Director, Early Learning

About Valhalla Impact & Valhalla Foundation

Valhalla Impact, the philanthropic arm of Scott Cook (Intuit co-founder) and Signe Ostby, invests in innovative ventures to generate significant improvements in key outcomes. Their mission-driven approach combines philanthropy, impact investing, and advocacy, primarily implemented through the Valhalla Foundation. Their focus areas include K-12 education, early childhood development, environmental innovation, and medical research. Valhalla actively engages in collaborative philanthropy initiatives such as The Audacious Project and Blue Meridian Partners, operating with a rigorous, data-informed approach that supports organizations in scaling their impact.

Early Childhood Development Program

Valhalla’s program centers around the goal that every child enters kindergarten prepared across five developmental domains: physical, cognitive, social-emotional, executive function, and early academics. Its strategic priorities focus on: healthy development birth to age 3, early learning with emphasis on early math, and measurement in early childhood. Early math is highlighted as a pivotal factor in later academic and workforce success but is under-resourced with fragmented instruction, inconsistent curricula, and insufficient teacher and family engagement. Valhalla’s early math strategy enhances foundational math skills from PreK to early elementary by enhancing instruction quality and fostering math-rich interactions among children, educators, and families through grantmaking, coalition-building, and systems-level alignment.

Role Responsibilities

• Develop and implement strategies to strengthen the early math education sector by unifying researchers, practitioners, funders, policymakers, and partners around proven instructional approaches, curricula, teacher support, and family engagement.
• Conduct meticulous due diligence and recommend investments that translate into measurable and sustainable field impacts.
• Drive field initiatives by supporting policy advancement, technical assistance, implementation efforts, and partnerships across priority states to scale improvements in early math education.
• Serve as an influential external representative of the foundation and foster a collaborative, mission-focused internal culture through thought leadership and teamwork.

Candidate Profile

• Experienced leader with extensive networks in early learning, with multidisciplinary backgrounds such as education leadership, philanthropy, or consulting; adept at engaging diverse stakeholders including leadership, policymakers, and education practitioners.
• Expertise in Pre-K and early elementary education and child development, ideally with specific knowledge of early mathematics instruction.
• Strong analytical and systems-thinking skills to integrate data, evaluations, and field insights into strategic decisions and investments.
• Strategic thinker capable of setting priorities, defining measurable goals, managing trade-offs, and rigorously assessing impact delivery.
• Collaborative and mission-oriented, valuing investee experience, diverse perspectives, intellectual honesty, and ongoing learning.
• Excellent communication skills to clearly and persuasively articulate complex ideas and evidence-based viewpoints.
• Beneficial background or training in business strategy, portfolio or program management, policy advocacy, social science research, and/or evaluation methodologies; comfortable with investment frameworks and data-driven decision making.

Compensation and Location

The salary range for this position is from $208,000 to $313,000 annually, with actual offers dependent on candidate experience and qualifications. The benefits package is competitive and comprehensive. The role is based in Valhalla's Woodside, CA office with the flexibility of remote work for part of the week, requiring approximately 25% travel for engagement and collaboration. The organization provides a commute stipend for those living over 25 miles away.

Inclusion Statement

Valhalla is committed to fostering a diverse and inclusive workplace representing the communities it serves and provides equal employment opportunities without discrimination on any protected grounds.

Application Process

Candidates are asked to submit their resume along with a five-minute video answering specific prompts about their interest in the role and early math education, their strengths, and a description of an educational initiative they have led, including lessons learned and outcomes. The selection process is open until the position is filled.