Job Description

Position Title: Assistant Center Director/Family Services Coordinator

Employee Type: Full-Time Regular

Supervisor Title: Center Director

Division: Head Start, US Programs

Save the Children

For over 100 years, Save the Children has been fighting for the rights of children. The right to a healthy start in life. To have access to education. To be in a safe environment, protected from harm. We work in some of the world’s hardest-to-reach places – over 100 countries, including the U.S. No matter what your role is, when you join Save the Children, you’re creating positive, irreversible change for children, and the future we all share.

The Role

The Assistant Center Director & Family Services Coordinator supports the Center Director in the general and day-to-day operations of a Head Start/Early Head Start center or cluster of outlying centers. This role assists with coordinating center activities, supporting staff and classroom operations, and helping ensure compliance with federal, state, and local regulations.

In addition, the position provides family services coordination by communicating with parents to help them learn about and access community resources, supporting families in goal setting, and encouraging parent involvement in their child’s education. The Assistant Center Director & Family Services Coordinator works with families through a case management model to develop and implement Family Partnership Agreements and assists with completing child health requirements, screenings, and assessments.

As a front-line representative of Save the Children, the Assistant Center Director & Family Services Coordinator is responsible for helping ensure the safety and security of Head Start children and families while demonstrating the agency’s values of Accountability, Collaboration, Creativity, and Integrity.

As a Save the Children employee who routinely encounters children, this position is responsible for supporting child abuse prevention efforts through awareness, training, and adherence to child safeguarding policies. The position must take positive steps to protect children who may be the subject of concern, report and respond to any instance of suspected child abuse, and promote training and awareness around all child safeguarding obligations.

What You’ll Be Doing (Essential Duties)

• Support the Center Director in coordinating the day-to-day operations of the Head Start/Early Head Start center, including assisting with staff schedules, classroom coverage, and operational needs.
• Assist the Center Director with monitoring center operations to ensure compliance with federal, state, and local regulations, including Head Start Performance Standards and licensing requirements.
• Support the Center Director in providing guidance and coaching to staff, assisting with conflict resolution, and encouraging professional development opportunities.
• Assist with facilitating staff meetings, supporting staff training efforts, and providing feedback to staff to support performance improvement.
• Support the Center Director in maintaining accurate documentation and submitting required reports, including scheduled program reports, incident reports, and mandated documentation.
• Work collaboratively with center staff to promote high-quality teaching and learning environments.
• Assist in tracking staff attendance, maintaining on-site employee records, and supporting the verification of timesheets.
• Assist the Center Director with monitoring safety checks, supporting annual safety inspections, and helping ensure completion of licensing requirements.
• Support the identification, purchase, and inventory of center supplies and equipment.
• Assist with planning family engagement activities, including parent meetings, center improvement events, and volunteer opportunities.
• Work collaboratively with managers, specialists, and coordinators to ensure accurate tracking and data entry related to ERSEA (Eligibility, Recruitment, Selection, Enrollment, and Attendance), health, education, mental health, disabilities, and child and family services.
• Assist with monitoring enrollment and attendance and supporting efforts to fill vacancies within required timelines.
  Maintain regular communication with families regarding screenings, assessments, and program requirements, including medical, nutritional, educational, and social services.
• Assist families with identifying goals and developing Family Partnership Agreements while maintaining strict confidentiality of family records.
• Participate in case coordination meetings with appropriate staff to support integrated services for children and families.
• Assist with monitoring interactions between children, families, staff, providers, and vendors on center premises to help ensure a safe and supportive environment.
• Maintain up-to-date professional development plans and participate in required training, including CPR and First Aid certification.
• Demonstrate sound judgment and discretion when addressing individual family or program situations.
• Assist the Center Director with reporting incidents involving children, staff, or families in accordance with program policies.
• Perform other related duties as assigned.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Early Childhood Education, Child Development, Social Work, Family Services, or a related field, plus at least two years of relevant experience.

• Demonstrated experience supporting the implementation and monitoring of early childhood or family services programs.

• Working knowledge of Head Start Performance Standards and best practices related to early childhood education and family services.

• Knowledge of program operations including documentation, compliance, and coordination of services.

• Demonstrated ability to communicate and collaborate successfully with individuals and teams at all levels, both internal and external.

• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with agency staff, children, parents, and community partners.

• Professional proficiency in spoken and written English.

• Professional proficiency in MS Office suite.

• Strong organizational, time management, and problem-solving skills.

• Demonstrated commitment to fostering an environment of diversity, inclusion, and belonging.

• Ability to follow established procedures and take initiative when supporting center operations.

• Demonstrated knowledge of the purpose and goals of the Head Start/Early Head Start program.

• Ability to relate sensitively and respectfully with children and families.

• Ability to maintain strict confidentiality of all records and information.

• Must participate in professional development training including pediatric CPR and First Aid certification as required by state licensing and Head Start Performance Standards.

Preferred Experience:

Supervisory experience preferred, some experience in financial management and budgeting preferred
Previous Head Start/Early Head Start experience preferred

Bilingual preferred (English/Spanish or other languages spoken by enrolled families).

About Us

We are looking to build an inclusive team at Save the Children. We offer a range of outstanding benefits to support this goal:

• Paid time off: 10 days winter break and 5 days spring break, 5 personal days, 11 holidays plus 2 floating holidays per year.
• Health: Competitive health care, dental and vision coverage for you and your family. Employer paid short term disability and long-term disability benefits.
• Health Savings Accounts (HSA): Option to select HSA if enrolled into a High-Deductible Health Plan in which the company matches a portion of the contribution.
• Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA): Option to enroll in health care and dependent care options.
• Life: Agency paid life and accidental death and dismemberment benefits (AD&D).
• Family: Parental/adoption, fertility benefits
• Employee Rewards Program: Annual merit increases and/or additional incentives for eligible employees.
• Retirement: Retirement savings plan with employer contributions (after one year)
• Wellness: Health benefits and support through Calm and company-hosted events
• Employee Assistance Program: Free and confidential assessments, short-term counseling, referrals, and follow-up services.
• Learning & Growth: Access to internal and external learning & development opportunities and mentorships. Certification and tuition assistance.

Click here to learn more about how Save the Children US will invest in you.

Save the Children is committed to conducting its programs and operations in a manner that is safe for the children it serves and helping protect the children with whom we are in contact. All Save the Children representatives are explicitly prohibited from engaging in any activity that may result in any kind of child abuse.

Save the Children is committed to minimizing safety and security risks for our valued employees, ensuring all are given training, support and information to reduce their risk exposure while maximizing the impact of our programs for children and families. Our shared duty, both agency and individual, is to seek and maintain safe working conditions for all.

If you require disability assistance with the application or recruitment process, please submit a request to applicantsupport@savechildren.org.