Senior Director, Rural Early Childhood Systems

Partners for Rural Impact

Senior Director overseeing PRI's Rural Early Childhood Initiative, driving policy and systems change for rural areas. Responsible for strategic leadership, program oversight, and partnership development.

Posted 7/19/2026full-timeBerea • Kentucky • 🇺🇸 United StatesSeniorWebsite

Core Competencies

Role fit

Core Competencies

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Demonstrates expertise in leading and implementing rural early childhood initiatives, with a strong focus on strategic planning, partnership development, and performance measurement. Proven ability to manage grant-funded programs and foster collaboration across diverse stakeholders to achieve organizational goals.

Highest-signal resume keywords

Strategic PlanningNonprofit ManagementGrant AdministrationTeam LeadershipEarly Childhood Systems Knowledge

ATS Keywords

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Applicant Tracking System Keywords

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Hard Skills

BudgetingImplementation FrameworksPerformance MeasuresData AnalysisCompliance Management

Soft Skills

Communication SkillsInterpersonal SkillsProblem-Solving SkillsCollaborationInfluencing Skills

Tools & Technologies

Microsoft Office SuiteData Management Systems

Industry Keywords

Early Childhood EducationCommunity DevelopmentPhilanthropyPublic AdministrationOrganizational Leadership

About the role

Key responsibilities & impact

Lead the strategic direction, implementation, and long-term growth of PRI's Rural Early Childhood Initiative
Translate organizational priorities into multi-year strategies, annual operating plans, and measurable implementation goals
Identify emerging trends, policy developments, funding opportunities, and strategic partnerships that advance PRI's rural early childhood portfolio
Advise executive leadership on strategy, risks, opportunities, and organizational priorities related to rural early childhood systems
Provide executive oversight for PRI's portfolio of rural early childhood initiatives, ensuring successful implementation of grant-funded and philanthropic investments
Lead implementation across the initiative's core focus areas, including Family Leadership, Trusted Caregiver Networks, Systems Learning, and other strategic priorities
Ensure project goals, budgets, timelines, contracts, deliverables, compliance requirements, and reporting obligations are achieved
Establish implementation priorities, monitor organizational performance, and remove barriers to successful execution
Supervise, coach, and develop project staff while fostering a collaborative, high-performing team culture
Build and sustain strategic partnerships with funders, government agencies, school districts, higher education institutions, community organizations, philanthropy, and national networks
Serve as PRI's representative for rural early childhood initiatives in regional, state, and national forums
Cultivate relationships that strengthen implementation, increase organizational visibility, and support future growth
Partner with organizational leadership to identify and pursue funding opportunities that sustain and expand PRI's early childhood portfolio
Represent PRI before funders, policymakers, community leaders, and national partners, serving as a trusted ambassador for the organization's rural early childhood strategy
Provide strategic oversight for evaluation, continuous improvement, knowledge management, and organizational learning related to rural early childhood initiatives
Ensure implementation experiences are documented and translated into practical tools, learning products, and evidence-informed practices
Promote data-informed decision-making and continuous improvement across the initiative
Advance rural perspectives in state and national conversations on early childhood policy, practice, and systems change
Foster collaboration across PRI departments to ensure alignment and integration of early childhood initiatives
Lead through influence, collaboration, and shared accountability across internal teams and external partners
Strengthen PRI's organizational capacity to design, implement, and sustain rural early childhood systems initiatives
Develop performance goals, key performance indicators, and implementation dashboards to monitor organizational progress
Build organizational capacity by strengthening systems, processes, and internal infrastructure that support long-term growth
Champion a culture of innovation, collaboration, accountability, and continuous learning.

Requirements

What you’ll need

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
10+ 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 developing strategic partnerships across public, private, nonprofit, and community sectors
Experience developing strategic plans, implementation frameworks, and performance measures
Knowledge of early childhood systems, nonprofit management, grant administration, and community-based partnerships
Strong strategic thinking, organizational 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.

Benefits

Comp & perks

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.