Tandem, Partners in Early Learning

Executive Director

San Francisco, Oakland, or Martinez, California (Hybrid)

Compensation: $160,000 - $195,000

ABOUT TANDEM, PARTNERS IN EARLY LEARNING

Tandem Partners in Early Learning (Tandem) is a nonprofit organization working at the intersection of early childhood education and social justice in Alameda, Contra Costa, and San Francisco counties. Our mission is to co-create equitable, high-quality early learning experiences for children ages 0–5 grounded in community strengths and tailored to community needs and strengths.

We believe that investing in early learning can interrupt intergenerational cycles of racial and economic inequity. That’s why we prioritize partnerships with communities most impacted by systemic oppression.

Tandem® launched as an affiliate of Raising a Reader in 2003. In 2009, we became an independent 501(c)(3), and in 2015, we took on the name Tandem, Partners in Early Learning. Today, Tandem works across three focus areas: StoryCycles®, Early Learning Everywhere, and Network Capacity Building. Tandem serves children and families both inside and outside of the classroom and strengthens the early childhood system through professional development.

We have developed a bold, three-year program vision and roadmap—that deepens our impact, grows our reach, and builds towards lasting change. It is ambitious, innovative, and shaped by what we have learned from families, educators, and communities. 

1. Partnership is at our core: We work alongside school districts, early childhood education providers, and community-based organizations to co-create equitable, high-quality early learning experiences.
2. Addressing systemic inequities: We envision a just society where children thrive—a society where children are supported wherever they go: in their homes, schools, child care, libraries, health centers, parks, and more. By working with adults in these areas, we deliver early learning experiences that meet community priorities and address systemic barriers to opportunity.

We structure our work around five core values: joy, equity, diversity & inclusion, accountability, and balance.

For more information, please visit https://www.tandembayarea.org/.     

POSITION OVERVIEW

Tandem seeks a collaborative, inspiring, inclusive, and authentic relationship builder who brings knowledge of and experience in nonprofit leadership and a deep understanding of equity and inclusion. The ideal candidate has an ethos of connectedness, a drive for impact, and a focus on building trust with staff, the Board, key partners, and individuals and families across the Bay Area who rely on Tandem for trusted educational programs.

Tandem is deeply trusted and valued by the community for its longstanding commitment to equity, inclusion, and impact. With a strong history of designing high quality early learning experiences, the organization has built lasting relationships that reinforce its mission. 

The ideal candidate is a strong and empathetic leader with a track record of listening first, bridging differences, and serving as a connector to unite staff, board, key partners, and the community around the organization’s mission. Moreso, the strongest candidates cultivate a culture of mutual trust and shared leadership, empowering their team with autonomy while actively listening and acting on their expertise. They foster transparency, inspire accountability at all levels, and align the organization around a collective vision of impact, all while remaining deeply attuned to the complexities and challenges faced by both staff and the community. Future-focused and innovative, they bring creativity to problem-solving. This leader will animate and model Tandem values as they engage, share power, and amplify the visibility of the organization and will champion diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging across the organization and beyond. With a learning mindset and a commitment to accountability, they are relentless in ensuring the organization's long-term sustainability and impact. 

This is a unique opportunity for an experienced leader to build on a solid foundation of success and growth and continue to deepen and broaden the impact for which Tandem is so well known. They will empower and amplify the Tandem staff and Board, ultimately shaping the future of individuals and families across the Bay Area.  

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

Strategy and Leadership 

1. Lead Tandem’s strategy and vision, collaborating with the Board, staff, and key partners to design, implement, and track goals aligned with the Tandem strategic plan.
2. Develop and maintain trusting, transparent working relationships with the Board and staff leadership team to ensure open communication about successes and challenges of financial, programmatic, and operational performance.
3. Collaborate with the Board to maintain an active pipeline of potential board members, ensuring a diverse and engaged leadership team that aligns with the organization’s strategic needs and long-term vision.
4. Ensure ongoing organizational excellence; rigorous performance evaluation; and consistent, high-quality finance, administrative, fundraising, communications, and other systems.
5. Maintain a strong working knowledge of early education and foster a positive community partnership and reputation with key partners including peer organizations, education leaders, local government leaders, and the community.
6. Develop and implement plans that allow Tandem to weather unexpected challenges, adapt, adjust, and build resilience in staff and partners.

Culture and Values

1. Model and animate Tandem values, centering joy, equity, diversity and inclusion, accountability, and balance.
2. Successfully advocate for, encourage, and authentically facilitate diversity, equity, and inclusion within and among the Tandem board, staff, and partners.
3. Facilitate unity and positive, collaborative interactions among and between partners by demonstrating awareness of all cultures, identities, and power structures.

