Partners for Rural Impact’s (PRI) ultimate goal is for an America where all kids are successful, regardless of zip code, income, background, or ability. At PRI, our focus is on ensuring that all children in rural places achieve success. Partners for Rural Impact was born out of our place-based partnership in Appalachia, where we’ve worked for 25 years to create student opportunity and success.

Position Summary

The Senior Director, Tennessee at PRI, reporting to Vice President, Executive Vice President Office, will lead and coordinate the organization’s strategic efforts across rural Tennessee, advancing Cradle to Career (C2C) and Place-based partnership (PBP) initiatives statewide. This role will play a central leadership role in developing and supporting a cohort of rural Tennessee-based partnerships, maintaining deep thought partnership with the private funders and other key state and national partners, supporting regional and statewide fundraising efforts, and serving as a visible ambassador of PRI’s work across Tennessee. A critical part of this role will be collaborating with the TN Cradle to Career Coalition, ensuring rural voices are included in state-level advocacy and aligned efforts to unlock public dollars for sustainable impact. Success for this role will also include overseeing state-based, funder-support projects. The Senior Director will work closely with PRI’s internal teams, to connect on-the-ground efforts in Tennessee with PRI’s broader national mission and expertise. The position leads and operates with the goal that All Rural Students Succeed.

Primary Duties and Responsibilities

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each primary duty satisfactorily. The requirements of the position are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required, with regular and predictable attendance essential. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Tennessee Strategy & State-Level Leadership

• Lead PRI’s strategic efforts across rural Tennessee

• Serve as the public face of PRI’s Tennessee work, building trust with local, regional, and statewide stakeholders

• Partner with Cradle to Career Tennessee to align efforts and ensure rural children and youth have clear pathways to economic mobility

Measuring & Sustaining Impact

• Monitor the effectiveness of PRI’s rural strategies in Tennessee, using data to drive continuous improvement

• Develop and implement shared metrics of success to track outcomes and demonstrate measurable impact

Strategic Leadership & Team Management

• Provide strategic input to PRI leadership on opportunities for statewide impact and scaling

• Mentor and support leaders within rural Tennessee communities to build local capacity and sustainability

• Supervise and guide PRI team members working in Tennessee

• Build and maintain strong internal relationships with PRI teams to effectively leverage organizational resources and expertise in support of Tennessee strategy

Collaboration & Thought Leadership

• Collaborate with PRI leadership to capture and share lessons learned from rural Tennessee initiatives

• Represent PRI as a speaker, facilitator, and advisor at local, regional, and national convenings

Stakeholder Engagement & Partnership Development

• Cultivate and manage cross-sector partnerships with Tennessee-based funders, educational institutions, government agencies, and community organizations

• Convene and facilitate learning communities, strategy sessions, and workshops to advance rural outcomes

Financial Oversight & Resource Development

• Partner with PRI and C2C Tennessee leadership to identify and secure public and private funding opportunities for rural Tennessee initiatives

• Oversee effective management, reporting, and accountability of Tennessee-specific funding streams

Project Leadership & Management

• Serve as Project Director for key state-based, funder-supported projects, ensuring high-quality implementation, strong partner engagement, and clear funder communication

• Build and steward strong relationships with funders and field partners, positioning PRI as a trusted collaborator and ensuring Tennessee initiatives are impactful, sustainable, and aligned with PRI’s broader strategic priorities

• Other roles/duties will be assigned as necessary to assist and support in the attainment of our mission, All Rural Students Succeed

Position Location & Schedule

This in-person position will be based in the Nashville, Tennessee area within the C2C Tennessee office with local, state, and sometimes national travel required.

Normal business hours are Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. ET with in-office, hybrid and/or remote work a possibility. Because of the nature of the responsibility to schools, partners, funders, and to the service region, individual offices or departments may have operating hours that extend beyond this period and may include evening and/or weekend hours.

Minimum Qualifications

Education required to ensure success in this position:

• Bachelor’s degree required; Master’s degree or higher preferred

Experience required to ensure success in this position:

• 10+ years of senior-level leadership with demonstrated success in community-based initiatives, program scaling, and systems change

• Relevant experience in education, public policy, nonprofit leadership, or community development.

• Deep familiarity with Tennessee’s education, philanthropic, and policy ecosystems—particularly in rural areas

• Successful track record of partnering with philanthropy to advance organizational and community goals

• Expertise in place-based strategies, cradle-to-career models, and leadership development

Special skills, knowledge and abilities:

• Proven ability to build trust and lead cross-sector collaborations involving funders, local leaders, and public officials

• Strong public speaking, facilitation, and storytelling skills to engage diverse audiences

• Superior interpersonal and organizational skills

• Competencies to effectively supervise staff
  

License, certification, or registration necessary:

• Valid driver’s license

• Successfully complete pre-employment background check

Physical requirements:

• Ability to work in a high-energy office

• Ability to accurately communicate and exchange information with partners, stakeholders, and/or meeting participants

• Ability to occasionally lift up to 25 lbs

• Ability to travel independently by car and plane regionally and nationally

• Ability to operate standard office equipment

• Ability to operate motor vehicle

Environmental conditions:

• Work in a fast-paced setting with frequent interruptions and shifting priorities
  

Additional Company Information

PRI offers a wide array of benefit options, to meet the financial, educational, and health needs of you and your family.

• Comprehensive insurance plans including medical, dental, vision, and prescription coverage.

• Flexible spending accounts, plus an employee assistance program.

• Life and long-term disability insurance and retirement plan.

• Generous paid time off work options including vacation, sick leave, and annual holidays, in addition to paid parental leave.

• Tuition assistance and professional development for employees.

Partners for Rural Impact is an Equal Opportunity Employer that recruits and hires qualified candidates without regard to race, religion, sex, sexual orientation, age, national origin, ancestry, citizenship, disability, or veteran status.