Executive Director

Position Title:            Executive Director (ED)

Organization:            C.O.S.Kids (registered as Christ Our Shepherd Ministries, Inc)

Location:                    226 West John Street, Matthews, NC 28105

Reports To:               Board of Directors

Employment Type:   Full-time, Exempt

About Christ Our Shepherd Ministries

Christ Our Shepherd Ministries has been serving the community since 1996, operating both a high-quality childcare campus and a library that provides outstanding Christian resources to the community. To provide greater clarity to clients and the community, several years ago, it rebranded these two focal points to be known as C.O.S.Kids and the Matthews Christian Library. The C.O.S.Kids operation is the much larger and more well-known of the two.

Mission and Vision

We are early childhood specialists who advocate for the healthy development of children and families.

To achieve this mission, we strengthen our community by nurturing local families with educational, financial and spiritual support.

• For the Child: We provide critical developmental care and healthy growth, ensuring all children are prepared to be successful in school.
• For the Parent: We mobilize resources and support families to improve health, stability and education

About C.O.S.Kids

C.O.S.Kids provides high-quality early childhood education in a nurturing, faith-based environment. As a Christian-centered nonprofit organization, C.O.S.Kids advocates for the healthy development of children and families by offering full-day infant and toddler care, full-day preschool, after-school programs, and summer camps.

As a five-star licensed childcare provider serving children aged 6 weeks to fifth grade, C.O.S.Kids blends early childhood education with faith-based values. Additionally, we support qualifying parents with tuition assistance, parenting classes, financial education, and a variety of community engagement opportunities.

Located in Matthews, NC, our nonprofit ministry’s special outreach is to provide need-based scholarships for those families who qualify. Last year C.O.S.Kids provided over $90,000 in scholarships and compassionate, holistic early childhood education to almost 40 children.

C.O.S.Kids has been twice recognized as Nonprofit of the Year by the Matthews Chamber of Commerce.

C.O.S.Kids is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization funded through tuition fees, philanthropic gifts, foundation support, and grants.

About the Matthews Christian Library

The library occupies a two-story building on a part of the campus in downtown Matthews. It has over 34,000 volumes of material for children, adults, and families and offers resources and story times that is integrated with C.O.S.Kids. It is supported with member fees and is staffed by one full-time and one part-time employee.

To learn more, please visit coskidsmatthews.org.

The Role

C.O.S.Kids is seeking an Executive Director (ED) to lead the organization consistent with the mission and vision statements, Bylaws, and the Statement of Faith, provide strategic and operational leadership over all aspects of the ministry, including the Child Development Campus and the Matthews Christian Library. Reporting to the Board of Directors, the ED will directly supervise a six-person leadership team and lead a dedicated team of over 40 individuals to provide a safe, nurturing, and high-quality educational environment.

The ideal candidate is deeply committed to the C.O.S.Kids mission with expertise in nonprofit leadership, resource development, community engagement, and team leadership.

Key responsibilities include:

Engaged Leadership

• Develop, implement, and periodically assess a strategic plan aligned with the Mission, Vision, and Bylaws, including the Statement of Faith.
• Oversee the development, implementation, quality, measurement, and promotion of programs and services.
• Direct the hiring, training, and evaluation of staff to ensure a high-performing, engaged team   
• Manage the $2M operating budget and administer financial reporting.

Resource Development & Fundraising

• Cultivate a strong network of donors and volunteers to support the organization’s financial stability and tuition scholarship goals.
• Serve as spokesperson for the organization and promote its mission, programs, and values. 
• Establish and build strong cooperative relationships with community groups, donors, volunteers, clients, and media.
• Develop and lead efforts to grow financial and in-kind donations that will fund the mission of the organization. 
• Spearhead fundraising efforts, including motivating staff, parents, board, and volunteers to embrace and support fundraising goals and efforts.
• Manage the outsourced grant application process.

Operations Management & Compliance

• Ensure a safe and fully compliant environment for children in accordance with all current licensing requirements.
• Oversee staff training and the development and application of appropriate policies and procedures necessary to maintain compliance.
• Ensure the organization is compliant with all relevant nonprofit regulations and is transparent and accurate in all its records and documents.
• Implement and maintain best practices for planning, programs, finance, risk management, facility management, and HR policies.
• Provide an engaging workplace culture that attracts, motivates, and supports a talented and diverse staff to effectively execute programs.
• Oversee facility management and the resources to address issues.

Community Engagement & Communications

• Serve as the primary liaison with current and potential community partners, donors, and families.
• Actively participate in local civic and nonprofit communities as the spokesperson for C.O.S.Kids.
• Maintain regular communications with Board, staff, families, donors, and volunteers through appropriate channels to inform, build trust, and engage in the ministry’s goals.
• Regularly report to Board of Directors and the Board Chair on key initiatives, challenges, and recommendations.

Qualifications and Competencies:

The ideal candidate will have the following professional and personal qualities, skills, and lived experiences:

• A commitment to C.O.S.Kids’ mission to strengthen our community by nurturing local families with educational, financial, and spiritual support.
• Alignment with Mission, Vision, Bylaws, and the Statement of Faith.
• Possess ten or more years of nonprofit leadership experience, including board relations, strategic planning, and operations management. Experience managing a childcare center is preferred.
• Proven ability to foster a positive workplace culture and lead large, diverse teams.
• Exceptional interpersonal and communication skills, with the ability to advocate for the COS mission and community.
• Demonstrated fundraising experience with success in individual, corporate, and foundation giving; experience cultivating, soliciting, and stewarding major gifts.
• Experience working effectively with a nonprofit board of directors.
• Ability to develop and maintain community partnerships and relationships with a network of resource providers.
• A desire to serve and positively impact the community and client families.
• Knowledge of early childhood education trends and practices and family engagement strategies. 
• Understanding and managing department budgets and financial reporting.
• A bachelor’s degree in business, social work, child development, or other related field is required.
• Flexibility to engage with families and the community during childcare hours (weekdays 6:30 AM - 6:00 PM) and attend occasional evening or weekend community events.