Utah Education Association

Executive Director

Based in Murray, Utah

 

Utah Education Association Headquarters, Murray, Utah 

The Utah Education Association (UEA) is an organization of public education professionals. The mission of the UEA is to advance the cause of public education in partnership with others by strengthening the teaching profession, promoting quality schools for all of Utah’s children, and advocating for the well-being of its members. The UEA represents about 18,000 active classroom teachers, retired educators, administrators, licensed educational support personnel, and students in education programs at universities.

POSITION OVERVIEW 
The Executive Director is the Association’s Chief of Staff and serves at the will of the UEA President and Board of Directors. The Executive Director manages a staff of approximately 30 employees and a budget that exceeds $6 million. After collaborating with the UEA President, the Executive Director is charged with adeptly advising the Board, managing and skillfully representing the Association's long-term vision and strategic direction, and implementing organizational priorities, programs, and activities as determined by the Board of Directors and guided by the UEA governing documents. 

The Executive Director provides vision, direction, and operational oversight across all areas of the association, including advocacy, member engagement, organizational development, education policy, and fiscal management. The Executive Director balances innovation with sound operational management, inspiring staff to perform to the best of their abilities, so that the UEA continues to thrive as a strong advocate for education and a trusted voice for public education. The Executive Director fosters and maintains a constructive, collaborative labor-management relationship with the staff union, ensuring that staff and evaluation processes align with the organization's goals and values.

THE OPPORTUNITY 
The next Executive Director will join UEA at a pivotal time. UEA is experiencing a moment of renewal, opportunity, and rebranding. As UEA continues to champion public education and strengthen its collective power, the following key opportunities stand out for the next leader: 

• Rebuild and strengthen relationships with policymakers, legislators, and education partners to expand UEA’s influence in shaping statewide education policy. 
• Advance membership growth and engagement through coordinated statewide strategies, modern systems, and data-informed best practices with a continued focus on demonstrating the value of membership. 
• Enhance organizational effectiveness by aligning internal processes, technology, and communication structures to serve members better and advance UEA’s mission. 
• Capitalize on UEA’s existing staff talent through professional development, mentorship, and empowerment – building a stronger, more collaborative culture, impact, and leadership pipeline.
• Unify staff, board, and local leaders around a shared vision that fosters collaboration, trust, and alignment across all levels of the association. 
• Elevate UEA’s voice as a leader in educator well-being, student success, and the defense of public education. 
• Leverage partnerships and professional learning to strengthen leadership development, empower local associations, and expand UEA’s impact statewide. 
• Champion racial and social justice by advancing equity-focused initiatives, amplifying underrepresented voices, and ensuring that diversity, inclusion, and belonging remain central to UEA’s mission and daily work. 

LEADERSHIP COMPETENCY PROFILE 
The ideal candidate will be a leader who embodies the following core competencies: 

Strategic Planning & Execution 
A leader who brings clarity and foresight to complex organizational challenges. 

• Brings a proven record of success in implementing strategic plans that involve significant organizational change and has utilized reliable methods to ensure accountability and timeliness in the execution of strategic goals and objectives. Models a growth mindset and communicates effectively with a broad range of internal and external partners. Someone who demonstrates the ability and confidence to lead courageously and possess resilience in a rapidly changing political environment. 
• A motivational and courageous leader who excels in leading organizational innovation and change, while possessing organizational savvy and flexibility in confronting and adapting to challenging and changing political and organizational realities. A record of attracting, retaining, and empowering talented staff, and is skilled at coaching and mentoring. Has successfully built and effectively maintained a broad coalition of partnerships. 

Interpersonal Effectiveness 
A leader who builds credibility and trust through authenticity, emotional intelligence, and transparency. 

• An effective communicator who excels in building successful relationships with diverse groups and individuals. Someone who fosters collaboration and consensus building, engages in creative problem-solving and risk-taking, and being inclusive in terms of diverse individual and cultural perspectives. Has experience with effective conflict management. Possesses a spirit of openness and humility with the ability to celebrate unique talents that exist in the workplace. Someone who communicates clearly, listens with curiosity, and motivates others toward a shared purpose. Inspires collaboration across diverse perspectives and models a respectful, inclusive culture that UEA aspires to maintain. 
• The ideal candidate must demonstrate the ability to manage and resolve conflict. Create an environment where people feel safe raising concerns and where conflict is handled honestly and fairly. Establish clear processes that are constructive and transparent for identifying issues early and resolving them before they escalate. Must have a proven track record of guiding difficult conversations to productive outcomes while earning trust across diverse groups, bridging differences, and delivering resolutions that can serve all involved parties and the broader goals of the organization.

Business Knowledge
A leader with deep organizational and financial insight who understands how to align mission with management. 

• A deep understanding of how mission-driven organizations operate with complex educational and political systems. Ability aligning financial strategy, operational excellence, and organizational capacity with long-term goals. Brings strong fiscal stewardship, policy insight, and the ability to navigate the intersection of education, labor, and advocacy. Utilizes data, judgment, and experience to make decisions that strengthen both the organization’s sustainability and impact. 

Member Focus 
A leader who values public education and focuses on member needs. 

• A champion of member engagement, trust, and loyalty, and who is committed to fostering strong relationships between UEA and its members. An experienced leader who has successfully demonstrated the ability to implement high-quality programs and services that bring value to members. Demonstrated experience using data to identify additional ways to offer value to members’ professional practice and careers. 
• An influential leader who understands membership organizations, who has effectively led innovative strategies, programs, initiatives, and policies designed to attract and increase new membership. A leader who can expand UEA’s membership and influence.
• Proven record of building collaborative relationships and partnerships with local, county, and state governments, as well as community groups and organizations. 

PREFERRED EXPERIENCE 

• A successful record of 3-5 years of middle to senior-level leadership experience. 
• An experienced manager who has successfully led, supervised, and developed a mid-sized (5+ people) team of employees. 
• Background in public policy and/or labor advocacy and collective bargaining. 
• Experience in public education advocacy. 

EDUCATION 
Bachelor’s Degree or higher, from an accredited four-year college or university, or equivalent experience. 

COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS PACKAGE:
UEA is prepared to offer a comprehensive salary and benefits package consistent with the experience, skills, and abilities demonstrated. 

SALARY RANGE: $135,000 – $145,000

TO APPLY:
To apply for this position, please provide the following: 

• A current résumé that reflects qualifications for this position. 
• A Letter of Application that specifically addresses how accomplishments in your career have prepared you to meet the challenges and opportunities presented in this position. 

Application deadline is May 7, 2026. Submit your application via the Movement Talent Opportunity Board application portal: https://recruitcrm.io/apply/17740315189770060944SJW

For all questions regarding this search, including confidential inquiries, please contact: Linda Nguyen, linda@movementtalent.org 

UEA is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer and encourages applications from all qualified candidates regardless of gender, race, ethnicity, age, sexual orientation, marital status, religion, or disability.