Job Title: Executive Director, Early Matters El Paso
Location: El Paso, Texas (hybrid/remote; regional travel required)
Reports To: El Paso Community Foundation (Fiscal Sponsor)
Compensation: $80,000 - $100,000 commensurate with experience
Organizational Overview
Early Matters El Paso is a coalition of cross-sector leaders advancing economic mobility through policies and practices supporting children birth to age 8 in El Paso County. EMEP convenes 54 members across 27 organizations—ISDs, childcare providers, nonprofits, workforce development, and higher education—to improve early education through data-driven advocacy and strategic partnerships.
El Paso's unique border context—Fort Bliss military families, binational ties with Ciudad Juárez, proximity to Las Cruces—creates distinctive ECE opportunities. EMEP positions early childhood as essential workforce development infrastructure, connecting local advocacy to statewide Early Matters Texas policy priorities. EMEP is positioned for transformational growth with enhanced advocacy capacity and sustainable infrastructure.
Position Overview
The Executive Director serves as strategic leader and convener of Early Matters El Paso, building and aligning diverse stakeholders around a shared vision for early childhood success. This senior-level position shapes EMEP's future as an independent organization capable of influencing local and state policy while establishing business and civic partnerships essential for sustainability.
The Director will guide EMEP's 3-5 year strategic planning, establish a Business Advisory Council with influential El Paso champions, manage organizational transition to EPCF fiscal sponsorship, and position EMEP as the authoritative voice for regional ECE advocacy. This role requires systems leadership, coalition-building skills, proven fundraising success, and commitment to equity-driven, data-informed, results-focused collaboration. The Director represents EMEP in the statewide Early Matters Texas network, coordinating regional advocacy with state legislative priorities.
Key Responsibilities
Strategic Leadership & Vision
Lead development and execution of EMEP's 3-5 year strategic plan with Steering Committee and membership
Guide organizational restructure building sustainable governance and operational systems
Employ collective impact principles: shared measurement, continuous communication, and mutually reinforcing activities
Stakeholder Engagement & Coalition Building
Maintain and grow EMEP's network of 54 members across 27 organizations through regular convenings and active workgroups
Establish Business Advisory Council with senior El Paso business leaders recognizing ECE as workforce development strategy
Cultivate relationships with Mayor's office, County Commissioners, elected officials, business executives, and education leaders
Facilitate ISD-childcare provider partnerships; engage Fort Bliss military families; coordinate with Las Cruces ECE initiatives
Operations & Backbone Functions
Provide core infrastructure: facilitation, data support, project management, communications
Oversee ECE data collection/analysis including compensation studies and enrollment trends; ensure partners have timely access
Manage professional development academies and pre-K enrollment campaigns
Oversee organizational budget with EPCF administrative support
Policy & Systems Alignment
Strengthen local policy advocacy while maintaining nonpartisan, data-driven positioning
Collaborate with Early Matters Texas on statewide legislative priorities; monitor state education statutes impacting EMEP goals
Represent EMEP at public forums, conferences, task force meetings as credible spokesperson
Translate complex ECE data into accessible policy briefs and advocacy tools for business leaders, policymakers, stakeholders
Resource Development & Sustainability
Develop and execute comprehensive funding strategy: foundation grants, corporate partnerships, government contracts
Secure major grants and cultivate individual donors; explore diversified revenue (membership, fee-for-service, conference income)
Collaborate with EPCF and Steering Committee on fundraising initiative
Qualifications
Essential: Bachelor’s degree in public policy, early childhood education, social work, public health, or related field (Master’s preferred); 5-7+ years progressive leadership experience; bilingual English/Spanish strongly preferred.
Systems Leadership & Communication
Strategic planning capability; experience guiding organizational transitions and building governance structures
Strong facilitation and stakeholder engagement skills for collaborative decision-making
Compelling public speaker and credible spokesperson; excellent written communication for grants, policy briefs, reports
Proven Fundraising & Coalition Leadership
Track record securing sustainable funding through grants, partnerships, public-private investment
Experience leading cross-sector collaboratives or collective impact initiatives
Ability to articulate ECE investment as economic development and workforce strategy
Business & Policy Engagement
Proven ability recruiting/engaging senior business executives and civic leaders as ECE champions
Experience strengthening policy initiatives while maintaining nonpartisan positioning
Ability translating research into accessible policy briefs and advocacy tools
Early Childhood Experience
Understanding of early childhood systems and policy or demonstrated ability to quickly and deeply learn key concepts
Capacity to gather, understand and communicate early childhood data and trends to diverse audiences in accessible, compelling language
Openness and demonstrated ability for continuous learning in the early childhood field
We encourage candidates with proven leadership, fundraising, and external engagement experience to apply. If you excel in those areas and are genuinely interested in early childhood education, don't self-select out.
Desired: Existing El Paso relationships; Early Matters network experience; knowledge of Texas ECE policy landscape; understanding of border region dynamics and military community needs
Compensation and Benefits
Salary: $80,000 - $100,000 commensurate with experience
Benefits: Comprehensive package including health/dental/vision insurance, retirement plan, generous PTO and holidays
Work Arrangement: Flexible hybrid/remote based in El Paso; occasional evening/weekend commitments
Support: EPCF back-office support (accounting, HR, grants management); active Steering Committee; Early Matters Texas network integration; professional development opportunities
To Apply
Submit cover letter (max 2 pages), resume/CV, and three professional references to Stephanie Otero, sotero@epcf.org
Cover letter should address: Your interest in EMEP; relevant experience with early childhood education, fundraising, advocacy, and/or coalition leadership; approach to building business/civic partnerships for ECE priorities; existing El Paso connections.
Applications reviewed on a rolling basis. First-round interviews virtual; finalist interviews in-person with Steering Committee and key stakeholders in El Paso. Questions? Contact Stephanie Otero, sotero@epcf.org