Head Start Director

TITLE: Head Start Director

REPORTS TO: Executive Director

DIRECT REPORTS: Education Site Supervisors (2), Health/Nutrition Coordinator, Family Services Coordinator, Operations Coordinator, Special Education Coordinator and facilities staff

STATUS: Exempt, Full-Time

Position Summary:

Provide management level leadership to CAPIC Head Start to ensure comprehensive, integrated, fiscally-sound early childhood development and family engagement services in compliance with all applicable federal, state and local regulations.

Duties & Responsibilities:

Leadership

• Oversee the management of Head Start to ensure program compliance with all Federal, State and local standards, including agency policies and contractual agreements.
• Supervise and evaluate the performance of direct reports, including developing and monitoring individual professional development plans.
• Create a healthy, caring and supportive working environment that recognizes commitment, innovation, and excellence for staff, children, and families.
• Work collaboratively with agency, board and Policy Council leadership to ensure the continued success of the Head Start program.
• Work with federal regional office staff and staff from the Department of Early Education and Care to develop strong professional relationships that will benefit the program through ongoing monitoring visits and funding cycles.
• Participate in agency board meetings to train membership on Head Start Governance policies and regulations and present grant applications, policies and all other pertinent information as required by Head Start Performance regulations.
• Develop and maintain an active Policy Council composed of Head Start parents (at least 51% of the membership will be current Head Start parents) past parents, community leaders etc. in accordance with federal regulations.

Planning & Management

• Work with Head Start staff, parents, Policy Council members, and board members to develop long-term goals and objectives designed to span a five-year funding cycle. Work with staff and members of the governing bodies to implement the goals throughout the five-year cycle and identify short-term objectives to meet the goals through interim years. The goals will be designed to meet the needs of the program and community while serving to strengthen all program components and operations.
• Oversee implementation of developmentally-appropriate and culturally-sensitive programming to children and families.
• Ensure that child assessment data is collected, analyzed and utilized appropriately to guide individualization, classroom instruction, and program improvement.
• Work with staff to design and implement strategies to increase program performance and quality.
• Develop, maintain and train staff on policies and procedures in area(s) of responsibility.

Compliance Management

• Support staff in the development and/or maintenance of comprehensive monitoring systems to ensure consistent program compliance with all applicable standards and internal procedures in areas of responsibility.
• Lead annual Self-Assessment and Head Start ongoing monitoring processes; create and implement action plans for non-compliances when applicable.
• Implement all policies related to suspected child abuse and/or neglect and report such incidences to the Department of Children and Families (DCF) as required by law.
• Maintain confidentiality policies at all times and guide staff to understand and respect the importance of this policy.

Community Relations

• Identify, develop and maintain relationships beneficial to the agency with local state and public leaders, professional leaders, business and community-based organizations.
• Actively engage in community work by attending meetings, sitting on the board of community organizations, participating in public broadcasts that include local cable television to promote the Head Start mission and or other relative concerns or interests in the field of child development, poverty, and its associated detriments.
• Respond proactively to legislative and other initiatives that may impact Head Start and other agency programs.

Administration

• Ensure that accurate policies and documents are in place and reviewed/updated on an annual basis.
• Prepare and submit required monthly and annual performance reports, including the annual Head Start Performance Indicators Report (PIR) and Head Start Grant Application and the Annual Report (to the public) in an accurate, professional and timely manner.
• Prepare state grant applications for submission to the Department of Early Education and Care (EEC), Policy Council and the board of directors.
• Develop and execute community needs assessment every five years with annual updates
• Administer CORI procedures for new employees
• Manage training and technical assistance by working closely with managers and staff to develop a schedule of professional development activities designed to meet individual staff needs and to strengthen the program as a whole.
• Recruit new staff and follow hiring procedures.

Financial

• Follow Financial Procedures Manuel to ensure compliance with federal and state financial regulations and agency policies.
• Responsible for the overall financial planning of the Head Start program, including preparation of annual agency and grant-specific budgets in collaboration with fiscal and program staff and, where applicable, Policy Council and CAPIC Board members.
• Work closely with agency financial manager to develop grant specific budgets and monitor budget expenditures on a regular basis. Review and approve or disapprove all requests for expenditures by staff.
• Manage in-kind contributions to satisfy required federal match.
• Facilities
• Oversee maintenance contracts and the delivery of related services.

• Ensure that all centers comply with state and federal health and safety regulations.

and ensure that office spaces are clean and appropriate for the intended usage.Other:

• Develop contracts and contacts with appropriate contractors to provide necessary work to maintain facilities.
• Office is in a bright renovated school facility with central HVAC
• Staff are diligent about their responsibilities and professional
• Program has excellent federal and state review findings
• Night time meetings are necessary at least once per month
• Time is flexible to account for hours that may be needed to complete certain tasks

Required Qualifications/Education and Experience:

• Bachelors degree in early childhood education, social work, human services or a related field required.
• A minimum of five (5) years  management experience in the non-profit or early childhood education sector.
• Experience in and knowledge of the early care and education field.
• Previous Head Start management experience a plus.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Masters degree in Early Childhood Education, social work, human services or related field
• Fluent in English and Spanish
• Skills:
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.

• Ability to develop and maintain a cohesive management team
• Systems-thinker with excellent problem solving and conflict resolution skills
• Flexible with the ability to juggle multiple priorities
• Strong budget development/management skills
• Computer skills (word, excel, power point)

Excellent benefits

: after 91 day Introductory Period

• Paid Vacation, Sick Time, Personal Days and Holidays
• 403b retirement plan
• Salary commensurate with education and experience

Apply through Ziprecruiter or send resume with cover letter to:

Richelle Cromwell , Executive Director

CAPIC, Inc.

100 Everett Avenue Unit 14

Chelsea, MA 02150

*Community Action Programs Inter-City (CAPIC) is an Equal Opportunity Employer