4000NorthCentralAvenue,Suite800,Phoenix,Arizona85012

602.771.5100|877.803.7234|azftf.gov

VicePresident,StrategicPartnershipsandInvestments
FirstThingsFirst
FirstThingsFirst(ArizonaEarlyChildhoodDevelopmentandHealthBoard)isoneofthecriticalstate
partnersincreatingachildandfamilycentered,comprehensive,collaborativeandhighqualityearly
childhoodsystemthatsupportsthedevelopment,healthandearlyeducationofallArizonaschildren.
Createdbyvoterinitiativein2006,FirstThingsFirstisgovernedbyastateBoardwith28regional
partnershipcouncils.FirstThingsFirstisadecentralizedorganizationthatengagesdiverse
constituenciestoaccomplishitsmission.Organizationalvaluesincludeafocusonaccountability,
transparency,coordination,collaborationandontheoutcomesthatwillensureyoungchildrenstart
kindergartenhealthyandreadytosucceedinschoolandinlife.
PositionSummary
FirstThingsFirstengagedadiversegroupofstakeholderstocreateaninitialpublicprivatepartnerships
plan.ThisplanisanefforttomoreintentionallyexplorehowFirstThingsFirstcanstrategicallyleverage
local,stateandnationalresourcespublicandprivatetoadvanceArizonasearlychildhoodsystem.
TheVicePresident,StrategicPartnershipsandInvestments,isresponsibleforleadingthe
implementationofthisplan.ThepositionisadirectreporttotheCEOofFirstThingsFirstandassuchis
amemberoftheorganizationsmanagementteam.TheVicePresident,StrategicPartnershipsand
Investments,managesandissupportedbyaprogramspecialistandasharedadministrativeposition.
Implementationofthestrategicpartnershipsandinvestmentsplanisafundamentallongtermstrategy
toenableFirstThingsFirstanditspartnerstoworktowardsasustainablefutureforaneffectiveearly
childhoodsysteminArizona.Thiseffortwillidentifyandsecurenewopportunitiesandresourcesto
extendandleverageFirstThingsFirststatewideandregionalinitiatives.Strategiestodevelop
partnershipsandinvestmentswilllikelyincludefederalresources;national,regionalandlocal
foundations;thebusinesscommunity;Indiantribesandnations,tribalorganizations;nonprofit
organizations;theexplorationofearnedincomeapproaches;andotheravenues.
Earlyon,theVicePresidentwillstaffthereviewandupdateoftheexistingplanthatwillbeusedasthe
strategicblueprintgoingforward.Itisalsoexpectedthatthereview,updateandongoingmanagement
oftheplanwillengagearangeofdiversestakeholdersthatincluderepresentativesoftheFirstThings
FirstBoard,regionalpartnershipcouncils,staffandpublicandprivatesectorpartners.
DistinguishingCharacteristics
TheidealcandidatebringsdemonstrableexperiencethatsupportsthevisionandmissionofFirstThings
First,aswellasapassionforpositivelyimpactingthelivesofyoungchildrenandfamilies.
S/hethrivesinateamorientedenvironmentasbothateamleaderandateammember,andis
committedtodevelopingtalentandleadershipinsideandoutoftheorganization.Thecandidatehasa
proventrackrecordinahighperformanceorganization,andcanworkindependentlyandinconcert
withFirstThingsFirstleadership.S/hehasoutstandingplanning,organizationalandimplementation
abilitieswithdetailorientedfollowthrough.

Thecandidatehasakeenentrepreneurialstyleandisinnovativeandresourcefulincreating
opportunitiesandsolvingproblems.S/hebringsoutstandingcommunicationskillsandcantranslate
complexissuesinaconcise,compellingmannertoadiversesetofaudiences.
Theidealcandidatehasdemonstratedacumeninthebusiness,nonprofit,philanthropic,education
and/orgovernmentsectors.Keytosuccessinthispositionisaproventrackrecordofengagingmultiple
audiencesandsecuringtheircommitmentofresources,programsandpolicies.
DutiesandResponsibilities
Strategicplanning

StafftherevisionandupdateoftheFirstThingsFirststrategicpartnershipsandinvestmentsplan
whichservesasablueprinttogeneratearangeofstrategicpartnershipsandinvestments.
Organizeandstaffanadvisorycommitteetoprovideguidanceandsupporttothedesignand
implementationofthelongtermplan.TheadvisorycommitteemayconsistoftheFirstThings
FirstCEOandrepresentativesoftheorganizationsBoard,regionalpartnershipcouncils,staff
andexternalpartners.
Create,manageandimplementannualworkplansthatputshort,midandlongtermstrategies
intoaction.

Organizationaltransformation

WorkcollaborativelyacrossFirstThingsFirstdepartments,initiativesandregionalpartnership
councilsandBoardtosupportandstrengthenthecultureofentrepreneurialism,crosssectoral
communication,andunderstandingofcollectiveimpact.
WorkcloselywithstaffandconsultantstoincorporateFirstThingsFirstresearchandevaluation
intoshortandlongtermplanningforstrategicpartnershipsandinvestments.
Buildoutandcoordinatewithinternalteamsandsystemstosupporttimelyandeffective
pursuitofandresponsestopartnershipandinvestmentopportunities.
Developandmanageappropriateinternalinfrastructureincludingtheprogramspecialist
position,supportstaff,consultantsandsoftware.

