Executive Director

the colorado education association (cea) seeks an accomplished, visionary, and operationally strong executive to serve as its next executive director. This is an exceptional opportunity to lead one of the nation’s most respected public education organizations and partner with elected leadership, professional staff, local affiliates, and members to advance public education while strengthening the association's long-term impact.

as the association's chief executive officer, the executive director provides strategic and operational leadership for a complex, mission-driven organization. Working closely with the president and board of directors, the executive director translates strategic priorities into measurable results while ensuring the association remains financially sound, operationally effective, and responsive to the evolving needs of its members.

cea seeks a leader who combines strategic vision with disciplined execution, sound judgment, and authentic leadership. This is an opportunity to build upon cea's proud history while helping shape its future.

the colorado education association is colorado's largest public education employees' union, representing nearly 40,000 educators and education support professionals across the state. Affiliated with the three-million-member national education association, cea has long been viewed as the authoritative voice for public education in colorado. The association is a steadfast advocate for educators, students, and strong public schools.

cea's membership reflects the full spectrum of the education profession, including prek-12 teachers, education support professionals, higher education faculty, aspiring educators, and retired education professionals. This broad and diverse membership strengthens the association's ability to advocate for excellence in public education while ensuring the voices of educators remain central to shaping educational policy and practice throughout colorado.

throughout its history, cea has championed public education through advocacy, organizing, professional development, legal support, and member engagement, serving as a trusted resource and influential voice for educators across colorado.

reporting to the board of directors and working in partnership with the president and elected leadership, the executive director serves as the association's chief executive officer and provides leadership for a professional staff of more than sixty employees. The executive director is responsible for advancing the board's strategic direction while ensuring effective management of the association's operations, financial resources, talent, and organizational priorities.

the executive director combines strategic leadership with disciplined execution, translating organizational priorities into measurable outcomes while fostering a culture of accountability, innovation, collaboration, and continuous improvement. As the association's chief executive, the executive director also serves as a trusted representative of cea, strengthening relationships with members, local affiliates, labor organizations, policymakers, and community partners in support of the association's mission.

this role calls for an executive leader who combines strategic vision with operational expertise with the ability to transform ideas into action, align people and resources around shared priorities, and develop the organizational capacity necessary to achieve long-term success. Leadership here extends beyond day-to-day operations: it is about building trust, developing people, exercising sound judgment, and creating an environment where individuals and teams perform at their highest level.

success in this role requires balancing long-term strategy with disciplined execution while maintaining a steadfast commitment to financial stewardship, organizational effectiveness, and member value. Cea seeks a leader who embraces complexity with confidence and inspired by the opportunity to make a lasting difference for educators, students, and public education throughout colorado.

cea's next executive director will build upon a strong organizational foundation while helping shape the association's future by advancing the following priorities.

build upon cea's proud history of advocacy by ensuring the association continues to deliver meaningful value to its members. Support initiatives that strengthen engagement, cultivate future leaders, reinforce the value of membership, and position cea as the leading voice for public education throughout colorado.

a leader who values public education and is focused on member needs. Someone who believes in member engagement, trust, and loyalty, and who is committed to fostering strong relationships between cea and its members. An experienced leader who has successfully demonstrated the ability to implement high quality programs and services that bring value to…