Childrens Program Director

Description

The Children’s Program Director works jointly with the CEO/Head Start Director to ensure organizational excellence and a culture of collaboration. The Children’s Program Director is responsible for assuring all Head Start, Early Head Start, Great Start Readiness Program (GSRP), Women Infant and Children (WIC), and other applicable birth to 5 program mandates and standards for excellence are met daily. This position is responsible for the overall structure, systems and procedures to facilitate program excellence in addition to operating responsibility for fiscal, legal and programmatic aspects of the program in conjunction with Agency management.  Success measures include strong strategic planning, open communication, proactive problem solving, staff development, and relationship building with both internal and external stakeholders. Data-driven decision making to inform program development and continuous quality improvement aligning with the Agency’s mission, values, and goal of operating as a Trauma Informed Agency.

Essential Job Functions:

•    Ensure compliance with all applicable laws, regulations and standards including, but not limited to: Head Start Program Performance Standards, GSRP Implementation Manual, Child Care Licensing Regulations, Women, Infant, Children (WIC) policies, and CACFP Regulations.
•    Understand, interpret and implement federal, state and agency rules and regulations to ensure effective systems are in place to provide high-quality services to low-income children and families to ensure optimum academic, social, and economic success.
•    Direct the preparation of statistical and narrative programmatic reports for internal and external uses in a timely and accurate manner. Direct the collection and maintenance of program data to use in preparation of these reports.
•    Leads the performance management process that measures and evaluates programs and services progress against goals for the organization.  Promotes a team approach to delivery high quality cost efficient, client service and ensure process ownership and improved outcomes are the primary goals.
•    Participate in and lead advocacy efforts in alignment with agency goals at a State and National level.
•    Facilitate and support legislative meetings and community education on programming and impact.
•    Design and monitor an internal audit program to ensure compliance of programming.
•    In conjunction with agency staff, implement programming using the set budget, review, and analyze monthly financial and statistical reports to assess the budget status and to initiate preventative measures if any problems arise.
•    Provides guidance, monitoring, and performance assessment of strategic partnerships (MOU/Contracted Partners).
•    Monitor the program's non-federal share to assure that the amount required is met. Meet with staff, parents, and the Board to develop strategies for increasing the amount of the program's accumulated non-federal share, if necessary.
•    Lead the coordination and completion of Community Assessment every three years and an up-date during the intervening years.
•    Lead the coordination and completion of Self-Assessment, annually.
•    Jointly develop with agency staff and with input from program participants, federal and non-federal funding applications, including budgets, performance goals and measurements. 
•    Promotes inclusive and equitable practices and fosters a high-performing culture of accountability and safety for staff, clients, and stakeholders.
•    Promote a consistent exchange of effective, appropriate communication across the Agency, Governing Board, and Policy Council including, but not limited to: attending all regular and special meetings, and committee meetings; providing accessible and accurate written reports related to programmatic status, monitoring, state/federal communication, administrative activities, and strategies to resolve problems 
•    Provide direct supervision of assigned staff, including but not limited to: establishing work methods/techniques; conferring with staff on their work and coaching staff on selected approaches to accomplishing work goals; serving as liaison to professional consultants and volunteers; evaluating staff performance; evaluating staff developmental needs; and resolving staff conflicts. 
•    Manage staffing, complying with applicable laws, regulations, Agency Personnel Policies and Procedures, assuring parent input into the hiring and/or firing of staff. 
•    Hear and resolve community concerns/complaints about the program, seeking input from staff, parents, Agency management, or the Board of Directors as needed. 
•    Maintain a positive attitude towards assigned work, clients, and staff, and a willingness to work with others. 
•    Perform work in a professional manner that upholds Community Action Agency’s policies and procedures. 
•    Other duties as assigned. 

Other Hiring Contingencies:  Must pass criminal background check, physical and TB test.

Supervisor:  Chief Executive Officer/Head Start Director

Supervises:  Education Manager, Children’s Program Manager, Executive Assistant, Health & Nutrition Manager, WIC Manager, Early Head Start Manager, Fatherhood Engagement Specialist, other staff as assigned. 

Training:  All staff will participate in professional development training and ongoing CAA trainings as deemed appropriate by their supervisor.

Note:  This job description is not intended to be all-inclusive.  It is intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by people assigned to this position.  Employee may perform other related duties as assigned by the supervisor to meet the ongoing needs of the organization.

Qualifications

1.    Education: Master’s degree in Human Services, Public Administration, Social Work or related field is required. 
2.    Training:  Ongoing and as required for the position.
3.    Certification/Licenses: Must have a valid driver’s license.
4.    Work Experience:  Minimum of (7) seven years leadership experience managing teams in a social impact organization or similar non-profit, ideally leading complex decisions for operations functions.  Significant experience in including knowledge of budgeting, evaluation, supervision of staff, and the use of management information systems.  
Knowledge of Head Start Performance Standards and State Childcare Licensing regulations preferred.  
Any equivalent combination of education and work experience that provides the necessary knowledge, skills and abilities for the position may be considered at the discretion of the Chief Executive Officer.
5.    Transportation:  Must have available transportation throughout the workday for travel within the county, region and the state.  May be necessary to travel overnight and in all weather conditions.

6.    Basic Skills:  
a)    A passion for the mission of and empowering low-income individuals and families to become self-sufficient. 
b)    Strong knowledge of best practices and systems in the field of early childhood. 
c)    Significant analytic, diagnostic and problem-solving skills. 
d)    Ability to interpret and implement complex federal and state regulations, policies, and procedures. 
e)    Ability to identify, contact and develop collaborative relationships with area providers of family services, nutrition, health, mental health, and education in both the public and private sectors in the interest of providing comprehensive and effective services to children and their families. 
f)    A strong business acumen and communication skills.
g)    Ability to work independently and maintain professional boundaries and confidentiality. 
h)    Strong organization and time management skills. 
i)    Proficient with Microsoft Office Suite, willingness to learn new technologies/applications for organizational efficiency. 
7.    Problem Solving, Decision Making and Interpersonal Skills:  Quick thinking and able to respond to diverse circumstances and stressful situations in a calm manner; demonstrate understanding of social and economic background of families served; knowledge of community resources helpful; attention to detail critical.  Promote teamwork; participate as a team member with other agency staff and as part of inner-agency teams.  
8.    Physical and Mental Capabilities:  Ability to manage and prioritize multiple roles and projects.  Independent judgement, flexibility and ability to integrate information from multiple sources.  High level of mental concentration required to administer program operation.
9.    Work Remotely: This position will be expected to rotate working in the three county offices as needed. Approximately 20% of the time this position can be remote.