Executive Director, Tyronn Lue Commitment to Community (C2C)

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.  

About Commitment to Community (C2C) 

In July 2023, three-time NBA Champion Tyronn Lue announced a commitment to bring a multi-million-dollar investment to his hometown of Mexico, Missouri. Called “C2C”, this initiative aims to revive the community of Mexico and ensure all residents have access to the opportunities and resources they need to thrive and succeed. C2C represents Lue's "Commitment to Community" and "Cradle to Career" programming.

"Cradle to Career” is focused on improving K-12 educational outcomes such as kindergarten readiness, 3rd-grade reading, and 8th-grade math. By supporting ongoing efforts to accelerate educational achievement and community development, this data-driven, equity-based approach allows for strategic, place-based solutions to address educational disparities. 

“Commitment to Community” addresses additional pressing needs, including improving transportation, supporting entrepreneurship, and fostering community revitalization. 

This enables C2C to take a systems-based approach to shifting policies, perceptions, and power while also revitalizing unused buildings and undertaking other initiatives to strengthen the community. 

About the Partnership 

C2C is a partnership between Tyronn Lue Fund (TLF) and Partners for Rural Impact (PRI). This partnership allows Tyronn Lue to share his deep and expansive knowledge and passion for Mexico and his vision for a brighter future to couple with the decades of experience and infrastructure PRI offers. The Executive Director will be employed by Partners for Rural Impact and report directly to a PRI leader, while also maintaining an accountability relationship with the Tyronn Lue Fund. This structure allows the ED to network regularly with other PRI employees doing similar work and enjoy a well-paying wage and benefits. 

Through C2C, the Tyronn Lue Fund and PRI are committed to unlocking opportunities and creating pathways to economic mobility. C2C leverages the power of the community through cross-sector collaboration—including education, transportation, health and wellness, and economic development—to ensure the success of Mexico’s citizens from cradle to career and hire to retire! 

Position Summary 

The Executive Director is a full-time, key role that will work collaboratively with the Tyronn Lue Fund, and local and regional partners, to dramatically improve results at a population level by addressing disparities with sustained, systemic solutions. The Executive Director is responsible for leading and coordinating strategic initiatives and partnerships in Mexico, MO that are aimed at improving economic and social mobility at scale. The Executive Director is responsible for aligning partners and operationalizing programs, activities, and services. The position leads and operates with the goal that All Mexico Residents Thrive and 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. 

• Provide visionary leadership to the C2C partnership to craft and drive a unified vision that honors the Tyronn Lue Park and Town Square neighborhood’s history and culture and enhances the opportunity for upward mobility and growth of the C2C and community. 

• Inspire, oversee, and mentor a deeply committed and engaged team of professionals from different backgrounds and experiences that promotes professional growth, development, and well-being in service of the C2C’s mission and goals. 

• Delegate responsibilities effectively to team members and leads, ensuring that work is distributed strategically while maintaining alignment with C2C’s mission and goals. 

• Be a compelling spokesperson for C2C, representing its mission and values with authenticity, and working to maintain genuine relationships and engagement with all partners for collaborative revitalization efforts. 

• Engage and convene, in collaboration with other staff members at the C2C, local neighbors and community leaders (“Leadership Table”) to inform a shared community vision for upward mobility and ensure clarity of roles, responsibilities, and desired results with staff, partners, and the C2C leadership table. 

• Create the conditions for success by establishing relationships and removing barriers to successfully operationalize programs secured by members of the Leadership Table, PRI, the Tyronn Lue Fund or other community partners. 

• Build and cultivate strong relationships and partnerships to identify strategic partnerships that enhance program development, address resource gaps, and expand opportunities for cradle-to-career success. 

• Identify and work with the community, the Leadership Table, the Tyronn Lue Fund, and PRI to secure public and private funding to support the C2C’s Partnership mission. 

• Actively engage the voices of the community to foster local programmatic partnerships that can act on and address urgent community needs. 

• Organize and balance work across the team, ensuring that projects and initiatives are well-structured, priorities are clear, and resources are aligned to drive maximum impact. 

• Be responsive to partners, ensuring that community voices are actively engaged, needs are addressed in real-time, and programmatic partnerships are leveraged to drive actionable solutions. 

• Monitor, evaluate, and adjust strategies in alignment with the priorities of the Leadership Table, the Tyronn Lue Fund, and PRI. 

• Foster strong cross-functional relationships at PRI by regularly engaging with different departments (such as Communications and Data Evaluation) to develop comprehensive strategies. 

• Other roles/duties will be assigned as necessary to assist and support in the attainment of the C2C and PRI’s mission. 

Position Location & Schedule 

The position will be located in Mexico, Missouri with periodic 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 or equivalent experience 

Experience required to ensure success in this position: 

• A strong personal commitment to the mission of the C2C and to ensuring that All Rural Students Succeed 

• Ability to build relationships and work collaboratively with partner organizations to build alignment and foster policy and systems change 

• Five years' experience in community engagement and leadership 

• Five years' experience in supervision and personnel management 

• Demonstrated success in navigating complex systems with the ability to prioritize projects and work cross-functionally 

• Demonstrated experience collaborating with schools, federal, state, and local officials and partners to inform, develop, and implement practices or policies that accelerate outcomes of well-being for students, families, and communities 

Special skills, knowledge and abilities: 

• Excellent written and oral communication skills 

• Superior interpersonal and organizational skills 

• Collaborative and collegial leadership style 

• Demonstrated ability to cross boundaries of lived experiences and personal philosophy with the capacity to work effectively with a broad range of constituencies 

• The skills to effectively represent Partners for Rural Impact, and other designated partners, in meetings for sharing knowledge, collaborating and building partnerships 

• Competencies to effectively supervise staff and consultants 

License, certification, or registration necessary: 

• Valid driver’s license 

• Successfully complete pre-employment background check 

Physical requirements: 

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

• Ability to travel independently by car and plane both locally and nationally 

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.