About the role

Afton Partners seeks a Director in our Early Childhood practice with a specialty in Funding Policy & Cost Analysis to lead and support consulting engagements with federal, state, and local agencies, as well as other impact-focused organizations. In this role, you will help shape how early childhood systems are funded, bring clarity to complex cost structures, advance equitable funding strategies, and enabling leaders to make informed, high-impact decisions. 

You’ll work at the intersection of finance, policy, and strategy—translating complex data into actionable insights, advising senior leaders, and helping design innovative, sustainable policies and approaches to funding early childhood programs. This is an opportunity to influence systems that directly impact young children, families, and the workforce that supports them. 

Check out our Case Studies for examples of the high-impact engagements you would support in this role, including Smart Start Workforce Grants, Early Childhood Block Grants, and Early Intervention Cost Modeling.  

This is a full-time, remote position within the United States, requiring up to 10% travel.

Afton offers competitive pay and benefits, including health insurance, paid time off, and 401(k) with company match. The salary range for the position is $130,000-$140,000 per year plus benefits.

What you'll do

If you enjoy and excel at these responsibilities, this position may be a great opportunity for you. 

Lead Cost Analysis & Funding Strategy Development 
You will design and lead sophisticated cost analyses and funding studies that inform high-stakes policy decisions. This includes working across public data, administrative data, client data, and survey data (both quantitative and qualitative) to build models that reflect real-world conditions. You will: 

• Develop and refine cost models that estimate the true cost of delivering high-quality early childhood services across settings (e.g., child care, home visiting, early intervention) 
• Build tools and resources that allow policymakers to explore funding scenarios, trade-offs, and real-time implications 
• Conduct and oversee research and analysis to identify system improvement opportunities 
• Engage diverse stakeholders to gather input, build alignment, and inform decision-making 
• Translate complex research and financial analyses into clear, actionable insights for policy and decision-making audiences 
• Analyze the impact of funding decisions on providers, families, and the broader early childhood system 
• Support the development of publicly accessible tools that inform field-wide conversations (e.g., cost estimation tools) 
• Ensure consistency, quality, and continuous improvement of modeling approaches across projects 
• Coach and develop colleagues’ cost modeling and analytical skills 

Bridge Policy, Data, and Strategy 
You will serve as a critical connector between technical analysis and policy action, helping leaders navigate complexity and make informed decisions. You will: 

• Advise early childhood leaders, policymakers, and advocates on funding priorities and policy decisions 
• Translate between technical and policy perspectives, helping stakeholders understand trade-offs and implications 
• Lead or support public task forces and advisory bodies focused on early childhood funding, workforce compensation, and related topics 
• Build trust with clients by grounding recommendations in both rigorous research & analysis and practical realities 
• Support the design of funding strategies that improve sustainability, workforce compensation, and equitable access 
• Develop implementation strategies that translate policy and analysis into real-world impact 

Lead and Support High-Impact Client Engagements 
You will manage and guide consulting engagements, ensuring high-quality delivery and strong client partnerships. You will: 

• Lead project planning, execution, and delivery in alignment with scope, goals, and resources 
• Manage and support multiple concurrent projects of varying complexity and duration 
• Develop client-facing deliverables, including financial analyses, tools, presentations, and strategic recommendations 
• Proactively communicate with clients and adjust approaches based on feedback 
• Support project team members through coaching, feedback, and mentorship to strengthen technical and project management skills 

Qualifications

This position requires demonstrated proficiency in early childhood funding policy and cost analysis, a deep understanding of early childhood systems, and a strong interest in advancing innovative, system-wide improvements. 

Our experience suggests that the following types of professional experiences and skills have prepared candidates for this work: 

• Minimum of eight (8) years of relevant experience in early childhood cost modeling, funding policy research and analysis, financial modeling, or related work in government, consulting, or mission-driven organizations 

• Deep understanding of early childhood programs (e.g., child care, Head Start/Early Head Start, state pre-K, early intervention, home visiting) and their funding streams, governance structures, and policy context 

• Strong analytical skills (using Excel, R, etc.) and the ability to synthesize complex quantitative and qualitative data 

• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, particularly in virtual environments 

• Strong project management and peer coaching experience 

• Demonstrated experience identifying potential challenges and taking initiative, creating structures to address ambiguous or complex problems 

• Demonstrated experience coaching and developing colleagues. 

Preferred experiences include: 

• Experience working in or with state or local early childhood systems, particularly related to funding 

• Experience within early childhood government agencies or consulting environments 

• Academic study or research in early childhood policy, governance, or funding (e.g., Master’s degree or similar)

About Afton Partners

Afton Partners is an impact-driven consultancy that reimagines and implements systems, policies, and practices that improve lives. We bring technical savvy and a relational approach to partnerships with clients across the early care and education, K-12, higher education, and workforce development sectors. Since 2011, Afton has collaborated on more than 150 initiatives in 40 states, and our clients include state and local government agencies, public school systems, charter schools, and philanthropies. We’re creative, committed, and energized by complexity. Together, we can solve our toughest societal challenges and co-create a future where each person has the opportunity for growth and fulfillment.