Executive Director

About Growing Healthy Kids

Since 2016, Growing Healthy Kids (GHK) has provided hands-on, on-site outdoor learning and nutrition programming to students in the Mt. Diablo Unified School District (MDUSD). Our mission is to integrate everyday outdoor education into grade-school academics to promote engagement in learning, inspire environmental stewardship, and cultivate lifelong physical and mental wellness.

Today we serve over 12,000 students at 22 schools (9 Title I) in Bay Point, Clayton, Concord, Pleasant Hill, Martinez and Walnut Creek. Beyond these core programs, GHK runs two innovative pilots: 1) a one-acre teaching farm at Rio Vista that hosts field trips featuring ecological design and regenerative agricultural practices; and 2) a youth pathway that trains Ygnacio Valley high school students to teach garden education as part of MDUSD’s growing workforce development initiatives.

The Opportunity

GHK seeks its third Executive Director to lead a dynamic, mission-driven organization at an exciting juncture. Our garden education and nutrition programs were developed over 10 years of partnership with MDUSD, parents, teachers, and early innovators in CA’s farm-to-school movement. GHK’s innovative on-site districtwide delivery provides broader access to high-quality instruction and intentionally integrates our curriculum into the academic school day.

In 2024, GHK established a 501(c)(3) nonprofit to ensure continuity of programs as part of a rapid growth phase. In 2025, an interim Executive Director stepped in to build infrastructure and restructure staff to support professionalized services while maintaining GHK’s strong community-based culture. The next Executive Director will oversee a capable Leadership Team (Head of Programs, Operations Manager) and partner closely with a governing Board committed to building capacity and a more diversified, sustainable revenue model.

GHK is a community-based nonprofit that is shifting beyond simply “running the program” to building relationships, systems, and structures to sustain what we have built in partnership with MDUSD.

We are focused on building a robust fundraising engine to meet this moment of reduced K-12 and government funding, rising costs, and competing priorities in schools. Our vision is for future generations of MDUSD youth to experience garden education and nutrition as an integrated part of their school day.

Role Overview

Reporting to the Board of Directors, the Executive Director will serve as the organization’s chief ambassador—cultivating relationships with funders, district leaders, and community partners to strengthen the ecosystem and resource development for this community gem. The ideal candidate brings experience in nonprofit leadership, a strong track record for fundraising (beyond grants), and the ability to collaborate across sectors. This is an opportunity for a facilitative, values-driven leader who enjoys storytelling, relationship-building, and executing in a fast-paced, grow-oriented environment. View this job description our website here.

Key Responsibilities

Organizational Leadership (20%)

• Build and sustain a positive, collaborative workplace culture that attracts and retains diverse staff and board members
• Coach and mentor Leadership Team and establish a clear cadence for collaboration and strategic prioritization
• Partner with the Board on governance, financial oversight, recruitment, fundraising and strategy
• Identify and mitigate organizational and programmatic risks, strengthening long-term resilience and sustainability

Fundraising and Strategic Partnerships (60%)

• Lead GHK’s evolving fundraising strategy, with emphasis on major donors, parent-teacher organization co-fundraising contributions, and local business and corporate sponsors
• Guide cohesive messaging, marketing, communications, and events to align with fundraising audiences (website, newsletters, flyers; social media is currently on pause)
• Engage and activate Board members to support fundraising through introductions, stewardship, cultivation, and events
• Strengthen GHK positioning in collaboration with program staff and partners; this includes awareness of research, emerging trends, and the evolving needs of students and MDUSD community
• Represent GHK with community stakeholders through events, public speaking, and partnerships

Operational, Financial, and Administrative Management (20%)

• Oversee day-to-day operations including financial management, human resource administration, and supervision of high-quality programs
• Lead financial planning, budgeting and strategic resource allocation
• Monitor finances in partnership with outsourced accounting vendor and Board Treasurer

Qualifications

Required Qualifications

• Deep belief in the transformative power of outdoor learning, garden education, hands-on science, and nutrition
• 3+ years of executive leadership or nonprofit management experience (experience with ~$1M+ budgets helpful but not required)
• Demonstrated success growing and/or diversifying revenue streams (specifically in K-12 contracts, local businesses, corporate sponsors, parent teacher organizations, major donors)
• Experience with strategic prioritization and risk management
• Strong writing and public speaking skills, especially for community engagement and storytelling
• Ability to adapt communications for diverse audiences
• Experience working collaboratively with a board of directors and staff
• Experience using technology-enabled tools to manage projects, revenue pipelines, campaigns, and/or initiatives
• Facilitative leadership style with a track record of building and motivating effective teams
• Familiarity with–or willingness to learn quickly learn– trends in K-12 garden education, outdoor education, nutrition, health, and climate resilience

Preferred Qualifications

• Working knowledge of and existing networks within MDUSD and Contra Costa County
• Experience leading donor-hosted events or community-based fundraising events
• Experience right-sizing technology implementation to manage administration, collaboration, and data-based decision-making in a small nonprofit (e.g., Google Workspace, Slack, Smartsheet)

You Might Succeed in This Role If You…

• Enjoy getting things done and motivating, coaching, and facilitating others along the way
• View fundraising as meaningful way to connect people to purpose and impact
• Are not daunted by the complexity of K-12 systems and aligning them with organizational priorities
• Have a talent for recognizing others’ strengths and aligning them with organizational priorities
• Care about “how” things are done as much as the “why”; you can cultivate meaningful relationships and do more than “holding a room”
• Can balance HR and financial compliance with programmatic needs, knowing when to seek additional counsel
• Are willing to learn and commit to existing systems–and thoughtfully evolve them over time

Studies show that some candidates with identities most impacted by social and economic inequities are less likely to apply for jobs unless they believe they meet every one of the qualifications as described in the job description. If this role speaks to you, we encourage you to apply, even if you don’t believe you tick all the boxes.

Location

This is a position based in Contra Costa County. While GHK does not have a central office, our mail box is located in Pleasant Hill and staff travel to on-site work meetings at MDUSD school sites and district offices. Home office set-up is required. Staff may also meet in centrally located spaces (e.g., Capital One Cafe, Walnut Creek or public libraries in Contra Costa County). Our garden educator staff are assigned to deliver programs at 22 school sites across MDUSD. See their job description here.

Travel

This position is based in Contra Costa County. GHK does not maintain a central office; staff work remotely and meet on-site at MDUSD schools, district offices, and centrally located community spaces. Home office setup is required. Travel to Contra Costa County sites is required, with occasional out-of-the-area or overnight travel conferences, professional development, or staff retreats.

Equal Opportunity Employer

Growing Healthy Kids is committed to non-discrimination and equal opportunity. We welcome applicants of all backgrounds and identities and are committed to building an inclusive, equitable workplace.

• Health, dental, and vision insurance (100% paid premiums for employees)
• 5 sick days, 12 vacation, 12 holidays
• Option to enroll in employee-contribution 401(k) plan
• Access to telemedicine, mental health and supplemental benefits