CEO – Chief Executive Officer

Talence Group | Executive & Leadership Search

. Establish, communicate, and drive OCDC's mission, vision, strategy, and values as a vital nonprofit community organization.

Posted 9/23/2026full-timeWilsonville • Oregon • United StatesLeadWebsite

Core Competencies

Role fit

Core Competencies

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Demonstrates advanced financial management skills, including budgeting, resource allocation, and revenue diversification, while leading diverse teams in mission-driven organizations. Proven ability to build organizational trust and foster a culture of continuous improvement in complex, regulated environments.

Highest-signal resume keywords

10+ Years Leadership ExperienceAdvanced Financial ManagementExperience with Multi-Site OrganizationsBilingual English/Spanish FluencyAuthentic Cultural Credibility

ATS Keywords

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Applicant Tracking System Keywords

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Hard Skills

BudgetingResource AllocationRevenue DiversificationOrganizational Performance ManagementStrategic PlanningRisk ManagementContinuous ImprovementProgram ComplianceCommunity EngagementPolicy Development

Soft Skills

LeadershipCoachingCommunicationCultural CompetenceAdaptability

Certifications & Qualifications

Bachelor's DegreeMaster's Degree (Preferred)

Industry Keywords

Nonprofit ManagementMigrant and Seasonal Head StartEarly Childhood EducationCommunity DevelopmentPhilanthropic FundingGovernanceHead Start Program Performance StandardsCultural TransitionOperational ExpansionFederal Funding

About the role

Key responsibilities & impact

Establish, communicate, and drive OCDC's mission, vision, strategy, and values as a vital nonprofit community organization.
Partner with the Board of Directors and Parent Policy Council to develop strategic priorities and ensure effective governance.
Lead execution of OCDC's 2025–2029 Strategic Plan across Excellence in Programming, Supportive Organizational Infrastructure, Sustainable Financial Resources & Growth, and Responsive Organizational Communication.
Oversee organizational financial performance, budgeting, resource allocation, and risk management.
Strengthen financial reserves, expand sustainable revenue opportunities, and diversify funding beyond government grants.
Guide and develop the executive leadership team, including the CFO, COO, Chief Human Resources Officer, and Chief Quality & Compliance Officer.
Champion coaching and professional development to build bench strength and organizational resilience.
Build bridges across diverse cultures and understand the migrant and seasonal farmworker communities served.
Build alignment, communication, and accountability across Central Office leadership and geographically dispersed operations.
Foster a culture promoting belonging, well-being, accountability, innovation, and employee engagement.
Build relationships with the federal Office of Head Start, Oregon Department of Early Learning and Care, state legislators, and county partners.
Lead through federal funding and policy changes, safeguarding program access and continuity.
Represent OCDC with families, community organizations, regulatory and government agencies, funders, and the public.
Ensure high-quality, innovative, and compliant Migrant and Seasonal Head Start, infant/toddler, and pre-kindergarten programs and services.
Champion organization-wide continuous improvement and innovation initiatives.

Requirements

What you’ll need

10+ years of progressive leadership with organizations with at least $20M in budgets.
A demonstrated ability to set a clear organizational vision, anticipate future trends, and translate both into measurable, actionable priorities that drive accountability for results.
Experience leading executive teams in organizations of substantial size, motivating, retaining, and building culture across a large, dispersed workforce, where authority is earned more than it is positional.
Experience leading multi-site organizations, with the operational complexity that comes from managing across locations.
A demonstrated, sustained commitment to mission-driven or underserved communities, shown through leadership roles, board service, philanthropic involvement, or other meaningful community engagement.
Experience managing diverse and complex revenue streams, whether through grants and government contracts, earned revenue, private capital, or philanthropic funding.
Proven ability to rebuild organizational trust and credibility during times of change, strengthening relationships with employees, regulators, policymakers, and communities while fostering confidence in the organization’s leadership and direction.
Proven track record of leading through periods of significant change or turnaround, creating stability, strengthening organizational performance, and building a foundation for sustainable growth in a regulated environment.
Advanced financial management experience including budgeting, resource allocation, revenue diversification, and reserve rebuilding.
Demonstrated composure and sound judgment amid uncertainty, able to act decisively without complete information while adapting quickly as conditions change.
A track record of strengthening organizational performance and building a culture of continuous improvement, including during periods of significant change, disruption, or financial uncertainty.
Bachelor's degree required
Authentic cultural credibility with migrant, farmworker, and Latino communities.
Preferred: Master's degree, or an equivalent record of enterprise leadership.
Preferred: Direct experience with Head Start or comparable early childhood, education, or family-services programs, including working knowledge of the federal Head Start Program Performance Standards and Policy Council co-governance structures.
Preferred: Bilingual English/Spanish fluency; dual-language program leadership experience.
Preferred: A track record of shaping early-learning policy or funding at the state or federal level.
Preferred: Experience growing sites, programs, or facilities, or leading comparable operational expansion.
Preferred: Regional or West Coast ties.
Preferred: Experience following a long-tenured or founder-style leader and leading a cultural transition.

Benefits

Comp & perks

401(k) with up to 10% employer contribution
Medical, dental, and vision coverage
Qualifying employer for Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF)
5-weeks PTO