Executive Director CREA Nicaragua

CREA (Nicaragua Education Resource Center) provides before and after school programs to

hundreds of rural Nicaraguan participants from babies in diapers to college students. The

Executive Director will be assisted by an in-country Deputy Executive Director and two Division

Managers - Educational Programing and Operations - and be responsible for 35 mostly

Nicaraguan Spanish speaking employees, managing a $750K budget. The current Executive

Director will return to the CREA Board of Directors as Board President.

Are you a transformational leader who believes that literacy and education are the principle

pathway and foundation for lifelong success and happiness? We are seeking an exceptional bi-

lingual Executive Director who will drive a bold mission to elevate Nicaraguans and their

communities through literacy and learning. At CREA, we are committed to preparing kids to be

the next generation of leaders for a world shaped by lifelong learning, global connectivity, and

artificial intelligence.

The ideal Executive Director candidate will be a native English speaker and fully Spanish-English

bilingual. They will have a demonstrated passion for literacy, education, and child development

– particularly in underserved rural communities – and be culturally sensitive and deeply

committed to education. We are looking for a values driven leader motivated by purpose,

community, and global equity.

The ideal candidate should bring hands-on experience in nonprofit management and preferably

education-focused initiatives. They will have experience in successfully guiding a USA-based

Board of Directors, have modern stewardship-based and visionary leadership skills and style,

and be up to date on large learning systems and applications. They will have extraordinary

people skills and an appealing donor-friendly personality and be gifted in organization and

leadership development. Willingness to live in the Rivas department of Nicaragua is required.

The Job

• Provides visionary leadership and implements the strategic direction for CREA.
• Serves as the public face of the organization.
• Builds and sustains a strong teaching and learning culture.
• Leads CREA partnerships, fundraising, public relations, and curriculum development.
• Assures the legal and fiscal compliance and integrity of the organization.
• Develops the Board of Directors and Advisory Council members.

Candidate Profile

• Minimum 8-10 years in non-profit leadership, preferably in education.
• Bilingual, native English speaker.
• Proven track record serving a volunteer Board of Directors.
• Understanding of the poverty challenges of the Global South.
• Proven fundraising track record (preferably $1M annually).
• Advanced degree in leadership or non-profit management and fundraising (preferred).
• Deep understanding of Latin American education system (preferred).

Key Competencies:

• Strategic Planning and Visioning.
• Bilingual communication and cultural literacy.
• Stakeholder engagement and fundraising.
• Change management and innovation.
• Strong stewardship leadership skills and style.

What You Will Do:

• Champion literacy, learning, and critical thinking as essential skills for personal and professional success
• Be responsible for assuring a vibrant, future-ready educational culture that supplements and advances the children’s local education work.
• Inspire deep followership, respect, and long-term commitment among students, families, staff, donors, the Board and its committees, and the broader community we serve.
• Plan, organize, and conduct donor development and donor networks. Sustain contact with current major donors and develop new ones.
• Serve as the administrative link between the USA-based Board, donors and education networks and the Nicaraguan leadership team, supervising and supporting the work of the in-country Deputy Executive Director.
• Lead with exceptional relationship-building and stewardship skills, creating a workplace, and a Board-staff relationship rooted in trust, empathy, shared values, and common purpose.

Why Join CREA?

• Shape the future of education in Nicaragua. Help disadvantaged students gain world class equality through literacy and learning.
• Our students volunteer to come to CREA because they are excited about learning.
• Children are supported from birth. Their families are partners in our achievements.
• Thirty-five highly motivated staff and management drawn from the community.
• New classrooms at CREA.
• CREA also has classes in robotics, 3-D printing, community health, and foreign languages. It may include dance, music and other interventions in the new strategic plan this August.
• Comprehensive support from USA fundraising and public relations staff.
• Supportive, appreciative, and enthusiastic Board of Directors.
• Deep donor base and substantial reserves.
• Southern Nicaragua is one of the most sought-after places to live in Central America.

o Across the border from Costa Rica.

o Beautiful, green, tropical environment.

o Great roads.

o Extremely low cost of living.

o Best Surfing Beaches in all Central America.

o Excellent golf nearby.

o Safe and friendly.

o Nearby resorts for very high quality-of-life living.

o Minutes from a secondary airport (temporarily closed).

How to Apply:

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