Executive Director

Colorado Education Association; Colorado; On-site; USD 170,000 - 190,000; Full time

Job summary

Colorado Education Association seeks an accomplished Executive Director to provide strategic and operational leadership for a large education union in Colorado. The role partners with the President, Board, and staff to advance public education while maintaining fiscal discipline and organizational effectiveness.

The successful candidate will have a track record of senior leadership in education, union advocacy, or nonprofit settings, with a strong commitment to professional development and

Qualifications

• Minimum 5 years of senior management experience in education, labor/union advocacy, public policy, nonprofit leadership, or related fields.

Responsibilities

• Translate strategic priorities into measurable outcomes and ensure organizational effectiveness across programs and operations.
• Lead a professional staff and manage financial resources, talent, and priorities to advance public education in Colorado.
• Represent CEA to policymakers, affiliates, partners, and the broader education community to strengthen member value and advocacy.

Education

Bachelor's degree

Master's degree

Job description

The Colorado Education Association (CEA) seeks an accomplished, visionary, and operationally strong executive to serve as its next Executive Director. This is an exceptional opportunity to lead one of the nation’s most respected public education organizations and partner with elected leadership, professional staff, local affiliates, and members to advance public education while strengthening the Association's long-term impact.

As the Association's chief executive officer, the Executive Director provides strategic and operational leadership for a complex, mission-driven organization. Working closely with the President and Board of Directors, the Executive Director translates strategic priorities into measurable results while ensuring the Association remains financially sound, operationally effective, and responsive to the evolving needs of its members.

CEA seeks a leader who combines strategic vision with disciplined execution, sound judgment, and authentic leadership. This is an opportunity to build upon CEA's proud history while helping shape its future.

Background

The Colorado Education Association is Colorado's largest public education employees' union, representing nearly 40,000 educators and education support professionals across the state. Affiliated with the three-million-member National Education Association, CEA has long been viewed as the authoritative voice for public education in Colorado. The Association is a steadfast advocate for educators, students, and strong public schools.

CEA's membership reflects the full spectrum of the education profession, including PreK-12 teachers, education support professionals, higher education faculty, aspiring educators, and retired education professionals. This broad and diverse membership strengthens the Association's ability to advocate for excellence in public education while ensuring the voices of educators remain central to shaping educational policy and practice throughout Colorado.

Throughout its history, CEA has championed public education through advocacy, organizing, professional development, legal support, and member engagement, serving as a trusted resource and influential voice for educators across Colorado.

Position Overview

Reporting to the Board of Directors and working in partnership with the President and elected leadership, the Executive Director serves as the Association's chief executive officer and provides leadership for a professional staff of more than sixty employees. The Executive Director is responsible for advancing the Board's strategic direction while ensuring effective management of the Association's operations, financial resources, talent, and organizational priorities.

The Executive Director combines strategic leadership with disciplined execution, translating organizational priorities into measurable outcomes while fostering a culture of accountability, innovation, collaboration, and continuous improvement. As the Association's chief executive, the Executive Director also serves as a trusted representative of CEA, strengthening relationships with members, local affiliates, labor organizations, policymakers, and community partners in support of the Association's mission.

The Opportunity

This role calls for an executive leader who combines strategic vision with operational expertise with the ability to transform ideas into action, align people and resources around shared priorities, and develop the organizational capacity necessary to achieve long-term success. Leadership here extends beyond day-to-day operations: it is about building trust, developing people, exercising sound judgment, and creating an environment where individuals and teams perform at their highest level.

Success in this role requires balancing long-term strategy with disciplined execution while maintaining a steadfast commitment to financial stewardship, organizational effectiveness, and member value. CEA seeks a leader who embraces complexity with confidence and inspired by the opportunity to make a lasting difference for educators, students, and public education throughout Colorado.

Organizational Opportunities

CEA's next Executive Director will build upon a strong organizational foundation while helping shape the Association's future by advancing the following priorities.

Member Focus and Organizational Relevance

Build upon CEA's proud history of advocacy by ensuring the Association continues to deliver meaningful value to its members. Support initiatives that strengthen engagement, cultivate future leaders, reinforce the value of membership, and position CEA as the leading voice for public education throughout Colorado.

A leader who values public education and is focused on member needs. Someone who believes in member engagement, trust, and loyalty, and who is committed to fostering strong relationships between CEA and its members. An experienced leader who has successfully demonstrated the ability to implement high quality programs and services that bring value to members’ professional practice and careers. Demonstrated experience using data to identify additional ways to offer value to members’ professional practice and careers. An influential leader who understands membership and is able to expand market share, has effectively led innovative strategies, programs, initiatives, and policies designed to attract and increase new membership. Proven ability to create collaborative relationships and partnerships with local, county and state governments, as well as community groups and organizations.

Strategic Planning and Organizational Vision

Lead organization-wide efforts in strategic planning, implementation, and process improvement, translating Board priorities into measurable organizational outcomes. Bring a record of executive leadership in strategic planning that has driven significant organizational change, using reliable methods to ensure accountability and timeliness in the execution of strategic goals and objectives. Effectively manage multiple priorities and initiatives, articulating the connection between the big picture and specific action plans and timetables, while aligning people, resources, and initiatives to achieve long-term goals and remain responsive to the evolving needs of Colorado's educators.

Business Knowledge and Fiscal Stewardship

CEA's next Executive Director must bring deep business acumen and operational discipline to strengthen the Association's organizational effectiveness, building an agile, financially strong organization that delivers exceptional service while fostering a culture of innovation, accountability, and continuous improvement. This financial discipline is equally essential to the Association's fiscal health: this leader will bring strong financial acumen to budgeting, financial reporting, and internal controls, stewarding CEA's resources with the transparency and rigor needed to strengthen its fiscal foundation for the future. Equally important is developing the organization's people, building a high-performing team where talented professionals be empowered to contribute, collaborate, and grow, and where a culture of professional excellence and shared accountability ensures CEA has the leadership capacity for long-term success.

Interpersonal and Communication

CEA's next Executive Director must be a leader who brings people to the table and builds genuine alignment across a wide range of perspectives and constituencies, including rural and urban members, governance and staff, local and state affiliates, and differing political viewpoints within the membership. This is a leader who unifies through strong execution, aligning people, structures, and communication around a shared direction, ensuring the right people are in the right spaces to collaborate and that diverse perspectives are incorporated into decision-making. That same skill extends outward: guiding the Association through an increasingly dynamic educational, legislative, and political landscape with sound judgment, thoughtful leadership, and effective communication, while strengthening relationships with policymakers, labor partners, and community stakeholders to position CEA to anticipate change and respond strategically to emerging issues.

Desired Experience

• A minimum of 5 years of senior management experience in positions of responsibility in education, labor/union advocacy, public policy, nonprofit leadership, or other related fields.
• A belief in the central role of unions, and unwavering support for organized public education.
• Must be a lifelong learner who supports structures for staff's ongoing professional development.

Education

Bachelor's degree required. Masters preferred.

Compensation & Benefits Package

This is an exempt, confidential position with a salary range of $170,000 to $190,000 based upon prior experience and qualifications. CEA provides a fringe benefits package including health, dental, vision, life insurance, 401(k) plan, and paid sick, personal, and vacation leave.

NEA-COLORADO IS AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY/AFFIRMATIVE ACTION EMPLOYER AND DOES NOT DISCRIMINATE BASED ON RACE, CREED, RELIGION, COLOR, NATIONAL ORIGIN, AGE, SEX, SEXUAL ORIENTATION, GENDER IDENTITY, GENETIC INFORMATION, MARITAL STATUS, or DISABILITY.