Job Description

POSITION: Director, Head Start and Early Learning Programs (HS&ELP)

SITE: Northampton; with regular travel to multiple sites throughout Franklin and Hampshire Counties and the North Quabbin region, and state-wide meetings. Occasional out of state travel required.

SUPERVISOR: Associate Director of Programs

STATUS: Exempt

Provide visionary leadership and strategic direction to ensure that Community Action Pioneer Valley’s Head Start & Early Learning Program provide high quality care, are administered in an appropriate and effective manner, and are compliant with all regulations and requirements. Work with parents, staff and the community through various committees and forums to design and deliver a cost-effective, high-quality program that best meets the needs of our participants and the community. Provide leadership in the areas of program development, internal and external collaboration, budget development and monitoring, continuous quality management, program support, and supervision of key HS & ELP managers/directors and administrative assistant. Support cross department collaboration, service integration, and organizational impact through the role of the agency leadership team.

ESSENTIAL RESPONSIBILITIES

1. The Director oversees all program operations, fiscal management, personnel, community partnerships, and ensures a strong focus on positive child outcomes and family well-being.
2. Provide overall leadership, direction, and management for all Head Start & Early Learning Program components, including education, early childhood development, health, nutrition, family services, mental health, disabilities services, and parent involvement, supporting strong culture, quality programming, and effective safety and compliance.
3. Serve as a member of Community Action Pioneer Valley’s leadership team, fostering cross department collaboration, service integration, planning, and organizational impact.
4. Lead and supervise the HS&ELP Director of Education, Director of Child & Family Services, Director of Data & Planning, and Grants and Business Manager in compliance with agency policies and procedures.
5. Selects, trains/orients, and supervises department personnel.
6. Inspires and motivates others to achieve performance excellence.
7. Takes an active leadership role in valuing and promoting different perspectives and opinions and approaches throughout the agency.
8. Evaluates performance and recommends compensation, promotions, and disciplinary actions.
9. Serve as the staff liaison to the Head Start/Early Head Start Policy Council, providing timely and accurate information, guidance, and support. This includes facilitating monthly Policy Council meetings, collaborating closely with the Policy Council Chair, providing orientation and support to members, providing all necessary information, and supporting their effective engagement in decision making.
10. Provide regular and thorough reports to the Policy Council and Community Action Board of Directors regarding the status of all aspects of the program.
11. Develops and manages the HS & ELP operating budget with support from Community Action fiscal and administrative staff, and input from Policy Council, program managers, and staff:
12. Reviews budgets to monitor expenditure and revenues.
13. Provides revenue projections for state unit contracts.
14. Oversee expense projections with Grants and Business Manager.
15. Presents updated Head Start and Early Head Start Budget reports to Policy Council monthly.
16. Provides budget training and ongoing budget management overview for the Policy Council Budget Committee.
17. Provides budget training for Leadership Team and Managers.
18. Provides vision for the programs, and ensures that Policy Council, Community Action Board, Program Managers and staff are involved in developing program goals and objectives and regularly reviewing progress toward achieving those goals.
19. Implement and promote innovative, evidence-based practices across early education, service quality, staff culture, supervision, professional development, family engagement, and family governance.
20. Oversee all state and federal monitoring and planning from funding agencies and the program’s annual self-assessment process. Ensure compliance with all program regulations. Lead program preparation for and response to OHS monitoring reviews and the Designation Renewal System process, including CLASS observations, school readiness goal-setting, and self-assessment.
21. Participates as an active and effective member of agency, program, local, state, and federal committees, including EEC and OHS, monitoring the changing needs of our families and working toward common goals.
22. Serve as primary representative to state and federal funding source officials and state and national coalitions.
23. Works with development staff, fiscal staff, and consultants to prepare grant proposals and secure necessary funds for program activities.
24. Required to travel regularly throughout the Service area, to all Community Action sites and service locations, and occasionally out of the service area.
25. Exercise outstanding judgement and maintain strictest confidentiality.
26. Comply with agency and funders’ administrative requirements, procedures, and deadlines.
27. Attend regularly scheduled supervision meetings, team meetings, mandatory agency trainings, and participate in professional development activities.
28. Performs related work as required.

This does not cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties, or responsibilities that are required of the employee. Other duties, responsibilities, and activities may be adjusted to meet the operational needs of the agency.

Requirements

QUALIFICATIONS/SKILLS

The ideal candidate will demonstrate the following competencies:???

• Communications: verbal, written, in-person, and phone
• Build and maintain effective teams internally and collaborations externally.
• Conflict resolution, problem-solving, establishing priorities, navigating change
• Judgement and decision-making
• Commitment to quality services for young children and their families.
• Promote equity by deconstructing barriers to a racially just system. Cultivate work environments that value truth-telling, courage, vulnerability, space to think and reflect, community-mindedness, hope, and openness to difficult conversations.

Key Knowledge and Experience

• Early education and/or human services program management experience.
• Leadership, grant writing, and budget development/management experience.
• Knowledge of Department of Early Education and Care licensing regulations, Department of Children and Families program requirements, Head Start Performance Standards, state and federal contract requirements, and all other relevant program administrative requirements.
• Experience working with marginalized communities and individuals with low incomes
• Experience with data management, data capture, tracking methods and analysis for outcome measurements
• Adapt to changing priorities and demonstrate close attention to details?
• Proficient computer skills (Microsoft Suite and databases)?

To Qualify

Minimum Qualifications/Transferable Skills:?

• Bachelor’s Degree is required.
• 8 years’ work experience in early education with leadership, budget, administrative, program management, and supervisory responsibilities.

We encourage individuals who believe they have the skills necessary to thrive to apply for this role. We will consider any combination of relevant work experience, volunteering, education, and transferable skills as qualifying. Please be clear and specific in application materials how your background, lived experience, and transferable skills are relevant to this position.

Physical Demands and Work Environment The physical demands and work environment described below are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

The employee is frequently required to sit, stand, walk, talk, use a keyboard, and climb stairs. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 20 pounds. The employee must have the ability to drive a personal vehicle and program vehicles, as needed.

The noise level in the office is usually quiet. The work environment is primarily an indoor office environment, with occasional exposure to outdoor weather.

REQUIREMENT FOR VIDEO/AUDIO RECORDING STAFF/CHILD INTERACTIONS

The Office of Head Start uses the Classroom Assessment Scoring System (CLASS) as part of its monitoring processes, via recording or through on-site visits. In preparation, self-assessments of HS & ELP classrooms involve live, virtual, or recorded observations of teachers working with children.

Required Background Checks

Employment is contingent upon the following: a satisfactory Background Record Check (BRC) which includes Criminal Offender Record (C.O.R.I.), Department of Children and Families (DCF) background check, Sex Offender Registry information (SORI) checks, fingerprint-based national and state criminal history database checks, National Sex Offender Registry (NCOR), and Out-of-State checks (CORI, SORI, DCF) if an individual has lived in another state within the last five years. BRC and fingerprinting-based national and state criminal history checks are completed every three years. In addition, employment is contingent on evidence of physical exam within the past year, plus verification of MMRs. Documentation of subsequent physical exams must be submitted every 2 Years. Also, submit evidence of a good driving record and ability to be covered under Community Action’s non-owned and hired vehicle policy. Full clearance on required background checks is required before starting date.