Nashville Early Education Coalition – Executive Director

Community Foundation of Middle TTN

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Job Summary

Position Summary:  We are seeking an experienced and collaborative leader to spearhead a new coalition charged with addressing the childcare crisis affecting families across our community. The Executive Director will play a pivotal role in aligning resources, strategies, policy agendas, and key stakeholders around a shared vision to improve accessibility, affordability, and quality of childcare services for families.

Terms: The position will be funded for three years beginning May 1, 2024, through April 30, 2027. The position will be an employee of the Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee through a newly-created Nashville Early Education Coalition Fund.  The position will be eligible for benefits offered to employees through CFMT. 

About the Organization: We manage charitable funds, provide grant opportunities to local organizations, and work collaboratively with community leaders to collectively address our most pressing challenges and our greatest opportunities.

Our mission statement: “To build a more thriving and inclusive community – today and for generations to come – by transforming thoughtful generosity into positive change.”

Our core values:

• Listen and learn.
• Ground the work in trust.
• Show up for each other and the community.
• Find the good and praise it.

Job Responsibilities

Overall Strategic Initiatives

• In partnership with the Advisory Council, identify short- and mid-term priorities that will lead to a cohesive and integrated citywide Early Childhood Education system.

• Identify, connect, and help increase diverse funding streams to expand high-quality childcare options.
• Increase the number and utilization of licensed high-quality childcare providers of all types (home and center-based).
• Develop services and direct-to-provider supports to streamline and reduce the cost of childcare operations.
• Create strategies for the recruitment and retention of high-quality teachers and focus on increasing the talent pipeline through innovation.

Partnership Development & Management

• Forge strong partnerships with nonprofit organizations, childcare providers, government agencies, businesses, and educational institutions.
• Facilitate regular coalition meetings and events to foster collaboration, share best practices, and drive collective action.

• Connect conversations and build cross-sector, multi-disciplinary partnerships.

Data Analysis

• Conduct a brief landscape analysis mapping childcare providers (supply/demand).
• Consolidate existing research, action plans and strategies, policy agendas, initiatives, and collaborations.
• Research best practices and innovation from peer cities and communities
• Integrate and collect data to provide comprehensive measurement and research about the state of child care in Nashville.

Community Awareness

• Help plan and lead a citywide campaign and community conversation about the importance of quality child care and its economic impacts.
• Advocate for policy support and increased public investment in the childcare ecosystem.

Competencies:  to perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform essential duties.  The skills listed below are representative of the knowledge and expertise desired.  

• Written and Verbal Communications: exhibits expertise in written and verbal communications to a myriad of audiences;
• Facilitator: intentionally and transparently facilitates groups to collaborate inclusively, resolve differences, and commit to actions that advance results;
• Results-Based: establishes clear, measurable results for strategies, activities, and meetings, and holds self and others accountable for meeting them;
• Committed to Racial Equity: ensures that disparities in access, participation, and support are intentionally dismantled and never reinforced;
• Relationship Builder: listens well to understand people’s motivations and interests, and engages individuals and groups in ways that motivate their participation;
• Quality management: continuously looks for ways to improve and promote quality, and demonstrates accuracy and thoroughness
• Judgment: displays willingness to make independent decisions, exhibits sound judgment, makes timely decisions, and accepts responsibility for results
• Planning/organizing: prioritizes and plans work activities without supervision, uses time efficiently, and develops realistic action plans
• Policy advocacy: advocates for policy changes and improvements that promote affordable, accessible, and high-quality childcare services at the local and state level
• Program development: understands how to design and implement innovative childcare programs, services, and solutions that cater to the diverse needs of families

Qualifications

Experience operating, managing, or teaching in an early childhood education center/home base model is preferred.

Minimum Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in education or a related field
• 10 years’ experience in nonprofit management. 
• A profound understanding of childcare regulations on a local and state level.
• Able to manage tasks and remain focused in an open office environment.
• Comfortable in an office environment that is accessible to the community and hosts frequent gatherings.
• Proficient with Microsoft Office and the ability to learn other software programs.
• Ability to consistently meet deadlines and complete projects.
• Full commitment to CFMT’s mission, vision, and values.

Additional Information

Benefits

How to Apply

The application deadline is 3/31/2024

Send resume and cover letter to humanresources@cfmt.org. Please include your name and “NEEC – Executive Director” in the subject line.

Details

• Date Posted: February 27, 2024
• Type: Full-Time
• Job Function: Executive Leadership
• Service Area: Children / Youth
• Start Date: 05/01/2024