Executive Director, Oregon Afterschool and Summer for Kids Network
(OregonASK)
Professional Learning and Systems Improvement for Afterschool and Summer Programs
About OregonASK
Founded in 2005, OregonASK is a collaboration of public and private organizations and community members that seeks to address common issues and concerns across all expanded learning areas, including childcare, content specialists, recreation, education, and youth development. The mission of OregonASK is to support, expand, and educate on quality expanded learning opportunities for children, youth, and families throughout Oregon.
The organization envisions an Oregon in which all children, youth, and families have access to quality expanded learning opportunities within their communities; in which all services enhance the positive development and future opportunities of children while keeping them safe from harm; and in which all programs, services, and activities are of high quality and contribute to strong communities and schools.
OregonASK pursues this mission through three areas of work: partnership, policy, and professional development. The organization connects providers with government agencies, businesses, and other nonprofit organizations across the state; works directly with providers, public administrators, and elected officials to shape policy affecting afterschool and summer programs; and provides training to hundreds of professionals each year through statewide conferences and instruction delivered to individual programs. Accomplishments since its founding include creating the first database of afterschool programs in Oregon, developing Quality Standards, Competencies, and Outcomes for the field, supporting Oregon's 21st Century Community Learning Centers programs, and preparing reports for legislators and policymakers on the issues facing afterschool programs in the state.
Why this role matters now? As OASK’s long-time Executive Director retires, the organization is at an important turning point and ready for new leadership to build on its history and guide its future. At a time when afterschool and summer programs are essential, OASK is looking for an Executive Director who can provide steady leadership, strengthen fund development, and bring policy experience that helps advance the organization’s mission and long-term impact.
The next Executive Director will lead OASK through its next chapter of organizational development, mission impact, and relationship-building. This person will partner with the board, lead staff and operations, steward financial sustainability, and represent the organization with credibility and care.
This role is well suited for a leader who can balance strategy and execution, strengthen systems and culture, and build trust across stakeholders. Executive search materials commonly work best when they combine the mission case, organizational context, and the specific leadership opportunity in one concise narrative.
Position Summary
The Executive Director provides strategic leadership for statewide initiatives that strengthen Oregon's system of afterschool, summer, and other expanded learning opportunities, referred to throughout this description as out of school time programs. The position directs professional learning, quality improvement, partnership development, policy engagement, and research and evaluation in support of programs that are equitable and of high quality.
This is a leadership and oversight position. The Executive Director establishes direction, secures resources, and ensures quality across this body of work, guiding network staff, contracted trainers, consultants, and partners who carry out the daily work of training, coaching, and technical assistance.
The Executive Director works with federal, state, and Tribal governments; philanthropic and foundation partners; education partners; community organizations; and program providers to advance workforce development, continuous improvement, systems alignment, and equitable access to quality learning opportunities. All work is grounded in equity, cultural responsiveness, and practice that engages communities directly, with particular attention to communities that have been historically underserved, including Tribal, rural, immigrant and refugee, and culturally specific communities.
Role Scope and First Year Priorities
The Executive Director provides statewide leadership for the professional learning, quality improvement, partnership, and systems change work of OregonASK. In the first year, priorities include strengthening relationships with program providers, Tribal communities, state agencies, and education partners; assessing workforce and professional learning needs; advancing a coordinated quality improvement strategy; and establishing clear measures for participation, reach, satisfaction, and program impact.
Performance in the first year will be assessed against measures such as the following:
- Participation and reach: the number of professionals, programs, and communities engaged in professional learning and technical assistance, with attention to regional and rural distribution.
- Satisfaction and relevance: participant feedback on trainings, coaching, convenings, and resources.
- Program quality and impact: measurable movement on quality improvement indicators among participating programs.
- Partnership health: active agreements and sustained engagement with state agencies, Tribal partners, education partners, funders, and provider organizations.
- Resource development: proposals submitted, funds secured or renewed, and funder relationships stewarded in support of network priorities.
Key Responsibilities
Partnerships, Systems, and Policy
- Lead partnerships across sectors, statewide initiatives, and policy engagement that strengthen Oregon's out of school time system and advance shared priorities.
- Convene and represent OregonASK with federal, state, and Tribal governments; education partners; community organizations; funders; and statewide and national networks.
- Advance alignment across agencies, funding streams, and initiatives so that program providers experience a coordinated and coherent set of supports. Research, Data, and Evaluation
- Oversee research, data collection, evaluation, and analysis to inform strategy, continuous improvement, and workforce development.
