Senior Director, Rural Early Childhood Systems

Partners for Rural Impact’s (PRI) ultimate goal is an America where all kids are successful, regardless of zip code, income, background, or ability. At PRI, our focus is on ensuring that all children in rural places achieve success. Partners for Rural Impact was born out of our place-based partnership in Appalachia, where we’ve worked for 25 years to create student opportunity and success.

The Senior Director, Rural Early Childhood Systems, reporting to the Chief of Staff
- Level II, provides strategic, operational, and thought leadership for PRI's Rural Early Childhood Initiative. This position is responsible for advancing PRI's vision for strengthening rural early childhood systems by leading the development, implementation, sustainability, and growth of the organization's early childhood portfolio.

The Senior Director serves as the strategic lead for this body of work, positioning PRI as a recognized leader in rural early childhood systems change and place-based innovation. The Senior Director oversees the implementation of complex, cross-sector initiatives while building the organizational infrastructure, partnerships, staff capacity, learning agenda, and funding strategy necessary for long-term success. Working collaboratively across PRI and with community partners, philanthropic organizations, government agencies, higher education institutions, and national networks, this position advances systems-level solutions that elevate family leadership, strengthen trusted caregiver networks, promote continuous learning, and improve outcomes for children and families in rural communities.

This is a grant-funded position with an initial funding period of two years. Continued employment is dependent upon future funding and organizational needs.

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each primary duty satisfactorily. The requirements of the position are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required, with regular and predictable attendance essential. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• 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…