Child Care Aware® of America (CCAoA) is the only national organization that supports every part of the child care system. In partnership with an on-the-ground network of Child Care Resource and Referral (CCR&R) organizations, we work in states and communities to advance high-quality, affordable child care—transforming a patchwork of resources into a system that works for everyone. Together, we make America child care strong—and that makes everyone stronger. CCAoA is committed to recruiting and retaining a dynamic workforce to help build a child care system that serves all children and families. Join us in ensuring that every family has access to high-quality, affordable child care.
SUMMARY OF POSITION:
The Senior Vice President (SVP) of Network Impact reports directly to the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) and serves as a key member of the Senior Leadership Team. This role provides executive leadership for field engagement, program and practice innovation, and the elevation of the Child Care Resource and Referral (CCR&R) network. The SVP works closely with the CEO and other senior leaders to shape organizational strategy and drive innovation that increases equitable access to affordable, high-quality child care and advances CCAoA’s unique value proposition. This includes developing and executing practice-based initiatives, strengthening cross-departmental coordination, and aligning field-facing strategies with organizational goals to maximize impact across the early childhood ecosystem.
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES:
Strategy and Leadership
- Partner with the CEO and senior leadership to shape and execute a long-term strategy that advances systems-level change to increase the ability for the CCR&R network to develop equitable access to affordable, high-quality child care across the country.
- Lead the design and implementation of programmatic strategies that are responsive to community needs, and positioned to strengthen child care systems at local, state, and national levels.
- Elevate and evolve CCAoA’s unique value proposition as a field catalyst and systems convener, reinforcing the critical role of the CCR&R network in driving change.
- Serve as a strategic leader and systems thinker, connecting policy, practice, and innovation to promote coherence across the early childhood ecosystem.
- Represent the organization externally as a respected voice in early childhood systemsbuilding efforts, fostering national partnerships and shaping discourse to reflect the needs of families and child care providers.
- Serve as a member of CCAoA’s Senior Leadership Team, contributing to strategic planning, organizational development, and executive decision-making.
People & Culture
- Lead, mentor and support staff under SVP’s oversight, ensuring high performance, accountability, and alignment with organizational goals.
- Provide leadership and performance oversight teams under SVP, supporting continuous improvement and goal attainment.
- Promote alignment and integration across teams and departments to ensure coherent implementation of strategies that impact families, providers, and systems at scale.
- Support team capacity to navigate complexity, engage in co-creation with the field, and influence change through both technical and relational strategies.
- Champion CCAoA’s culture and values internally and externally, modeling leadership and fostering morale, collaboration, and cross-team effectiveness.
Fundraising and Partnerships
- Partner with development leadership to secure funding that supports systems-level transformation, including initiatives impacting our network.
- Strengthen CCAoA’s positioning with philanthropic and public sector funders by demonstrating impact at the systems level and articulating a bold vision for change.
- Represent the organization externally to build and maintain high-impact partnerships across sectors, aligning collaborative efforts with CCAoA’s strategic goals.
QUALIFICATIONS:
- Master’s Degree in Early Childhood Education or related field and 20+ year’s progressive.
- Minimum 10 years of progressively senior leadership experience, including leading child care systems, preferably at the state or national level.
- Experience leading Child Care Resource & Referral and/or serving as a State Child Care Administrator preferred.
- The SVP for Network Impact is a skilled manager, with experience and comfort interacting with senior executives internal and external to the organization.
- The SVP for Network Impact is nimble, transparent, and thrives in a participatory leadership environment. The SVP must have a track record of success leading and completing complex child care system initiatives.
- Demonstrated commitment to the principles of racial equity, diversity, and inclusion and experience in implementing these principles in program areas.
- Effective team leadership and managing change skills while balancing competing priorities strongly desired.
- Demonstrated ability to mentor and coach senior staff members and coordinate between multiple programmatic areas.
- Experience in program development and management and have a sophisticated understanding of and interest in CCAoA’s public policy areas (Federal and State).
- A strategic mindset and ability to connect programs to organizational goals and outcomes.
- Proven results leveraging available resources effectively to meet program objectives and exceptional program, budget, and grant management skills.
- Ability to exercise sound judgment, make timely decisions and advise staff on multiple projects, priorities and deadlines while providing timely, comprehensive feedback.
- Display excellent and versatile oral and written communications skills including the ability to summarize detailed information.
- Exercise high and strict levels of confidentiality and use professional judgment and discretion.
