LEADERSHIP OPPORTUNITY

Executive Director

The Opportunity

Mainspring is seeking a dynamic, passionate, and strategic organizational leader to serve as Executive Director. This is an opportunity to serve Austin’s children and families while advocating for early childhood education and 2-gen programming across Texas.  

To help carry out Mainspring’s mission the ED will:

  • Run the day-to-day strategy/operations to build and drive culture and community

  • Ensure the school is equipped with the resources needed to ensure our families have a foundation to thrive.  

  • Work closely with the Board of Directors to set the organizational strategy and lead the school staff in the implementation of that vision. 

  • Play a primary role in the growth and expansion of Mainspring 

 

What Sets Us Apart

  • Compassion, respect and health are core to our work environment. 

  • We invest in our people through regular professional development and peer-to-peer support.

  • We intentionally operate with a diversified revenue model to provide the resources necessary to do high-quality work and establish long-term organizational stability. 

  • We apply best practices in early childhood education, nutrition, and social work with fidelity, and routinely consider new research and approaches.

 

What We Value

  • Communication

  • Inclusivity 

  • Collaboration 

  • Patience

  • Trust and privacy 

  • Growth mindset

  • Initiative

  • Reliability

 

What We are Looking For

Heart & Soul 

  • Mission-driven: A true love for the cause

  • Ability to inspire our community 

 

Team Culture & Development

  • Develop, inspire, facilitate, supervise, and mentor a staff that delivers on the vision to provide underserved children and their families with a community for high-quality early education and holistic support.

  • Work closely with the team to ensure success in all facets of the organization.

  • Establish a culture of professional development, communication, collaboration, and recognition.

  • Supervise the Managing Director, School Director, Family Services Director and Philanthropy Director.

Strategy & Vision

  • Ensure that Mainspring is adhering to its mission and vision with fidelity and integrity. 

  • Collaborate with the Board of Directors to develop and implement the organizational strategic plan, including the potential expansion of services.

  • Embrace Austin’s unique culture and find opportunities for partnership and connection that intersect with Mainspring’s priorities and the broader early childhood education effort in Texas.

  • Stay attuned to the changing needs of families in Central Texas.

Finance & Operations

  • Manage the organization’s core functions in programming, administration, communication and development.

  • Ensure operational systems are in place so that all staff can operate effectively and efficiently.

  • Oversee $2.7 million annual budget and diverse staff of 34, plus contractors and stakeholders.

  • Manage all financials responsibly – operating within the budget, ensuring maximum resource utilization and keeping the organization in a positive financial position.

  • Develop Mainspring’s financial resources to meet the current and future needs of the organization.

Fundraising & Community Relations

  • Exhibit organizational and communal leadership by cultivating relationships with all stakeholders, including team members, students, families, donors, grantors, partners, volunteers and community decision makers and influencers. 

  • Lead a robust multi-faceted annual development plan including stewardship, donor relations and major gifts. 

  • Personally engage in fundraising with major donors and grant organizations as well as develop additional revenue sources.

  • Serve as Mainspring’s primary spokesperson to the organization’s constituents, the media and the general public, engaging the community in the importance of Mainspring’s mission and purpose.

  • Cultivate relationships with current and prospective Board members that build on the culture of excellence in governance and volunteer management.

  • Identify, develop and manage strategic relationships with key entities, including United Way, Austin ISD, Child Inc., Workforce and other community partners.

Qualifications

  • 4+ Years professional experience in management roles. Leadership in the nonprofit domain, early childhood education, social work or mission-driven organizational world is a plus. 

  • Demonstrated success in executing strategy and leading significant positive change initiatives.

  • Demonstrated success in managing and supervising a team of professionals in an exemplary manner to accomplish their best work and develop their potential.

  • Demonstrated personal revenue-generating experience, including negotiating and executing partnerships, grants, annual fundraising campaigns, major gift solicitation, capital campaigns and earned-income ventures. 

  • Ensured sound financial management practices including budgeting and cost controls.

  • Track record of initiating, cultivating, and managing relationships with key constituencies

  • Bachelor’s degree required, Master’s degree preferred.  A range of candidates’ experiences and backgrounds will be considered.

What to Expect When You Interview with Us

  • An online personality quiz

  • STAR Interviewing prep sheet

  • A Zoom interview with panel of Board members (search committee)

  • An in-person interview with panel of Board members and staff representative that includes a presentation

  • A one day meet-and-greet with teachers and tour of school 

 

Salary Range

  • $100-130k

How to Apply

Please email your application to executivesearch@mainspringschools.org and include:  

  • Cover letter 

  • Resume 

  • Examples of your work

  • General interview availability

 

A Deeper Look at Mainspring

Mainspring Schools is a two-generation (2-gen) program that helps at-risk children and their families find success in school and life. One of the most respected early childhood programs in Texas, Mainspring was founded in 1941 and has the distinction of being the first school in the nation to be built within a federal housing project. 

At our core, we are a preschool for 95 children in Austin, ages 0-5. But our larger program is built on three pillars: 

  1. High-quality early education

  2. Health and nutrition

  3. Comprehensive family support

Each year, we produce some of the highest kindergarten readiness rates in the state and we help entire families develop a foundation for future success. This is the little school doing big things.

A few accomplishments:

  • Mainspring is among the 8% of centers in the U.S. to achieve accreditation by the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC). 

  • We have the highest 4-star rating from the Texas Rising Star program, which is run by the Texas Workforce Commission. 

  • Our school was the first early childhood program in Texas to achieve in-district charter status (with the Austin Independent School District). 

  • We were recently selected by the Texas Education Agency (TEA) to be part of its exclusive Replicating Great Options program.

Mainspring has earned the above accolades because of effective leadership, efficient organizational dynamics and long-standing partnerships. We believe in fiscal responsibility that takes advantage of multiple streams of revenue (including fundraising) and closely monitors expenses and investments. We also strive to operate efficiently and effectively, taking advantage of progressive processes and technologies. In addition, we believe in partnering with organizations to maximize the capabilities of all parties. 

Learn more at www.mainspringschools.org.