Oregon 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 stchildrensfinance.org.

FCF is seeking an Oregon 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 FCF state office.

This is a remote position based in Oregon; the candidate must reside within the state.

Reporting to FCF’s Chief States Officer, the Director leads a team of seven (7) staff to ensure the effectiveness and sustainability of all state programs and participates on the FCF Leadership Team to support organization-wide activities. The Director also manages the day-to-day operations in the state 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.

• 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…