VP of Whole Child Education

Organizational Overview

Action4Equity is a community-centered systems-change organization working in solidarity with communities to activate systems change and shift policies, practices, power structures, and the flow of resources so that every Black child thrives in Forsyth County, North Carolina. A4E envisions a just Forsyth County where Black liberation is the norm, systems once defined by exclusion are transformed to serve the whole person, and decisions affecting communities reflect dignity, care, equity, and the leadership of those most impacted.

A4E’s approach begins with a simple premise: communities thrive when residents have the power, capacity, resources, relationships, and authority necessary to shape the systems that affect their lives. The organization advances this work through four interconnected strategies: capacity building, community-led research, network development, and policy advocacy.

Together, these strategies move communities through an interconnected cycle of community organizing, community governance, community development, and community wellbeing. A4E builds relationships and leadership that strengthen trust; creates pathways for residents to influence institutions, policies, and investments that build power; and supports community development and ownership that can create and retain wealth across generations.

Through this model, A4E works across issues that are often treated separately—including education, health, housing, economic mobility, community safety, youth and family wellbeing, and civic participation—while addressing the systems and conditions connecting them. The goal is not organizational growth for its own sake, but stronger communities in which children, youth, families, and residents have the relationships, resources, opportunities, and decision-making power necessary to thrive.

Position Summary

The VP of Whole Child Education serves as the chief executive responsible for Action4Equity's entire education portfolio and educational systems transformation strategy.

This executive leader provides vision, leadership, management, and accountability for all educational initiatives across the organization, including early childhood education, K-12 systems transformation, postsecondary success, workforce development, youth leadership, family engagement, educational policy, community schools, educational research, and collective impact initiatives.

The VP of Whole Child Education is responsible for developing and implementing educational strategies that improve outcomes from cradle to career while building community power and transforming systems that impact children, youth, and families.

This role serves as a member of the Executive Leadership Team and works collaboratively with the CEO, President, Vice Presidents, community leaders, public agencies, educational institutions, philanthropic partners, and national organizations.

Key Responsibilities

Executive Leadership

• Develop and lead Action4Equity's comprehensive education strategy.
• Serve as the senior executive responsible for all education-related outcomes.
• Establish organizational priorities, goals, and performance measures for educational initiatives.
• Lead strategic planning efforts related to educational transformation.
• Participate in executive leadership decision-making and organizational governance.
• Build organizational capacity to scale educational impact locally, statewide, and nationally.
• Ensure alignment between educational initiatives and Action4Equity's mission, vision, values, and strategic plan.

Fund Development & Sustainability

Build sustainable funding and revenue strategies.

Responsibilities

• Partner with Development staff on fundraising strategy.
• Assist with grant development and proposal writing.
• Cultivate foundation and donor relationships.
• Support contract development opportunities.
• Develop diversified revenue strategies.
• Demonstrate impact through outcomes, evaluation, and storytelling.
• Support long-term sustainability planning.
• Identify opportunities for legal services revenue and fee-for-service activities when appropriate.

Educational Systems Transformation

Provide executive oversight for initiatives related and not limited to:

• Early Childhood Development
• Kindergarten Readiness
• Literacy and Reading Achievement
• Middle Grade Math Proficiency
• High School Graduation
• Postsecondary Access and Completion
• Workforce Development
• Career Pathways
• Family Engagement
• Community Schools
• Youth Leadership Development
• Educational Equity and Opportunity
• School Climate and Student Wellbeing
• Civic Education
• Educational Innovation

Program Leadership

Oversee and strengthen educational initiatives including and not limited to:

• My Brother's Keeper Winston-Salem
• Forsyth Family Power a StriveTogether Cradle to Career Network
• Children's Defense Fund initiatives
• Thriving Together educational strategies
• Youth leadership initiatives
• Parent and family engagement programs
• School district partnerships
• Postsecondary success initiatives
• Workforce development partnerships
• Educational capacity-building programs
• Future educational innovation projects

Research, Learning, and Evaluation

• Lead educational research initiatives.
• Partner with the Peoples Research Council and community researchers.
• Utilize community-centered research methodologies.
• Develop performance dashboards and accountability frameworks.
• Ensure continuous improvement and learning systems.
• Translate research findings into practice and policy recommendations.
• Advance evidence-based educational innovation.

Policy and Advocacy

• Lead the development and implementation of Action4Equity's education policy agenda in partnership with VP of Policy.
• Build relationships with school boards, elected officials, educational leaders, and government agencies.
• Monitor legislation and policy developments affecting educational outcomes.
• Coordinate advocacy strategies that support children, youth, and families.
• Represent Action4Equity in policy coalitions and educational networks.

