Iowa and National Director

Mission and Organizational Background 

First Children’s Finance (FCF) mission is to grow the supply and business sustainability of excellent child care. Founded in 1991, FCF provides business and financial assistance to business owners and leaders in the field of early care and education.   

We work on three levels:  

• Business level – supporting care business owners with training, consultation and tools to improve financial sustainability.  
• Community level – supporting local planning efforts to increase the supply and sustainability of child care.  
• Systems level – partnering with state, tribal and local systems to improve investments, policies, and processes.    

FCF is headquartered in Minneapolis and has active programs in multiple states, with offices in Iowa, Michigan, Minnesota, Oregon, and Vermont. Learn more at www.firstchildrensfinance.org.  

Job Summary 

FCF is seeking an Iowa and National Director; a talented manager and leader whose approach is strategic, collaborative, and characterized by the ability to inspire, motivate, and empower others to achieve the goals of FCF. The individual has a proven track record of success in program and people management including managing relationships with external partners, and is a high functioning “generalist,” who is a thought leader, and a self-starter. This individual will possess highly developed fundraising and communications skills. They are creative, curious, innovative, and possess a continuous improvement mindset that will advance the FCF Theory of Change. The Director will be especially skilled at building and developing key stakeholder relationships and overseeing the division. 

This is a remote position with a preference for candidates based in Iowa but open to candidates elsewhere with strong familiarity or ability to learn the child care context in Iowa.

Essential Functions: 

Reporting to FCF’s Chief States Officer, the Director leads a team of nine (9) organized into three teams that support work in Iowa as well as nationally in places like Michigan, Indiana, Virginia and North Dakota. The Director ensures the effectiveness and sustainability of all programs and participates on the FCF Leadership Team to support organization-wide activities. The Director also manages the day-to-day operations of their division under policies determined by FCF. The primary responsibilities are: 

• Strategic Financial Development: Plan and implement an annual fundraising strategy; seek and maintain relationships with institutional funders; secure funding from state government and philanthropy; develop funding proposals and evaluation reports; own and manage annual budget. 
• Program Planning and Management: Develop, manage, and promote business and financial programs; help Early Childhood Education (ECE) providers build their business skills and capacity; market, evaluate, and improve FCF programs and services; provide training, consultative, and technical assistance to strengthen ECE programs. 
• Human Resources Planning and Management: Support, develop, and retain qualified and excellent staff, consultants, and volunteers; ensure the smooth and efficient operation of the organization by selecting and developing effective people; foster a culture of cooperation and mutual respect, focusing on outstanding performance. 
• Relationship Management: Maintain strong and effective relationships with ECE business leaders and advocates both in the state and nationally; build and maintain strong relationships with private and public sector leaders, revenue sources, industry leaders, and allied organizations. 

Other duties as assigned.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities 

• Ability to recruit, retain, lead and develop staff 
• Highly organized, self-motivated, and able to work independently 
• Ability to provide business and financial consultation and training  
• Ability to read, interpret, and analyze financial statements and develop and manage budgets 
• Ability to think strategically, manage risk, and implement plans in a dynamic environment 
• Ability to promote a positive image of FCF and position FCF as a key resource in the field of early care and education 
• Ability to be flexible and work collaboratively with a diversity of FCF staff, customers, partners and stakeholders 
• Excellent written and oral communications skills; public speaking experience 
• Ability to work with minimum supervision, yet be a part of a team 
• Experience in supervising collaborative work with multiple team members 
• The ability and commitment to be an engaging ambassador and advocate for FCF with key business, community, and government leaders.  

Education and Experience 

• Bachelor’s degree in business, organizational development, planning, communication, finance, nonprofit administration, or public administration;  Master’s degree preferred. 
• At least four (4) years executive or advanced level professional supervisory experience in a nonprofit organization, with knowledge of early care and education issues preferred. 
• Successful track record of securing approximately $1 million annually through a mix of philanthropy, government, corporate, and individual donors. 
• Familiarity with the communities across Vermont, or the ability to quickly make connections in those communities.  
• Program planning, development, facilitation, and evaluation. 
• Demonstrated knowledge of community and economic development. 
• Knowledge of current service trends and emerging models of early care and education. 
• Proven administrative competence in areas such as financial management, budgeting, planning, and goal setting.  
• Familiarity with FCF’s Theory of Change, or a positive orientation to change and new ways of doing business, including the ability to innovate and implement continuous improvements. 
• Open to learning, accepting positive and constructive feedback 
• Private sector engagement and partnership is a plus 
• Energetic, enthusiastic, with a can-do attitude 
• Proven track record of monitoring, managing, and analyzing program data and outcomes. 
• A systems thinker that is able to maintain a big-picture focus while attending to detail. 

Supervisory Responsibilities

• The role supervises three (3) direct reports and provides leadership for a team of nine (9).

Work Environment

• This is a remote position with a preference based in Iowa but open to other locations. 

Physical Demand

• Prolonged periods of sitting at desk and working on the computer

Travel

• Ability to travel up to 25% 

How to Apply:     

• Priority applications are due by May 7; after that, we will review applications on a rolling basis.
• Please submit a resume and a cover letter. A cover letter is required for consideration.

Additional Notes 

This job description represents the major functions of the position but is not intended to be all-inclusive. The incumbent is also responsible for taking direction from FCF representatives in completing projects or performing duties deemed necessary for the program and FCF success. 

Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform these essential functions. 

Benefits 

Our benefits package includes four (4) medical plans, two (2) dental plans, a vision, basic life insurance of $50,000, short-term and long-term disability insurance, nine (9) paid holidays, personal holidays (pro-rated based on hire date), pro-rated paid time off in the first year, paid family medical leave, and home office allowance. Allowable travel costs are reimbursed. Flexible work environment.

First Children’s Finance honors candidates’ time and effort in job-seeking by providing transparency regarding compensation. Creating transparency regarding salary information reduces the gender pay gap, and eliminates salary negotiation, which rarely benefits people of color or women. It is a value of our organization to support equitable hiring practices.  

First Children’s Finance is an Equal Employment Opportunity /Affirmative Action Employer.