Smart Beginnings Danville Pittsylvania Executive Director
THE ORGANIZATION
Smart Beginnings Danville Pittsylvania (SBDP) is seeking an Executive Director to lead its regional school readiness coalition. The mission of SBDP, with offices located in Danville, VA, is to strengthen the system of individuals and organizations caring for and educating children ages birth to five, ensuring that all children are emotionally, intellectually, and physically ready to succeed in school. Over the last ten years, this 501(c)3 not-for-profit coalition of school readiness partners has:
• Improved reading readiness rates (PALS K).
• Increased collaboration and communication between organizations serving and affecting financing and policy for young children and families though the composition of its Board of Directors and its inclusive working committees.
• Raised an additional dollar for every dollar invested in FY 2021 to sustain school readiness efforts.
• Exceeded participation in the state’s voluntary quality rating system.
• Coordinated over a thousand high quality, intensive training hours for adults working with young children.
• Created and actively engaged a group of 50 diverse and economically vulnerable parents to help inform strategies at the ground level.
• Created a school readiness data system that tracks 94 indicators related to risk, stress, resource availability, utilization and impact, early performance indicators and related costs to society.
• Actively participated and benefited from state and regional efforts to improve the “system” of individuals and organizations serving young children.
THE OPPORTUNITY
The Board of SBDP is seeking an innovative, collaborative leader with a passion for early childhood development, equity, and community engagement. The Executive Director will continue to build on past successes, supported by a new investment of $3.9M from the Danville Regional Foundation to support school readiness. Strategies include development of a new school readiness data tracking system, expansion of home visiting, collaborative marketing efforts to increase awareness and utilization of services, and funding to support early detection and treatment of developmental delays.
The Dan River region is a diverse community with significant backing and exciting partnerships working to provide high quality early childhood development for every child.
With the regionalization of Virginia’s Early Childhood Systems, the organization is poised to leverage the first ten years of success serving Danville & Pittsylvania Counties while expanding to serve a broader footprint in Southern Virginia.
ACCOUNTABILITIES
COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIPS
The mission of SBDP is to strengthen the system of individuals and organizations caring for and educating children ages birth to five. We accomplish this through robust community partnerships. Our Executive Director will:
• Actively network, continuously renew and build relationships that create opportunities (funding, program, volunteer) for SBDP by engaging people through positive energy and visibility in the broader community.
• Serve as a subject matter expert and thought leader on early childhood issues with a focus on working to identify gaps in our system and creatively support partners in closing those gaps.
• Strategically partner with and convene community organizations and connectors, and advocate for Early Childhood investments at the local, regional, and state levels.
• Initiate, develop, and support the needs of our partners with a DEI lens.
• Utilize the diversity of each community to create impact and value for all children and their families.
LEADERSHIP, MANAGEMENT AND STAFF DEVELOPMENT
• Demonstrate a clear understanding of SBDP’s vision and mission, and confidently focus others (staff, board, volunteers) on the priorities of the organization.
• Provide strong mentorship to employees; able to clearly establish performance goals, monitor progress, and coach employees to a high standard by providing the performance feedback, development and recognition that is important to their success, engagement, and retention while aligning their work with the organization’s needs.
• Establish an organization structure that supports the added capacity across the region.
• Facilitate expansion of programming funded by the recent grant.
FUNDRAISING, DEVELOPMENT AND COMMUNICATION
• Creatively source funds from both public and private resources.
• Guide grant writing and application submissions.
• Lead the rebranding of the organization.
• Serve as the face and voice of SBDP to include written and oral communication.
• Deepen and refine communications to educate the citizens and community stakeholders on the importance of early childhood.
• Demonstrate political astuteness in crafting and delivering the appropriate message to each audience along with confidence, clarity, and conviction in public speaking in support of building new partnerships.
BOARD DEVELOPMENT
• Continue to develop, maintain, and support a strong Board of Directors; serve as ex-officio of each committee; seek and build board involvement with strategic direction and fundraising.
• Assess the strengths and interests of board members and leverage their unique talents.
• Manage Board changes that may occur with expanded regionalization.
ADMINISTRATIVE AND FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT
• Understand how to “braid” various funding sources to achieve goals and manage funds with fidelity and financial acumen.
• Support existing systems for grant management.
• Manage contracted administrative and third-party evaluation functions.
• Provide oversite for other contractors that are selected and managed by staff.
• Develop and manage the budget of SBDP.
REQUIREMENTS
EDUCATION REQUIREMENTS
Candidates must possess a bachelor’s degree (graduate degree preferred) in business administration or related business field, public administration, public policy, education, or human services-related field (early childhood and/or education experiences preferred.)
EXPERIENCE REQUIREMENTS
Candidates must have a minimum of ten years relevant, progressively responsible leadership experience in organizational management with a preference for nonprofit experience with at least five years of supervisory experience. Experience in the field of Early Childhood Development and the ability to live in Danville, VA is required.
KEY COMPETENCIES
• Experience managing early childhood programs with an equity lens.
• Knowledge of public funding opportunities.
• Strong relationship builder with experience convening stakeholders for community impact.
• Demonstrated ability to convene and build significant partnerships with diverse community organizations and individuals.
• Experience in nonprofit board governance and working with governing boards preferred.
• Proven fundraising, grant writing, and financial management experience for the nonprofit sector is desired.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Knowledge of and experience with technology platforms that create efficiencies.
TO APPLY
We are committed to cultivating a workplace in which diverse perspectives and experiences are welcomed and respected. We are proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, creed, ancestry, national origin, sex, age, disability, marital or veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity, political ideology, or membership in any other legally protected class. We strongly encourage individuals with diverse backgrounds to apply.
Smart Beginnings Danville Pittsylvania has retained Elinvar to conduct this search. For confidential consideration, please send your resume and a cover letter to gerri@elinvar.com. Applications will be accepted until the position is filled. You are encouraged to apply as soon as possible. The position will be open until filled.