Executive Director – Laughlin Children’s Center
Location: Sewickley, PA | In Person | Full Time
Application Deadline: May 31, 2025
Start Date: Mid-July 2025
About the Job
The Executive Director of Laughlin Children’s Center will be a dynamic and mission-driven leader who ensures the sustainability and growth of the organization through strategic planning, fundraising, program oversight, and thoughtful leadership that centers on the needs of children, families, and the community.
Laughlin Children’s Center is seeking a visionary, compassionate, and strategic Executive Director to lead their next chapter.
This role is ideal for someone who:
- Believes deeply in the power of early intervention and holistic child development
- Brings experience in nonprofit leadership, program oversight, and fundraising
- Thrives in a mission-driven, community-focused environment
- Has the passion and skill set to build effective partnerships beyond the Center
- Has a heart for children and a head for operations, strategy, and growth
About The Organization
Founded in 1956, Laughlin Children’s Center is a highly respected nonprofit organization committed to supporting the educational, emotional, and developmental needs of children ages two to eighteen across Pennsylvania. Through a coordinated team of expert educators and clinicians, the Center empowers children to build confidence, address learning and emotional challenges, and reach their full potential. By offering early childhood education, clinical, and academic services under one roof, Laughlin fosters meaningful collaboration across disciplines, ensuring each child receives comprehensive, individualized care.
Mission
The mission of Laughlin Children’s Center is to empower children, teens, and their families through client-centered and personalized clinical and academic support, as well as early childhood education, in a safe and nurturing environment. By discerning the unique needs of each individual, we foster confidence, resilience, and growth—ensuring that every child thrives academically, socially, and emotionally.
Values
- Whole child approach: with cross-team collaboration, we address the academic, social, emotional, and mental health needs of each child in a supportive environment.
- Personal and personalized service: Our services are tailored to the unique needs of each child, providing individualized care and attention to help them reach their full potential.
- Partner with parents: We actively engage parents in their child’s learning journey, recognizing that their involvement is crucial to the child’s success.
- Accessibility to all children: We are committed to making our services available to every child in our community, regardless of financial constraints or scheduling challenges, ensuring no child is left behind.
Our services:
- Clinical services include speech, occupational and psychological therapy as well as neuropsychological evaluation and site-based screenings.
- Our academic services include preschool education, tutoring, and a Dyslexia Program utilizing the Orton-Gillingham method of instruction.
- Our departments collaborate to help every child’s needs.
Responsibilities Include But Are Not Limited To
Team Leadership, Culture, And Talent Development:
- Collaborate with the Board and staff to advance the mission through strategic planning, program development, and community outreach
- Foster a culture of transparency, inclusivity, and open communication throughout the organization at all levels.
- Monitor and evaluate the performance of the executive team, providing feedback on goals, offering constructive suggestions for growth, and recommendations for professional development.
- Provide oversight and guidance for the supervision of all professional and administrative staff, ensuring alignment with the Center’s mission and goals.
- Hire, assign, and release all staff in accordance with personnel policies and organizational best practices.
- Partner with the Director of Operations to monitor and evaluate staff performance and provide regular updates and recommendations to the Personnel Committee.
Operational/Financial Management And Fundraising:
- Take a leadership role in achieving and exceeding fundraising goals, including overseeing the annual appeal, grant applications, and development initiatives.
- Partner with the Development Director to identify, cultivate, solicit, and steward relationships with foundations, corporations, and individual donors.
- Lead and oversee all organizational marketing, public relations, and communications strategies.
- Oversee the Director of Operations to ensure effective and efficient service delivery at the Center.
- Develop and present the annual operating budget for review and approval by the Finance Committee and Board of Directors.
- Prepare and present regular operational, financial, and strategic reports to the Board of Directors, and actively participate in all Board and committee meetings.
- Coordinate the organization’s annual audit and present the finalized report to the Board of Directors.
- Ensure the upkeep and functionality of the Center’s physical facilities and operational infrastructure.
- Review, negotiate, and authorize service contracts in accordance with organizational policies.
Community And External Relations:
- Promote the Center’s programs and capabilities to external audiences, including potential clients, funders, partner organizations, and educational institutions.
- Serve as a primary liaison between the Center and external stakeholders, including school districts, community partners and collaborating agencies.
Board Engagement:
- Collaborate with the Board of Directors to define the strategic direction and goals of the organization.
- Provide the Board with regular updates on the organization’s performance and strategic initiatives.
- Work closely with the Board Chair to strengthen Board engagement and recruit new Board members.
Reporting to the Board of Directors, the Executive Director will oversee an executive team of four. Additionally, there are approximately 40 clinicians, teachers, and staff members who function in full and part-time positions and report to members of the executive team.
Required Skills and Experience
- Minimum of 5 years of experience in organizational management
- The candidate excels at managing multiple priorities with attention to detail while keeping the organization’s mission in focus, sound judgment, and professionalism.
- As the public representative of the organization, the Executive Director must engage confidently and effectively with staff, clients, board members, and community stakeholders while fostering a culture of collaboration, innovation, and excellence.
- This role requires a decisive and organized individual who manages time efficiently and communicates clearly across diverse audiences.
- The ideal candidate will bring
- a strong background in education, human services, marketing, child development, and/or social work,
- demonstrated leadership and supervisory experience,
- familiarity with financial operations, grant writing, and nonprofit fundraising is strongly preferred.
- proficiency with technology
- deep respect for confidentiality
Application Requirement
Resumes and cover letters submitted by May 31, 2025 to [email protected] will be given preference. Send both as a PDF attachment. In your cover letter, we encourage you to share why you’re interested in this role and how your background aligns with our mission.
Equal Opportunity Statement
Laughlin Children’s Center is committed to building a diverse and inclusive workplace. We are proud to be an equal opportunity employer and do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, or any other status protected by law.
Salary and Benefits
Salary Range: $120,000 – $140,000.00, commensurate with experience
Benefits include: health insurance, paid vacation and sick time, retirement contributions, and professional development support.
We are committed to offering a competitive compensation package to attract a mission-aligned leader with experience in nonprofit administration, child development, and organizational growth.