Community Leadership and Engagement

• Foster authentic partnerships with families, youth, educators, and community leaders.
• Promote community governance and shared decision-making.
• Build resident leadership and educational advocacy capacity.
• Ensure community voice informs organizational priorities and educational strategies.
• Facilitate collaboration among diverse stakeholders.

Partnership Development

Build and manage strategic partnerships with:

• Public School Systems
• Charter Schools
• Community Colleges
• Universities
• Early Childhood Providers
• Government Agencies
• Community-Based Organizations
• Philanthropic Institutions
• National Networks
• Business and Workforce Partners

Revenue Development and Resource Mobilization

• Develop and implement education-focused funding strategies.
• Cultivate relationships with institutional funders and investors.
• Assist in securing grants, contracts, sponsorships, and philanthropic investments.
• Manage educational initiative budgets and financial performance.
• Identify opportunities for sustainable revenue generation.

Team Leadership

• Foster a culture of excellence, innovation, accountability, and collaboration.
• Support staff growth and organizational succession planning.

Qualifications

Required Education

Master's Degree in:

• Education
• Public Policy
• Public Administration
• Organizational Leadership
• Community Development
• Social Sciences
• Related Field

Equivalent combinations of education, professional experience, and demonstrated leadership may be considered.

Preferred Education

Doctorate (Ed.D., Ph.D., or equivalent) preferred.

Required Experience

• Priority will be given to Results Counts Practitioners / those with significant Results Counts experience
• Minimum 15 years of progressively responsible leadership experience.
• Minimum 10 years leading and facilitating complex educational initiatives, systems-change efforts, or large-scale multi-sector community impact strategies.
• Demonstrated success leading diverse teams and executive-level initiatives.
• Experience building partnerships across public, private, philanthropic, and community sectors.
• Strong understanding of educational systems and policy environments.

Preferred Experience

• Higher education leadership experience.
• State or national educational leadership experience.
• StriveTogether experience.
• Children's Defense Fund experience
• William Julius Wilson Institute leadership development experience
• Collective Impact experience.
• Community-based educational leadership experience.
• Systems transformation experience.

Core Competencies

• Executive Leadership
• Systems Thinking
• Strategic Planning
• Community-Centered Leadership
• Public Policy
• Political Acumen
• Organizational Development
• Change Management
• Partnership Development
• Resource Development
• Research and Data Analysis
• Communication and Public Speaking
• Team Building

Performance Measures

The VP of Whole Child Education will be evaluated based upon:

Educational Outcomes

• Kindergarten Readiness
• Reading Proficiency
• Math Proficiency
• Graduation Rates
• Postsecondary Enrollment
• Postsecondary Completion
• Workforce Outcomes

Organizational Outcomes

• Program Performance
• Strategic Partnership Growth

Systems Change Outcomes

• Policy Advancement
• Institutional Change
• Community Leadership Development
• Collective Impact Success
• Long-Term Sustainability

Compensation & Benefits

Salary

$80,000-100,000 annually, commensurate with experience, executive leadership expertise, fundraising capacity, and demonstrated success leading large-scale educational and systems transformation initiatives.

Exceptional candidates with significant executive leadership experience may be considered above the stated range subject to organizational resources and Board approval.

Benefits Include

• Employer-paid healthcare coverage
• Employer-paid dental coverage
• Employer-paid vision coverage
• Employer-sponsored 403(b) retirement plan with up to 3% employer matching
• Ten (10) paid federal holidays annually
• Ten (10) paid time off (PTO) days annually
• Summertime Flex Fridays
• Flexible scheduling and hybrid work opportunities
• Professional development opportunities
• Executive leadership coaching and development
• Conference and travel opportunities
• Participation in local, state, and national leadership networks

Equal Opportunity Employer

Action4Equity is committed to creating a diverse, inclusive, and equitable workplace where individuals from all backgrounds can contribute and thrive. We value lived experience, professional expertise, and community leadership and encourage qualified candidates from diverse backgrounds to apply.

Our Vision for This Role

The Vice President of Whole Child Education will help build a future where every child, youth, and family has access to the opportunities, relationships, resources, and systems necessary to thrive. This leader will work to transform educational systems while building community power, advancing policy change, and creating sustainable infrastructure that improves outcomes for generations to come.

• Employer-paid healthcare coverage
• Employer-paid dental coverage
• Employer-paid vision coverage
• Employer-sponsored 403(b) retirement plan with up to 3% employer matching
• Ten (10) paid federal holidays annually
• Ten (10) paid time off (PTO) days annually
• Summertime Flex Fridays
• Flexible scheduling and hybrid work opportunities
• Professional development opportunities
• Executive leadership coaching and development
• Conference and travel opportunities
• Participation in local, state, and national leadership networks

English required