Coalition Director-Early Learning for Grow Allen, Fort Wayne, IN

Grow Allen is a recent initiative to help students pursue and prepare for careers after high school. Through initial funding from Northeast Indiana Strategic Development Commission (NEISDC) the focus of Grow Allen is to help Allen County become a talent-focused community creating stronger systems for attaining learning goals and labor market-value degrees or credentials. It is well documented that  high quality early education from birth to age five lays the foundation and leads to success in school and life.  Therefore, Grow Allen has identified Early Education as a vital pillar of the overall strategy.As Coalition Director-Early Learning, reporting to the Grow Allen Executive Director, you will lead the Early Learning Pillar for Grow Allen.  You will coordinate with the Grow Allen Executive Director and the leaders of the other three pillars: Life Skills, Work Based Learning, and Advocacy.  Locally, you will be supported by Focus on Five, a coalition of early learning stakeholders from the corporate, nonprofit, and civic sectors in Allen County. Additionally, you will collaborate with your regional counterparts in the Northeast Indiana Early Childhood Coalition made up of 11 Northern Indiana counties, with a goal of bringing necessary change to early education with a focus on 0-5 years of age.

As Coalition Director-Early Learning you will:

• Lead the development and implementation of Focus on 5 strategic plans
• Build relationships with a wide range of stakeholders including childcare providers, school officials, and business leaders
• Create and communicate strategic messaging
• Connect and gain credibility within the childcare provider network
• Participate in development/fundraising efforts
• Facilitate coalition meeting and committee work
• Collaborate at regional and state level

As Coalition Director - Early Learning your background should include:

• Bachelor’s degree in education, human services, health or social sciences, or organizational development
• Minimum of 5 years of experience in a leadership role
• Passion for early learning
• Demonstrated ability to collaborate and build productive alliances across systems (local schools, health, family support civic offices, higher education, corporations, etc.)
• Strong strategic thinking skills
• Demonstrated ability to collaborate and build productive alliances across systems (local schools, health, family support civic offices, higher education, corporations, etc.)
• Ability to collect, analyze, and communicate data in a meaningful way
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.  Strong presentation skills.
• Proficient with MS Office

We are ideally seeking candidates who reside or work in Allen County, IN.