Fundraising and External Relations

1. Serve as an active, external voice and champion of Tandem with funders, local and government leaders, and partners, advocating for and increasing awareness of Tandem across the Bay Area through active participation in Tandem and partner events.
2. Grow the resources of Tandem by developing, cultivating, and deepening relationships with major donors, key philanthropic funders, and institutional partners through stories of impact and a clear strategy for growth and impact.
3. Actively seek out partnerships and increase engagement and brand awareness in the region.
4. In collaboration with the Board and staff, design and implement comprehensive fundraising, storytelling, and marketing strategies to amplify the organization.
5. Serve as a thought leader and field builder in early education, representing Tandem at conferences, panels, and in the media, while amplifying the organization’s impact and advocating for the critical issues that align with its mission.

Team Management 

1. Foster a collaborative culture of genuine teamwork and common purpose among all staff.
2. Lead and support a team of 3 senior leaders by facilitating regular meetings, ensuring effective ongoing communication, and organizing retreats related logistics, to foster team alignment and organizational growth.
3. Engage, empower, inspire, and hold staff accountable to fulfill their responsibilities to Tandem.
4. Facilitate collaboration across departments, functions, and tenures, and strengthen internal communications to cultivate strong, trusting working relationships at every level.
5. Lead staff engagement, culture, and professional development while ensuring a strong, engaged, and well-supported staff.

Financial Leadership

• Oversee Tandem budget and finances and work in concert with the Director of Finance & Administration to create and ensure adherence and compliance to appropriate financial policies, operations, and regulations.
• Serve as a strategic financial leader, bringing vision and creativity to revenue growth and resource development to ensure Tandem’s sustainability and impact.
• In partnership with the Director of Development oversee and provide leadership for Tandem organizational sustainability with a focus on generating revenue from a variety of sources, including grants, events, major donors, etc.
• Maintain and cultivate relationships with potential individual, philanthropic, and corporate donors.

QUALIFICATIONS

Tandem recognizes that not every candidate will bring all of the skills, knowledge, and experiences listed below and welcomes candidates with a variety of experiences.

• Passion for and a demonstrated commitment to Tandem’s mission, preferably with knowledge of and experience with organizations supporting early education 
• Experience working alongside historically marginalized communities and centering the voices of directly impacted community members.
• Minimum of ten years of nonprofit leadership experience with a strong track record of building, leading, inspiring, and retaining high-performing teams.
• Exceptional relationship-building skills, with the ability to work with and meaningfully engage diverse stakeholders.
• Familiarity with different stakeholder communities in the Bay Area and the San Francisco, Contra Costa, and Alameda counties that Tandem operates within is strongly desired.
• Demonstrated success leading, supporting, and investing in the professional development of a highly committed and talented team.
• Compassionate, empathetic, collaborative leadership style with a strengths-based approach to management, strong cultural competence, and a deep commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion.
• Unwavering commitment to quality programs and data-driven program evaluation; comfortable and experienced in setting success metrics and tracking data over time.
• Strong financial management skills, including budget development and management experience.
• Successful experience working in some capacity with a Board of Directors. 
• Strong communication skills, including public speaking, written and verbal communication, and presentation skills.
• Ability to attend occasional evening and weekend events.

COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS

The compensation range for this position is $160,000 - $195,000 and includes a generous benefits package, including:

• Full medical and dental benefits at no cost to the employee. 
• A 401K fund that employees can contribute to, with a 2% employer match.
• Time off, including 10 vacation days (during the first year of employment and increasing thereafter), 10 sick days, 10 paid holidays annually, and paid time off between Christmas and New Year’s Day and during the week of July 4th.
• Monthly $60 stipend for phone and data charges. 

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

This is a hybrid position, with the option to work from any of Tandem’s three office locations in Oakland, San Francisco, or Martinez/Contra Costa. Our current expectation is two days of in-office time per week, but please note that this requirement may change over time. The role also involves local travel across Alameda, Contra Costa, and San Francisco counties for donor meetings, funder visits, and community events. Occasional evening and weekend availability is required to support special events and external engagements.

TO APPLY

Tandem has retained the executive search firm LeaderFit to partner with the Board and Search Committee on this search. Interested candidates should upload a brief cover letter and resume. Applications will be accepted until the position is filled.

At LeaderFit, all candidate materials are reviewed by experienced humans—never by AI. We believe that evaluating leadership potential, lived experience, and alignment with mission and culture requires human judgment, insight, and care. We leverage AI in other ways to ensure efficiency, optimized research, and allowing LeaderFit staff to focus on what humans do best, which is connecting, engaging, and building community.

At Tandem, we believe that all individuals deserve to be always treated with respect and dignity. To that end, we provide equal employment opportunities (EEO) to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, or genetics. We are committed to identifying and recruiting a broad and diverse pool of qualified candidates for this position.  

In addition to federal law requirements, we also comply with applicable state and local laws governing nondiscrimination in employment in every location in which the Tandem has facilities. This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation, and training. 

Pursuant to the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance (and because it’s our value), qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records will be considered for employment.