CollaboratewithRegionalPartnershipCouncils

Ensureeffectivecoordinationbetweenstatewideandlocalstrategicpartnershipsand
investments.
WorkwithappropriateFirstThingsFirststafftodesign,implementandcoordinateeffortsto
buildthecapacityofregionalpartnershipcouncilsandstafftocultivateandsecureresources.
Engagerepresentativesofregionalcouncilsintheongoingmanagementandupdatingofthe
FirstThingsFirststrategicpartnershipsandinvestmentsplan.
DevelopaconsistentandeffectivecommunicationsplanwithFirstThingsFirststafftokeep
regionalcouncilsapprisedoftheoverallpartnershipsandinvestmentsworkandthatoftheir
councilcolleagues.

Developmentofstrategicpartnershipsandinvestmentstrategies

Identify,assessandprioritizepartnershipsandinvestmentopportunitiesthatarealignedwith
andsupportFirstThingsFirstgoalsandobjectives,strategicblueprintandannualworkplan,and
financialandprojecttargets.

Incubateandlaunchnewpartnershipandinvestmentinitiativesthatarealignedwithand
supportFirstThingsFirstgoalsandobjectives.
Pursue,negotiate,craftandattimesmanagepartnershipsandinvestmentstrategies.
Supporttheongoingdevelopmentofregionalpartnershipcouncilcapacityindeveloping,
cultivatingandimplementingpartnershipsandinvestmentstrategies.
Identify,prioritizeandrecruitfoundationsandmajordonors;stateandfederalagenciesand
officials;nationalandstateorganizations;researchandpolicyagencies;practitionersandothers
indeveloping,cultivating,supportingandmanagingpartnershipsandinvestmentstrategies.

Ambassadortopublicandprivatesectors

RepresentFirstThingsFirstinavarietyofsettings.Prepareanddisseminateinformation
demonstratingtheimpactofFirstThingsFirstatthestatewideandlocallevels.
WorkcloselywithFirstThingsFirstregionalpartnershipcouncils,staffandconsultantsto
developstrategiccommunicationsfordiverseaudiencesthatengagetheminsupportingearly
childhooddevelopmentinArizonaandpartneringwithFirstThingsFirst.
BeactiveinappropriatenetworkstocultivatesupportforFirstThingsFirst.

Qualifications

Backgroundof7to10yearsprogressivelyresponsibleleadershippositionsinhighperforming
public,privateornonprofitorganizations,withexperienceinpublicpolicyandprogram
development.
Thoroughcontentknowledgeandpreviousexperienceinearlychildhood,K12education,state
andfederalgovernment,and/orpublicpolicy.
Proventrackrecordinbuildingpublicprivaterelationshipsthroughfunddevelopment,
collaborationsand/orpartnerships.
Demonstratedabilitytoengagediverseaudiencestosupportacause,organizationorproject.
Atcertainpoints,thispositionwillinteractwithandengagestaff,volunteers,parents,early
childhoodprofessionalsandproviders,communityleaders,governmentofficials,tribalpartners,
publicandprivateentitiesandfaithbasedgroupsincommunitiesthroughoutthestate.
UnderstandingofandabilitytoworkeffectivelyinArizonasuniqueanddiverseenvironment.
Skilledatworkingwithleadersinthephilanthropic,corporate/businessandnonprofitsectors
(local,stateandnational),and/orhighnetworthindividuals.
Expertiseinproductivelyengagingelectedandpublicofficials,andlocal,stateandfederal
agencyleaders.Understandingofstategovernmentandlegislativeoperations.
Bringsanentrepreneurialmanagementstyletocreateopportunitiesandaddressproblemsina
decentralizedorganization.
Strongteamleadershipcombinedwithexperienceinshareddecisionmakingmanagementand
supervisoryskills.Demonstratedabilitytoworkwithpersonswithdiverseopinions,workstyles
andcommunicationstylesandtoengagetheminmeetingthearticulatedpriorities.
Excellentwrittenandverbalcommunicationskills;particularlyadeptinpublicspeakingand
presentations.Abilitytodistillcomplexissuesandconveyacompellingstoryinaclear,concise
mannerinindividual,groupandconferencesettings.
Trackrecordofabilitytoworkwithinafastmovingenvironment,setcleargoalsandpriorities,
andexerciseresourcefulnessinmeetingthoseobjectiveswhilebalancingmultipletasks.
Thispositionisnotagrantwritingposition.However,theidealcandidateshouldbringa
knowledgeandpriorexperienceinfinancialandbudgetingprinciples,contractandgrant
management,grantwritingandadministration.

Commitmenttoupholdhighethicalstandardsandpromotesoundbusinesspractices.
Technicalskillsthatensureeffectiveuseofappropriatecomputerhardware,software,
databasesandothercommunicationtechnologiesanddevices.
Abilitytotravelthroughoutthestate,andnationallyonoccasion.
UndergraduatedegreerequiredandMastersdegreepreferredfromanaccreditedcollegeor
universityineducation,publicpolicy,organizationaldevelopment,business,nonprofit
managementorrelatedfield.

HowtoApply
FirstreviewofresumeswillbeginonJune 5,2015andcontinueuntilthepositionisfilled.To
beconsidered,pleaseemailyourcoverletterandresumeto:
HolleyMulhollandathmulholland@azftf.gov
(nocallsplease)
IntheArizonaStatePersonnelSystem,thispositionisclassifiedasaGrade26withahiringrangeof
$95,000to$105,000.ThepositionisnotcoveredundertheStateofArizonaMeritsystemrules.The
StateofArizonaoffersanoutstandingcomprehensivebenefitspackage.
ArizonaStategovernmentisanEOE/ADAreasonableaccommodationemployer.