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Early Learning Multnomah Hub Director
Early Learning Multnomah Hub DirectorUnited Way of the Columbia-Willamette • Portland, OR, US
Early Learning Multnomah Hub Director

Early Learning Multnomah Hub Director

United Way of the Columbia-Willamette • Portland, OR, US
30+ days ago
Job type
  • Full-time
Job description

Early Learning Multnomah (ELM) Director

Are you passionate about transforming early learning systems to ensure every child has the opportunity to thrive? As the Early Learning Multnomah (ELM) Director at United Way of the Columbia-Willamette (UWCW), you will lead a movement that strengthens community voice, advances equity, and builds lasting opportunities for our youngest learners across our region.

In this pivotal role, you will guide and elevate the ELM Hub, driving collaboration among local, regional, and national partners to advance equitable early learning opportunities. Equity is the foundation of this role. You'll be a trusted convener and catalyst for change, bringing together diverse voices, fostering deep relationships, and ensuring ELM remains a bold champion for equity. You will work closely with and advocate for people of color, immigrant populations, and families that come from historically marginalized groups. Experience working alongside these communities with humility and cultural responsiveness is essential for success with this role.

The Director will bring a deep understanding of Multnomah County's communitiesparticularly immigrant, refugee, and communities of colorand will work to ensure their perspectives and lived experiences are reflected in policies, programs, and systems.

Early Learning Multnomah is one of 16 Early Learning Hubs in Oregon that connect and coordinate services for young children and families at the regional level. The Department of Early Learning and Care (DELC) administers the grants to fund and oversee each of the Hubs. Hubs are established to coordinate and align early learning and care services for children from birth to age six with an emphasis on young children who face barriers due to race, income, language or where they live, and bring local leaders together to build a shared vision. By centering family voice and aligning priorities, funding and services, hubs help ensure communities' needs are more effectively met.

This is a grant-funded position that is responsible for leading, implementing, and ensuring compliance with UWCW's contract with the Department of Early Learning and Care (DELC). UWCW serves as the backbone of the hub, providing legal, financial, human resources, professional development, marketing, team culture and support for the Director and staff.

Key Accountabilities

Strategic Alignment of Programs, Equity Leadership & Community Engagement 55%

  • In partnership with the Governance Council, the Hub Director will administer and oversee all ELM Hub functions, ensuring alignment with state requirements and equity goals.
  • Work with the Hub Governance Council to develop strategies that align early learning programs, assets, people and resources to reach and positively impact key communities, with equity principles at the center.
  • Develop and implement a county-wide assessment and action plan that centers the needs of priority populations and aligns with Oregon's statewide early childhood system plan.
  • Facilitate strategic convenings of sector and community partners to co-create equitable solutions.
  • Guide ELM's Coordinated Enrollment team to expand access to publicly funded preschools and support families in navigating early learning opportunities.
  • Represent ELM in national, state, and local coalitions and advocacy efforts, centering equity and elevating family and community voice.
  • Identify opportunities to expand and increase the Hub's presence and impact within the community.
  • Work in partnership with the Governance Council to identify opportunities to engage with communities and organizations to inform and strengthen early learning programs.
  • Build and sustain relationships with culturally specific and community-based organizations to identify priorities, align strategies, and bolster community-based programs.
  • Partner with the Parent Accountability Council (PAC) to ensure parent voice informs the Governance Council, strategies, advocacy and programming.
  • Support the PAC in identifying opportunities for collaboration with partners, shaping program design, and co-developing culturally responsive solutions.
  • Work with the PAC to identify opportunities for parent leadership, training and advocacy within the community.
  • Build relationships with organizations that are a part of the Governance Council.
  • Foster trust, transparency and collaboration among partners and communities, with a focus on marginalized and underserved groups.

