Program Director, Business Development - Center for Early Childhood (Hybrid)

About the role

The Center for Early Childhood at WestEd is expanding its impact and portfolio through strategic business development. The Program Director, Business Development will plan, develop, and implement strategies for developing business and managing a portfolio of work focused on early childhood development and learning in the areas of professional learning, technical assistance, research and evaluation, and policy analysis.

Reporting to the Center Vice President, the candidate will be part of a Business Development leadership team focused on increasing WestEd’s visibility and impact nationally. This role involves developing sole-source work and responding to competitive proposals as the lead writer, representing WestEd before federal, state, and local government agencies, and identifying internal and external partnership opportunities. The position combines strategic market development, proposal leadership, and portfolio expansion responsibilities, requiring proactive creation of opportunities and collaboration across the organization.

The Program Director may also strengthen the Center's business development capacity by mentoring proposal teams, supporting strategic capture efforts, and fostering collaborative resource development practices across the organization.

Responsibilities

• Develop and support the growth of a large portfolio of professional services, including research and development, evaluation, and state-wide technical assistance.
• Lead business development efforts, including writing competitive proposals and developing sole-source work.
• Represent WestEd before federal, state, and local government agencies and other early childhood and adjacent groups using subject matter expertise and reputation.
• Identify and cultivate internal and external partnership opportunities consistent with the portfolio’s areas of work.
• Provide project leadership and develop collaborative working relationships with other WestEd leaders.
• Conduct national market analysis to identify trends, growth drivers, and challenges in early learning and care.
• Translate early childhood trends into business opportunities and advise high-stakes clients on relevant topics.
• Lead and collaborate with state, regional, and local early childhood agencies to implement and sustain system improvements.
• Design and implement innovative early childhood systems and services that meet the needs of young children and their families.
• Engage stakeholders in policy development and decision-making processes.
• Lead resource development efforts, supervise proposal writing, and pursue entrepreneurial approaches to secure multi-million-dollar awards.
• Cultivate executive-level relationships with state agencies, philanthropic organizations, national partners, and internal leaders to create strategic collaborations and new business opportunities.
• Manage contracts and budgets, and work collaboratively with diverse colleagues across the organization.
• Mentor proposal teams, support strategic capture efforts, and foster collaborative resource development practices.

Requirements

• Deep knowledge of and demonstrated leadership in the early childhood development and learning space, with credibility to speak to national audiences and advise high-stakes clients.
• Knowledge of current and emerging trends in early childhood systems-based delivery of educational services and leadership experience in policy development and/or management of early childhood initiatives.
• Experience in leading and/or collaborating with state, regional, and/or local early childhood agencies and organizations to implement and sustain system improvements.
• Ability to conduct national market analysis, identify market trends, and determine key growth drivers and industry challenges in early learning and care.
• Demonstrated commitment to addressing equity of opportunity and outcomes for young children and their families.
• Experience designing and implementing innovative early childhood systems and services that meet the needs of young children and their families.
• Experience working in early childhood educational settings and/or organizations addressing the needs of children and families in various early learning contexts.
• Experience engaging stakeholders in policy development and decision-making processes.
• Proven ability to lead resource development efforts and supervise the writing of successful proposals to government agencies, foundations, and other funding sources, resulting in multi-million-dollar awards.
• Demonstrated ability to cultivate executive-level relationships with state agencies, philanthropic organizations, national partners, and internal leaders, leading to strategic collaborations and new business opportunities.
• Excellent organizational, administrative, managerial, and interpersonal skills.
• Demonstrated ability to manage contracts and budgets and work collaboratively with diverse colleagues.
• Superior communication skills, including excellent writing and presentation abilities, and the capacity to engage, inspire, and motivate diverse teams and audiences.
• Demonstrated capacity in talent development and management, with a focus on growing and sustaining a diverse, equitable, and inclusive workforce.
• An advanced degree in Education, Early Childhood Education, Child/Human Development, Organizational Development/Management, or related areas.
• Willingness to travel.

Schedule

The position is currently remote with optimal presence in a WestEd office/facility 2 times per week. Offices are located in California (San Francisco, Alameda, Seal Beach, Camarillo, Sacramento, San Diego, Sunnyvale), Washington D.C., Seattle, WA, Phoenix, AZ, and Boston, MA.

Pay

The full salary range for this position (WestEd level 14) is $162,800 to $254,400. The typical hiring range is $162,800 to $203,500. The actual offer considers multiple factors, including education, experience, internal equity, and organizational needs.

Benefits

• 15% contribution toward retirement effective day 1 of employment, with immediate 100% vesting.
• Pre-tax Flexible Spending Accounts and Health Savings Account options.
• Health and welfare benefits effective the first of the month following the hire date.
• 19 days of PTO (increases to 21 days beginning the third year of employment) and 12 paid holidays.
• Life insurance valued at 3x gross salary, with a maximum of $500,000.
• Opportunities for annual merit-based performance increases and annual incentives.
• Professional development opportunities and a mentorship program.

For more details about benefits, visit WestEd Benefits.