Save the Children

For over 100 years, Save the Children has been fighting for the rights of children. The right to a healthy start in life. To have access to education. To be in a safe environment, protected from harm. We work in some of the world’s hardest-to-reach places – over 100 countries, including the U.S. No matter what your role is, when you join Save the Children, you’re creating positive, irreversible change for children, and the future we all share.

The Role

The Advisor, Kindergarten Readiness provides strategic leadership, technical assistance, and capacity building to ensure high-quality implementation of kindergarten readiness and early childhood education programs across Kentucky. This role supports and advises a portfolio of program partners and Lead Associate responsibilities for direct implementation, while also serving as a project lead for broader early education initiatives. The Advisor strengthens program quality, ensures fidelity to program models and donor requirements, and contributes to continuous improvement through data analysis, coaching, training, and cross-sector collaboration.

Location

Hybrid – Washington DC, Fairfield, CT or Lexington, KY office locations

What You’ll Be Doing (Essential Duties)

*not inclusive of all role responsibilities. May be subject to change

Program Implementation & Partner Management (30%)

• Oversee a subset of the Kentucky partner portfolio, supporting effective program operations, implementation timelines, and allowable use of funds.
• Support partner start-up activities, including staffing, onboarding, training, technology, and access to Save the Children systems and resources.
• Meet regularly with partner leadership and site supervisors to review progress, troubleshoot challenges, and plan next steps.
• Ensure timely and accurate incident reporting and follow-up.
• Collaborate with the State Director and national colleagues to resolve complex implementation issues and adapt supports as needed.
• Support grant planning, budgeting, reporting, and partner performance management activities.

Project Leadership, Collaboration & Knowledge Sharing (55%)

• Serve as project lead for selected kindergarten readiness and early education initiatives within the state.
• Build and maintain strong cross-sector and inter-sectoral relationships to support coordinated service delivery and community impact.
• Collect and synthesize data on community needs related to early education access, summer learning gaps, and kindergarten readiness.
• Develop communication and learning materials (e.g., newsletters, resources, guidance documents) for partners and the broader education community.
• Stay current on national standards, research, and best practices in early childhood education and kindergarten readiness, and share knowledge internally and externally.

Management, Operations & Organizational Excellence (15%)

• Train, develop, coach, lead, and supervise staff, clearly communicating organization, division and department priorities, and how their work contributes to our mission and supports Save the Children values
• Contribute to state-level planning related to program design, staffing, and implementation structures.
• Ensure staff and partners have access to effective knowledge management tools and systems for data entry, monitoring, reporting, and sharing best practices.
• Provide regular, timely updates to the State Director on program progress, risks, and emerging opportunities.

Required qualifications for the role

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent experience plus at least 5 years of relevant experience in early childhood education, kindergarten readiness, or related fields.
• Demonstrated experience providing training, coaching, technical assistance, and/or supervision to program staff or partners.
• Proven understanding of early childhood development and kindergarten readiness principles.
• Professional proficiency in MS Office suite and related productivity tools.
• Professional proficiency in spoken and written English.
• Demonstrated ability to analyze data and use findings to inform program improvement.
• Ability to communicate and collaborate effectively with individuals and teams at all levels, both internally and externally.
• Willingness and ability to travel within the state at least 10% of the time.

Perferred qualifications for the role

• Exposure to change management principles and support in the delivery of a major project

Compensation

Save the Children is offering the following salary ranges for this position, dependent on candidate location:

• Geo 1 – NY Metro, DC, and other locations with labor costs significantly above national average: Target Salary for this position is $91,800 – $102,600 base salary
• Geo 2 – Locations around the US National Labor Cost Average: Target Salary for this position is $83,725 – $93,575 base salary
• Geo 3 – Locations significantly below the US National Labor Cost Average: Target Salary for this position is $74,800 – $83,600 base salary

The salary ranges listed above are for US based candidates. For candidates located outside of the US, salary ranges will be based on the salary scales of the local employer of record. Actual base salary may vary based on, but not limited to, relevant experience, base salary of internal peers, business sector, and geographic location (more information on job structure is available here).

About Us

We are looking to build an inclusive team at Save the Children. We offer a range of outstanding benefits to support this goal.

• Flexible schedules and time off: Flexible schedules, generous PTO, 11 paid holidays plus 2 floating holidays, and hybrid working opportunities
• Health: Competitive health care, dental and vision coverage for you and your family
• Family: A variety of paid leaves: caregiver, parental/adoption, critical child illness and fertility benefits
• Employee Rewards Program: Annual merit increases and/or additional incentives for eligible employees
• Retirement: A retirement savings plan with employer contributions (after one year)
• Wellness: 15 safety and wellness days annually (if hired on or after July 1, safety and wellness days prorated to 8 days), mental health benefits and support through Calm and company-hosted events
• Employee Assistance Program: free and confidential assessments, short-term counseling, referrals, and follow-up services
• Learning & Growth: Access to internal and external learning & development opportunities and mentorships

Click here to learn more about how Save the Children US will invest in you.

Save the Children is committed to conducting its programs and operations in a manner that is safe for the children it serves and helping protect the children with whom we are in contact. All Save the Children representatives are explicitly prohibited from engaging in any activity that may result in any kind of child abuse.

Save the Children is committed to minimizing safety and security risks for our valued employees, ensuring all are given training, support and information to reduce their risk exposure while maximizing the impact of our programs for children and families. Our shared duty, both agency and individual, is to seek and maintain safe working conditions for all.

If you require disability assistance with the application or recruitment process, please submit a request to [email protected].