Executive Director, Votruba Preparatory Academy and Breakthrough NKU

NKU Beta Gamma Sigma•Highland Heights, KY

5d•$100,000 - $120,000•Onsite

About The Position

The Executive Director provides strategic and operational leadership for Breakthrough NKU and the Votruba Preparatory Academy, two educational initiatives hosted by Northern Kentucky University (NKU). Breakthrough NKU, affiliated with Breakthrough Collaborative, provides a six-week summer camp for students in grades 6–9 over four consecutive years. The Votruba Preparatory Academy offers Breakthrough NKU programming and other academic enrichment, mentorship, and exploration opportunities for students visiting NKU. The initiatives aim to support students in grades 6–12 and prepare college students for careers in education. The Executive Director is accountable for the programs’ leadership, quality, and sustainability. The role sets strategic direction, translates strategy into measurable priorities, builds and supports a strong team, coordinates with NKU academic outreach units, safeguards student and Teaching Fellow experiences, cultivates relationships with families and community partners, leads fundraising and external engagement, and stewards financial and operational resources. The position works within NKU’s legal, financial, human resources, safety, risk-management, and operational framework. The Executive Director also works with the Votruba Preparatory Academy Advisory Council in its advisory capacity, distinct from NKU’s fiduciary and employment authority. The role develops campus-based academic enrichment and college-readiness opportunities, regional partnerships, and educational initiatives that leverage NKU expertise and resources. It oversees personnel, program operations, budgets, student experiences, Teaching Fellow development, institutional compliance, assessment, and continuous improvement. It leads resource development and represents the initiatives to philanthropic supporters, community leaders, institutional partners, and other stakeholders. The Executive Director maintains alignment with Breakthrough Collaborative standards, affiliate expectations, evaluation activities, and reporting obligations while responding to local needs. The position is a full-time, year-round, on-site leadership role based at NKU, with Flexwork possible if approved by a supervisor. Significant on-site presence is expected during summer programming and other major activities. Regular engagement with students, families, staff, donors, partners, and community stakeholders throughout Northern Kentucky is required. Periodic evening and weekend work and some local and national travel may be required. Employment is with Northern Kentucky University and is subject to university employment policies, background checks, student-safety requirements, and other applicable employment conditions. Posted salary is $100,000–$120,000, commensurate with experience. Applications for full consideration were requested by November 24, 2026.

Requirements

At least 7 years of progressively responsible professional experience, including significant leadership of people, programs, budgets, and organizational strategy.
A master’s-level degree or higher is required.
Commitment to Breakthrough’s mission, educational opportunity, and the success of students from financially under-resourced communities.
Ability to establish trust and authentic relationships across differing backgrounds, identities, experiences, roles, and perspectives.
Cultural humility, self-awareness, curiosity, and the ability to listen, learn, and adapt across communities and institutional contexts.
Strong people-management skills, including setting expectations, coaching, providing feedback, developing talent, managing performance, and building a healthy team culture.
Strong financial and operational judgment, including budget development, forecasting, internal controls, compliance, and risk management.
Ability to balance long-range strategy with hands-on execution, manage competing priorities, and make sound decisions with incomplete information.
Exceptional written, verbal, and interpersonal communication skills and credibility with students, families, educators, staff, donors, community leaders, and institutional colleagues.
Sound judgment, discretion, resilience, adaptability, and a collaborative leadership style.
Ability to navigate relationships among program leadership, the host institution, Advisory Council, community stakeholders, funders, and Breakthrough Collaborative.
Knowledge of the region’s education and philanthropic landscape, or ability to build that knowledge and network quickly.
Ability to meet applicable employment conditions, including required background checks and student-safety requirements.
Ability to work on site, maintain a significant on-site presence during summer programming and major activities, and undertake periodic evening and weekend work and some local and national travel.

Nice To Haves

Relevant experience in education, youth development, college access, teacher preparation, nonprofit leadership, higher education, K–12 education, or a related field.
A terminal degree (PhD or EdD).
Experience working effectively within or in close partnership with an institution of higher education.
Demonstrated success recruiting, coaching, developing, and retaining strong teams and managing individual and team performance.
Demonstrated success building cross-organizational, institutional, and community relationships and turning them into meaningful collaboration.
Demonstrated success in fundraising, resource development, grant writing, or partnership development, including cultivating and stewarding donors or funders and securing gifts, grants, or other resources.
Experience engaging volunteer leaders, boards, senior institutional leaders, or other influential stakeholders.
Flexwork may be considered if approved by the supervisor.

Responsibilities

Develop and execute a multi-year strategy aligned with Breakthrough NKU’s mission, Votruba Preparatory Academy priorities, NKU strategic priorities, and Breakthrough Collaborative standards.
Establish strategic priorities, organizational structures, and measures of success for program quality, student achievement, organizational effectiveness, and sustainability.
Develop campus-based academic enrichment and college-readiness opportunities for students in grades 6–12 and support coordination of NKU P–12 outreach programs and pathways to postsecondary education.
Advocate for academic outreach and educational pathway initiatives within NKU and the wider community, aligning institutional leaders, staff, council members, families, and stakeholders.
Cultivate partnerships with school districts, educational cooperatives, community organizations, and university stakeholders to address regional educational needs.
Identify and advance educational initiatives that leverage NKU expertise and resources to strengthen student learning, expand opportunities, support educator preparation, and improve regional schools.
Identify emerging organizational, financial, and resource needs as partnerships and initiatives grow.
Oversee program operations, personnel, financial resources, student experiences, and organizational performance.
Build and support a leadership team and foster collaboration, accountability, professional growth, and continuous improvement.
Ensure that students’, families’, and communities’ experiences, aspirations, and needs inform program decisions and design.
Oversee the development and support of Teaching Fellows and instructional personnel in collaboration with program leaders.
Ensure responsible financial stewardship, effective operational systems, and compliance with NKU policies and requirements, including student safety and risk management.
Lead the Votruba Preparatory Academy Advisory Council in strategic planning, advocacy, partnership development, and support for program priorities.
Represent NKU educational pathway initiatives to philanthropic supporters, community leaders, institutional partners, and other external stakeholders.
Lead annual and multi-year fundraising and resource-development strategies in collaboration with NKU Advancement, partners, and the Advisory Council.
Communicate program mission, outcomes, opportunities, and resource needs through proposals, presentations, reports, and stakeholder engagement.
Establish and monitor outcomes related to academic growth, student engagement, high-school success, college readiness, Teaching Fellow development, and regional impact.
Use program, financial, and regional data to assess effectiveness, guide decisions, improve program quality, and identify opportunities for growth.
Communicate outcomes, organizational performance, and strategic priorities to university leadership, council members, funding partners, and other stakeholders.
Maintain a productive relationship with Breakthrough Collaborative and ensure alignment with standards, affiliate expectations, organizational health requirements, and reporting obligations.
Participate in Breakthrough Collaborative professional learning, national initiatives, evaluation activities, and affiliate-leader networks.
Maintain the essential elements and expectations of the national Breakthrough model while responding to local students’, families’, and communities’ needs.
Support a successful launch of Breakthrough NKU in summer 2027, building on two years of summer camps with River City school partners.
Supervise and support the Breakthrough NKU Program Director and ensure adequate staffing, resources, and organizational capacity.