools, community partners, funders, and the service region. Regular on-site engagement throughout Berea and surrounding partner communities is an essential function of this position. Regional travel is required to support business and program operations. Occasional national travel may also be required.

Minimum Qualifications

Education required to ensure success in this position:

• Bachelor's degree in Early Childhood Education, Education, Public Administration, Public Policy, Community Development, Human Services, Nonprofit Management, Business Administration, Organizational Leadership, Social Work, or a related field required; Master’s degree or higher preferred

Experience required to ensure success in this position:

• 5+ years of progressively responsible leadership experience in nonprofit management, early childhood, education, community development, philanthropy, public administration, or related field

• At least three (3) years of experience supervising professional staff and leading cross-functional teams

• Demonstrated experience leading complex, multi-year initiatives involving multiple stakeholders

• Experience managing grant-funded programs or philanthropic investments, including budgeting, implementation, compliance, and reporting

• Experience managing partnerships across public, private, nonprofit, and community sectors

• Experience developing implementation frameworks and performance measures

Special skills, knowledge and abilities:

• Knowledge of early childhood systems, nonprofit management, grant administration, and community-based partnerships

• Strong leadership and systems thinking skills

• Demonstrated ability to lead complex initiatives, manage multiple priorities and achieve measurable results

• Ability to build collaborative relationships and influence diverse stakeholders across sectors

• Excellent communication, facilitation, presentation, and interpersonal skills

• Strong analytical, problem-solving, and decision-making skills with the ability to use data to inform strategy and continuous improvement

• Demonstrated ability to supervise, coach, and develop high-performing teams

• Proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite and the ability to learn organizational technology and data management systems

License, certification, or registration necessary:

• Must have access to reliable transportation

• S successfully complete pre-employment background check

Physical requirements:

• Ability to work in a high energy office

• Ability to accurately communicate and exchange information with partners, stakeholders, and/or meeting participants

• Ability to occasionally lift up to 25 lb
  

• Ability to travel independently by car and plane regionally and nationally

• Ability to operate standard office equipment

Environmental conditions:

• Work in a fast-paced setting with frequent interruptions and shifting priorities
  

Additional Company Information

PRI offers a wide array of benefit options, to meet the financial, educational, and health needs of you and your family.

• Comprehensive insurance plans including medical, dental, vision, and prescription coverage.

• Flexible spending accounts, plus an employee assistance program.

• Life and long-term disability insurance and retirement plan.

• Generous paid time off work options including vacation, sick leave, and annual holidays, in addition to paid parental leave.

• Tuition assistance and professional development for employees.

Partners for Rural Impact is an Equal Opportunity Employer that recruits and hires qualified candidates without regard to race, religion, sex, sexual orientation, age, national origin, ancestry, citizenship, disability, or veteran status.