Flint Hills Community Accelerator Director: Position Summary

Full-Time Position 

The Director serves as the lead executive of the Flint Hills Community Accelerator (FHCA), a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization established through a collaborative effort led by the Greater Manhattan Community Foundation and the Manhattan Area Chamber of Commerce to address specific community needs.

FHCA serves as a collaborative community hub focused on addressing four key needs:

1. Increasing the number of local childcare providers.
2. Developing workforce skills to meet local job requirements.
3. Connecting qualified employees with local employers.
4. Connecting healthcare providers with underserved populations.

FHCA collaboration works through partnerships with the Childcare Business Initiative (CBI), Manhattan Area Technical College (MATC), Kansas Workforce One, the Manhattan Free Clinic, Ascension Via Christi, local employers, government agencies, and philanthropic organizations and is located at 2423 Kimball Avenue in Manhattan, Kansas, on land provided and owned by Ascension Via Christi.

The Director provides strategic and operational leadership, ensuring organizational sustainability through strategic planning, fundraising, financial stewardship, facility management, board governance, and community partnerships.

The Director provides strategic alignment and personnel accountability of the Childcare Business Initiative (CBI) recognizing the CBI as a primary initiative operating in close partnership with the FHCA. The Director supervises the CBI Coordinator, who is responsible for the day-to-day operations of the initiative, including provider coaching, mentorship, policy administration, and management of efficient turnaround of the eight provider spaces. The Director also supervises the shared FHCA/CBI Administrative Assistant.

The Director is responsible for the overall management of FHCA's facility, including maintenance, security, tenant relationships, rental agreements, vendor and lease agreements, insurance, and financial responsibilities.

As the primary public-facing representative of FHCA, the Director serves as the organization's liaison with community partners working to address critical community needs. These partners include, but are not limited to, fundraising organizations, educational institutions, healthcare providers, government agencies, and local employers.

FHCA's financial management is conducted in partnership with the Greater Manhattan Community Foundation (GMCF), which provides bookkeeping and financial support services.

Limitation of Authority

The FHCA Director does not have independent authority over the day-to-day operations, policies, or budget of the Childcare Business Initiative (CBI), nor does the FHCA Director have independent authority over the individual childcare businesses participating in the CBI.

Organizational Leadership & Strategic Planning

• Provide leadership to advance FHCA's mission and vision and lead the FHCA Board of Directors in developing and implementing a long-term strategic plan.
• Develop organizational goals, performance measures, and community impact metrics together with FHCA Board.
• Ensure FHCA complies with all local, state, and federal legal, regulatory, financial, and reporting requirements.
• Provide executive oversight of the CBI Coordinator to ensure alignment with FHCA's mission.
• Supervise the shared FHCA/CBI Administrative Assistant.
• Oversee FHCA budgeting, financial planning, and financial reporting in partnership with the Greater Manhattan Community Foundation.
• Support Board governance through the preparation of monthly meeting agendas, operational and financial reports, policy recommendations, and strategic planning updates.
• Foster a mission-driven organizational culture built on open communication, trust, and respect.

Community Partnerships & External Relations

• Serve as FHCA's primary public representative.
• Facilitate collaborative initiatives to address critical community needs identified in FHCA's mission.
• Represent FHCA to news media and respond to public requests for information. • In coordination with the CBI Coordinator, develop public awareness and provider recruitment strategies to attract new childcare providers as existing providers complete their lease terms.
• Develop and communicate FHCA's goals, initiatives, accomplishments, and community impact through reports and public engagement.
• Utilize FHCA's website, social media, annual reports, presentations, public speaking engagements, and other communication channels to increase awareness of FHCA's work.
• Build and maintain collaborative relationships with business, education, healthcare, nonprofit, philanthropic, and government partners.
• Represent FHCA at community meetings, conferences, legislative discussions, and other events as requested.
• Advocate for initiatives that support childcare, workforce development, and healthcare access for the underserved.

Fundraising & Resource Development

• Lead fundraising, grant development, sponsorship, donor cultivation, and community investment efforts for FHCA and CBI.
• Develop and implement funding strategies that support FHCA operations, facility needs, and CBI growth.
• Develop and maintain relationships with foundations, employers, government agencies, and individual donors.
• Identify and pursue new funding opportunities and strategic partnerships that advance FHCA's mission.
• Oversee grant compliance, stewardship, reporting, and accountability. Facility Management
• Provide executive oversight of the FHCA facility, including ongoing maintenance, deferred maintenance, and planning for capital improvements.
• Oversee facility safety, security, accessibility, and compliance requirements.
• Execute and oversee tenant leases, maintenance and vendor contracts, and insurance policies.
• Manage tenant relationships and policies governing the use of shared spaces and resources.
• Ensure organizational compliance with legal, financial, insurance, and regulatory requirements.
• Establish and enforce policies, procedures, and requirements for use of FHCA's multi-purpose space.
• Work with the Administrative Assistant to execute rental agreements, coordinate payments, and ensure meeting spaces are prepared for renters.

Staff Leadership & Organizational Development

• Supervise the shared FHCA/CBI Administrative Assistant and provide oversight of the CBI Coordinator.
• Establish clear expectations, accountability measures, and performance goals for direct reports.
• Foster a collaborative, accountable, and mission-driven organizational culture.
• Support staff development and engagement, succession planning, and organizational capacity.
• Ensure organizational roles, responsibilities, and operational processes are clearly defined and implemented.

Required Qualifications

• Demonstrated leadership experience managing organizations, programs, or business/childcare initiatives.
• Proven success in fundraising, sponsorships, donor relations, and partnership development.
• Established expertise, relationships, and influence within local, regional, and statewide childcare systems.
• Demonstrated strategic planning and organizational leadership skills.
• Self-starter who readily translates vision into business and operating plans.
• Strong communication, collaboration, relationship-building, and problem-solving skills.
• Experience managing budgets, contracts, facilities, and organizational resources.
• Strong computer proficiency and experience in business operations.
• Ability to represent the FHCS with diverse community partners, funders, and the public.

Preferred Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in business administration, nonprofit management, public administration, community development, or a childcare-related field preferred; equivalent education and professional leadership experience may be considered in lieu of a degree.
• Experience working with nonprofit organizations, boards, governance, and public-private partnerships.
• Knowledge of the childcare and early childhood education landscape and its support of workforce development.
• Experience measuring organizational outcomes and communicating community impact.
• Experience managing/overseeing multi-tenant facilities, leases, vendor relationships, or shared community spaces.
• Passion for collaborative leadership and improving quality of life through community partnerships.

Resumes accepted until position is filled. Send resume and cover letter to Vern Henricks at vernh@mcfks.org with subject line of First & Last Name | FHCA Director Position.