ELV Executive Director

Location: Englewood, CO (In-Office twice a week minimum)

Reports To: Merage Foundations Executive Director

Employment Type: Full-Time

About Early Learning Ventures (ELV)

Early Learning Ventures (ELV) is a mission-driven national organization committed to strengthening the child care supply chain by empowering child care businesses with innovative technology solutions. ELV's software suite streamlines operations, enhances compliance, and improves access to quality care for families and communities. ELV was established in 2009 by the David + Laura Merage Foundation to advance their mission of children developing strong learning foundations through universal access to high-quality early childhood education. In 2016, ELV transitioned to an independent public nonprofit and continues to be headquartered in the Foundation office.

ELV recognizes that the majority of child care providers are small independent businesses that are passionate about caring for children but lack the resources to effectively improve the quality of their programs. ELV has developed a suite of much needed back-office supports, including their licensing-compliant online child care management system, Alliance CORE, to lift off the administrative burden and optimize child care performance for child care businesses of any size, whether independent or part of a network.

More than a technology provider, ELV pioneered a model of Child Care Shared Services that marries technological efficiencies with intensive operational support. This mission driven venture has scaled to 20 states, and the charge for the new Executive Director is to aggressively build on this successful national expansion.

Position Summary

ELV seeks a highly driven, visionary, entrepreneurial Executive Director to lead the organization into its next phase of impact and growth. This is a rare opportunity to take the helm of a high-potential company and drive rapid expansion, operational excellence, and market leadership. The ideal candidate will have a proven track record of scaling technology-enabled businesses that support small enterprises, with deep expertise in marketing, branding, and strategic partnerships. This leader must be passionate about social impact-especially in early childhood education-and committed to using technology to create systemic change.

The Executive Director will be responsible for executing the mission and vision of ELV and defining its strategic direction, ensuring that resources are in place to accomplish important mission goals, recruiting and retaining best-in-class staff, keeping teams motivated and capable of exceeding expectations, and building the kind of corporate culture which supports the ELV mission. They oversee successful business operations, including program innovation and implementation, public relations and stakeholder engagement, scalability, and financial growth. In addition, they will manage and direct ELV senior staff and will be accountable to the ELV Board of Directors for the entire organization's performance and, as such, the responsibilities will be multifaceted and dynamic.

Key Responsibilities Strategic Leadership & Growth

• Develop and execute a bold national growth strategy to expand ELV's reach and impact.
• Champion innovation in child care operations through technology.
• Build and maintain strong relationships with stakeholders, including funders, partners, and policymakers.

Marketing, Branding & Communications

• Lead the development of ELV's brand strategy to elevate visibility and credibility, building upon a strong reputation of nearly two decades.
• Oversee marketing campaigns that drive adoption of ELV's software among child care providers.
• Ensure consistent messaging across all channels to reflect ELV's mission and values.

Business Scaling & Market Expansion

• Drive national expansion of ELV's software platform, focusing on small child care businesses and the organizations that support them.
• Build strategic partnerships with child care resource and referral agencies, Child and Adult Care Food Programs (CACFP), and other support networks that help ELV impact more children.
• Identify and pursue new market opportunities, partnerships, and revenue streams.
• Oversee financial sustainability and operational excellence.

Policy & Advocacy Engagement

• Collaborate with state and federal agencies to support child care infrastructure and funding.
• Influence policy and funding decisions that support scalable solutions for child care providers.
• Lead ELV in national conversations around child care innovation and equity.

Team & Culture Building

• Inspire and lead a high-performing, mission-driven team.
• Foster a culture of innovation, accountability, and inclusivity.
• Collaborate with the membership development team and software vendors to ensure alignment and execution.

Mission & Impact

• Serve as a strong public advocate for ELV's mission to improve child care access and quality.
• Ensure all initiatives reflect ELV's commitment to equity, community empowerment, and better outcomes for children and families.

Qualifications

• Proven experience as a senior executive in a technology-enabled, high-growth SaaS (Software as a Service), edtech, or mission-driven business.
• Demonstrated success in scaling operations and growing revenue.
• Expertise in marketing, branding, and strategic communications.
• Strong strategic thinking, financial acumen, and operational leadership.
• Passion for mission-driven work and improving societal outcomes.
• Excellent communication, stakeholder engagement, and team leadership skills.
• MBA preferred.

Travel Requirements

Approximately 30% travel domestically.

Salary Range

$150,000-$170,000 (plus bonus)

Compensation details: 00 Yearly Salary

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