Fiscal Oversight, Data and Accountability 20%

  • Work closely with the Hub Governance Council and UWCW team to ensure financial transparency and accountability in Hub operations, including overseeing contract administration, financial management, and reporting requirements, and developing and managing the ELM budget.
  • Maintain a clear understanding of how Hub funds are allocated and spent, ensuring compliance with the Grant Agreement.
  • Ensure measurable progress and accountability through reliable data collection, shared metrics, and transparent communication with partners.

    • Staff Leadership and Development, Internal Collaboration and Leadership 20%

  • Hire, train and oversee ELM staff, ensuring professional growth, accountability, cultural competency and alignment with equity-focused outcomes.
  • Cultivate an inclusive community-centered, results-driven, and service-oriented team culture grounded in innovation and collaboration.
  • Identify opportunities to elevate and center community voice within internal UWCW systems and processes.
  • Ensure periodic goal reviews, performance evaluation, and continuous learning opportunities for staff.
  • Work collaboratively with UWCW's Community Impact, Resource Development, and Marketing teams to communicate the importance and impact of early learning initiatives to donors and stakeholders.
  • Share promising practices and lessons learned with other Hub Directors to build collective statewide progress.
  • Demonstrate adaptive leadership within the Community Impact Department and across collaborative, cross-sector partnerships, leveraging emotional intelligence to foster trust, empathy, and open communication.

    • State Partnership & Peer Learning 5%

  • Elevate community voice and family needs to the state level to help ensure policies and practices reflect the needs of Multnomah County families
  • Serve as a liaison to DELC, attending required meetings, peer learning sessions, and technical assistance opportunities.
  • Attend statewide and regional Hub Director meetings to collaborate and share learnings

    • Performs other duties as assigned by the Sr. Director of Education Initiatives

    This job description describes the general nature and level of work performed by employees assigned to this position. This is not an exhaustive list of all required duties, responsibilities, and skills. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable disabled individuals to perform the essential functions of the job.

    Required Competencies and Skills

  • Equity & Cultural Competency : Demonstrated commitment to equity and cultural humility, with experience engaging diverse communities. Ability to build a climate that promotes acceptance, inclusion and respect for all individuals and ability to engage with families according to their cultural norms and practices. Deep knowledge of and experience with communities within Multnomah County.
  • Leadership & Facilitation : Skilled at convening diverse stakeholders, building consensus, and facilitating collaborative decision-making. Experience using culturally responsive leadership best practices, including building trusting relationships with communities who have been furthest from traditional decision making
  • Systems Thinking : Ability to navigate complexity, identify systemic barriers, and drive coordinated action across multiple sectors. Ability to leverage relationships and knowledge to bring people together, identify problems to close opportunity and quality gaps in early learning and care, and lead processes to generate solutions collaboratively.
  • Experience in the Early Learning Space : Knowledge of Oregon and Multnomah County's early learning systems, community partners and priority populations served by the Hub
  • Fiscal & Administrative Oversight : Strong financial management skills, including budgeting, compliance, and reporting in a nonprofit or public sector setting, with ability to administer complex grants and contracts
  • Data-Informed Decision Making : Experience using data for shared accountability, continuous improvement, and transparent communication with partners.
  • Communication : Excellent oral and written communication skills, with the ability to connect authentically with community members, staff, government agencies, and donors.
  • Relationship Building : Ability to create and maintain positive relationships with community members, community partners, the State and early learning partners
  • Continuous Learning : Ability to engage in continuous growth around anti-racism, trauma-informed practice and cultural responsiveness

    • Education, Skills, Experience and Training Required for this Position

    We encourage you to apply even if you don't meet all the qualifications listed. We value diverse skills and experiences, so we invite you to apply if you believe you can succeed in this role.

  • Bachelor's degree in education, Business Administration, or related field. Candidates with significant professional or lived experience in human services or early learning may be considered in lieu of a degree.
  • At least 8 years of experience in human services, early learning, or a related field, including program development, administration, and fiscal oversight.
  • Minimum of 5 years of experience supervising staff, teams, or programs
  • Existing understanding of and experience working within the Early Learning Community, including direct experience in early childhood education and / or family support services
  • Effective oral and written communication
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