- Translate data and evaluation findings into reports, recommendations, presentations, and improvements to professional learning, technical assistance, and statewide initiatives.
- Interpret results and construct clear and compelling narratives that communicate the impact of Oregon's afterschool and summer programs to providers, funders, policymakers, and the public. Professional Learning, Technical Assistance, and Quality Improvement
- Direct a statewide professional learning and quality improvement system for school-age program professionals and programs, encompassing workforce needs assessment, training, coaching, technical assistance, and continuous improvement, delivered through network staff, contracted trainers, and partners.
- Establish the strategy, calendar, and quality expectations for conferences, regional trainings, and learning communities, ensuring alignment with the Oregon Quality Standards for Afterschool and Summer Programs and, where applicable, the Oregon Registry (ORO) and Core KnowledgeCategories (CKCs).
- Guide network staff in providing coaching and technical assistance that supports organizational development, staffing, onboarding, evaluation, and program quality.
- Oversee the development of training, tools, resources, and assessment processes addressing youth development, trauma-informed practice, inclusion, behavior support, science and technology education, program management, and staff supervision.
- Convene quality improvement committees and learning communities and apply evaluation findings to strengthen statewide initiatives. Resource Development and Organizational Sustainability
- Lead or support grant strategy, proposal development, funder stewardship, and resource development to sustain and expand the work of OregonASK.
- Build and maintain relationships with funders and partners and develop compelling proposals that align organizational priorities with available funding opportunities.
- Steward awarded funds in coordination with organizational leadership, including reporting, compliance, and budget monitoring for assigned grants and initiatives.
Qualifications
Required
- Bachelor's degree in education, youth development, public administration, nonprofit management, or a related field. Equivalent professional experience will be considered.
- Five or more years of progressively responsible leadership experience in youth development, education, the nonprofit sector, or workforce development.
- Demonstrated commitment to equity, inclusion, cultural responsiveness, and leadership centered in community.
- Demonstrated success in building and sustaining partnerships across sectors.
- Experience directing or overseeing professional learning for adults, including establishing strategy, guiding staff or contracted trainers, and ensuring quality, within an expanded learning, education, or workforce setting.
- Experience with quality improvement and continuous improvement practices in afterschool and summer programs, education, or a related field.
- Experience providing or overseeing coaching, technical assistance, or organizational development support.
- Experience working with state agencies, initiatives funded by grants, or statewide networks.
- Strong project management, communication, organizational, and data analysis skills.
Preferred
- Master's degree in education, youth development, public administration, nonprofit management, or a related field.
- Knowledge of Oregon's expanded learning infrastructure, including the Oregon Registry (ORO), Core Knowledge Categories (CKCs), and the Oregon Quality Standards for Afterschool and Summer Programs.
- Established relationships with Oregon state agencies, Tribal Nations, education partners, or program providers.
- Demonstrated experience in grant writing, fundraising, or resource development.
- Experience working with Tribal communities, rural communities, or culturally specific organizations.
- Bilingual or bicultural skills, particularly in Spanish and English.
Candidates who meet many, though not all, of the preferred qualifications are encouraged to apply.
Applicants from outside Oregon who bring substantial experience in expanded learning and quality improvement are welcome to apply, as knowledge of the systems particular to Oregon can be developed within the position.
Core Skills
Strategic leadership and systems thinking; the design and oversight of adult learning; facilitation of groups and of convenings across sectors; project and budget management; data analysis, evaluation, and the communication of findings; partnership development and fundraising; public speaking; and strong written and verbal communication.
Compensation and Benefits
Salary range: $80,000-$90,000 annually, commensurate with experience.
OregonASK offers a comprehensive benefits package, including health insurance, paid time off, paid holidays, retirement contribution, and professional development support.
Location, Working Conditions, and Travel
This position is based in Oregon, where OregonASK maintains an office in Portland. Candidates must reside in Oregon, or relocate prior to their start date, in order to sustain the relationships on which this position depends, many of which require presence in the community. The position operates within a hybrid work environment and involves regular travel throughout Oregon, including rural and coastal communities, as well as occasional national travel. Evening and weekend work is required periodically for conferences, trainings, and meetings. A reliable means of statewide travel is required.
Apply at Oregonask.org
https://oregonask.org/home/executive-director/
Pay: $75,000.00 - $90,000.00 per year
Benefits:
- 401(k) matching
- Dental insurance
- Paid time off
- Retirement plan
- Vision insurance
Work Location: Hybrid remote in Wilsonville, OR 97070
