Chief Executive Officer

About the role

For more than 50 years, Oregon Child Development Coalition (OCDC) has given the children of Oregon's farmworker and low-income families a strong start in life. As Oregon's largest Migrant and Seasonal Head Start organization, OCDC delivers early learning, care, and family support across 15 counties through 37 locations and a workforce of more than 1,000. Reporting to the Board of Directors, the CEO leads at the intersection of two of Oregon's most consequential issues: the well-being of its youngest children and the dignity of the families whose labor sustains its farms and food systems.

Responsibilities

• Set and drive OCDC's vision, strategy, and values, leading execution of the 2025–2029 Strategic Plan
• Partner with the Board and Parent Policy Council on strategic priorities and effective governance
• Oversee financial performance, strengthen reserves, and diversify revenue beyond government grants
• Lead and develop the executive team, building alignment and accountability across a dispersed organization
• Foster a culture of belonging, well-being, innovation, and engagement
• Build relationships with federal, state, and county partners through an evolving funding and policy landscape
• Represent OCDC with families, funders, community partners, and the public
• Ensure high-quality, compliant, and innovative programs through continuous improvement

Requirements

A strategic, values-driven leader who can steward a complex, publicly funded organization, strengthen its financial foundation, and build strong teams while partnering within a participatory governance model that includes a Board of Directors and Parent Policy Council. Genuine commitment to farmworker and low-income communities and real cultural humility are essential.

Qualifications

• 10+ years of progressive senior leadership in organizations with budgets of $20M or more
• Experience leading executive teams across large, multi-site, geographically dispersed workforces
• Advanced financial management, including diverse revenue streams, resource allocation, and reserve building
• A track record of leading through significant change, rebuilding trust, and strengthening performance in a regulated environment
• Composure and sound judgment amid uncertainty
• Demonstrated commitment to mission-driven or underserved communities
• Authentic cultural credibility with migrant, farmworker, and Latino communities
• Bachelor's degree

Skills

• Master's degree or equivalent enterprise leadership (preferred)
• Head Start, early childhood, education, or family services experience (preferred)
• Bilingual English/Spanish fluency (preferred)
• Experience shaping early-learning policy or funding at the state or federal level (preferred)
• Experience growing sites, programs, or facilities (preferred)
• Regional or West Coast ties (preferred)

Benefits

• 401(k) with up to 10% employer contribution
• Medical, dental, and vision
• PSLF-qualifying employer
• 5 weeks PTO