Executive Director

Child Care Aware of Kansas is seeking an innovative and dynamic leader to serve as their nextExecutive Director. This role has overall strategic and operational responsibility for the organization’s staff, programs, initiatives, and execution of the mission to create a diverse, high-quality childcare system in Kansas. This role may be based anywhere in the state of Kansas, however, will travel frequently to Topeka and Salina, Kansas.

As experts in the early care and education field, we inform, connect, and advise Kansans facing childcare challenges and those working to overcome them. Focused on the critical first five years of a child’s life, we make childcare work better for kids, families, and childcare providers. As an organization, we connect everyone with a stake in childcare – parents, childcare providers, businesses, local and state leaders, and community members – to the information and ideas they need to take action.

Child Care Aware of Kansas advocates that when all families have equitable access to quality child care options, we build the critical infrastructure necessary for our businesses to succeed, our communities to flourish, and our children to grow into happy, healthy, productive Kansans.

The Executive Director reports directly to a highly respected and committed Board of Directors. Key accountabilities include:

• Embody the organization’s mission and vision by aligning processes, programs, funding strategies, and overall organizational direction in service to Child Care Aware of Kansas’s purpose.
• Build strong local, regional, and national partnerships; maintain and expand collaborative relationships with partners and stakeholders to meet strategic goals and objectives.
• Lead and continually develop a strong team while overseeing the implementation of the strategic plan.
• Ensure fiscal responsibility of the organization including reporting, compliance, budget management, and the cultivation and stewardship of a diverse blend of public, private, federal, state, and local funds.
• Serve as spokesperson for the organization with key external audiences (childcare providers, families, communities) and early childhood system partners, as well as identify opportunities to raise awareness of the organization’s mission via conferences, presentations, and external meetings/workgroups.
• Cultivate and steward collaborative, strategic relationships with state government entities and elected officials, federal delegates, and local policymakers to advance the organization’s nonpartisan policy agenda.
• Champion of diversity who ensures/supports the integration of diversity, equity, inclusion, access, and belonging into the core work of Child Care Aware of Kansas.

• Master’s degree preferred with a focus in early childhood, nonprofit management, business administration, human services, or related field.
• Minimum 10 years’ relevant, progressively responsible experience, including demonstrated excellence in leading and developing senior staff required.
• Authentic commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion, access, and belonging both for the organization’s staff and for those served by Child Care Aware of Kansas.
• Proven track record of systems thinking and innovation, including program/model development and expansion.
• Proven ability to build and maintain collaborative, trust-based partnerships with individuals, governmental and nonprofit organizations, corporations, and foundations both locally and nationally.
• Demonstrated success in financial management, stewardship, and fund development, including individual giving, grant writing, and endowment development.
• Experience developing and working with a diverse Board of Directors.
• Outstanding analytical and communication skills with a passion to serve as lead spokesperson and relationship builder.
• Proven track record of innovation, including program/model development and expansion. Reputation for idealism, enthusiasm, and mission-driven leadership style.

OMNI is honored to be retained in this search. We appreciate your referrals to professionals who may have an interest in this outstanding opportunity. Formal interest accepted through the OMNI Executive Career Portal. Please direct all inquiries to:

OMNI Human Resource Management

Michelle Anderson, Vice President of Executive Search – manderson@omnihrm.com | 913-653-8067

OMNI Human Resource Management is an HR consulting firm with core lines of service in human resources consulting, talent acquisition, and outsourced payroll and benefits. Our Executive Search practice specializes in C-Level, Director, and Management level executive searches for small to mid-size public, private, and nonprofit organizations.

OMNI and our clients are Equal Opportunity Employers and seek diversity in candidates for employment. EEO Employer W/M/Vet/Disabled/Sexual Orientation/Gender Identity