Early learning Program director

Organization Summary

The Center for African Immigrants and Refugees Organization (CAIRO)s mission is to advocate for and act to increase equity and social justice through programs, services, community organizing and collaborative leadership that create equitable opportunities for African refugees and immigrant children, youth and families to thrive. CAIRO envisions a more just and equitable society in which children, youth, and families live in sustained, supportive communities, which reinforce the cultural wealth and lived experience of the family. To accomplish our goals, we offer various services, including pre-K education, K-12 student support & counseling, community health, and job training.

Position Summary

The Early Learning Program Director oversees our preschool department, CAIROs Early Learning Academy, which encompasses nine preschools. Managing the Infants Early Childhood Learning Mental Health Consultant (IECMHC) program, early learning hubs, and Preschool stakeholders, the Early Learning Program Director will focus on growing these departments and ensuring they provide high-quality, culturally relevant programs and services. This position directly reports to the Deputy Executive Director of CAIRO.

This is a full-time, exempt position. The general schedule is Monday through Friday 8 am to 5pm, 40 hours a week. However, the employee has the discretion to change this to meet the needs of the work. This may include starting earlier, finishing later, or occasionally working on weekends. The manager may work less or end early on other days to make up for busier times.

Duties & Responsibilities

Program Training and Support

• Coordination, oversight, and ongoing growth and development of the Early Learning program, CAIRO Academy, and supplementary educational and outreach programs, events, and activities.
• Ensure high-quality service delivery to children and families through understanding industry best practice guiding documents such as, but not limited to, Caring For Our Children Basics, Oregon Preschool for All and Preschool Promise or Early Learning Standards, and Infant/Toddler Guidelines.
• Designs & supports training for professional development of the Early Learning and Academy staff members.
• Maintain a working knowledge of significant developments and trends in early childhood development and adjust programs and services as needed.

Program Administration & Employee Management

• Directly supervise the work of the preschool managers and staff, support recruitment and performance management of CAIRO Academy and Early Learning Equity staff.
• Development of strategies to allow for continued growth in all aspects of CAIRO Academy and Early Learning programs and services, including grant applications and other funding sources. Create and communicate the vision, direction, and goals for the programs.
• Assist administrative staff in identifying needs for long-term quality improvements in the program.
• Budgetary and fiscal management with the Finance Director and CAIRO Deputy Executive Director.
• Guide enrollment student recruitment processes for CAIRO Academy and Early Learning Equity programs; assist when needed, such as conducting tours for prospective parents.
• Ensure written information (e.g., website copy, flyers, social media posts) describing CAIROs early learning programs and services are consistent with our mission and values and any funder guidelines.
• Ensure compliance with early learning guidelines and state requirements for CAIRO Academy and Early Learning programs.
• Guide preschool managers in sharing best practices and solving common problems; provide contemporary and constructive feedback to staff and administrative team members.
• Develop partnerships with early learning partners at school and state levels; organize and participate in early learning events, including but not limited to professional development opportunities; coordinate with other program managers to organize and participate in events.
• Leads writing and submission process for Requests for Proposal (RFP) for government and foundation funding contracts.
• Other duties as assigned.

Abilities, Skills, & Experience

• Strong background in working with the African Immigrant and refugee population and understanding the nuances of that community's diverse cultural values and beliefs.
• Fluency in English is required; Fluency in Somali, Amharic, Swahili, or another African language is preferred.
• Experience: Four years of program and community development experience; two years of supervisory experience strongly preferred.
• Able to communicate effectively, both orally and in writing.
• Able to supervise and train employees, including but not limited to organizing, prioritizing, and scheduling work assignments; reviewing timesheets and project tracking to ensure accuracy; basic employment law compliance; and completing performance reviews.
• Possess excellent follow-through, attention to detail, organizational skills, and the ability to prioritize multiple tasks.
• Able to work well in a team setting and independently; flexible and able to adapt well to different dynamics in a fast-paced work environment.
• Working knowledge of computer software programs such as Google Suite and Microsoft.

Education And/or Experience Qualifications Required

• A bachelors degree in community development, education, psychology, social work, child and family studies, or a related field is required; a masters degree is preferred.
• In-depth knowledge and expertise in one or more cultures, focusing on

cultural traditions, history, and customs.

• Strong presentation and facilitation skills.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Experience in curriculum development and educational program

planning.

• Ability to work with diverse groups and promote inclusivity.
• Strong organizational and project management skills.
• Passion for cultural diversity and inclusivity.
• Proficiency in relevant software and technology tools.

Preferred

• Seven years of experience in the education setting.
• Knowledge of Google Suite - Docs, Sheets, and troubleshooting skills.
• Experience working with parents in community settings.
• Ability to speak fluently in Amharic, Somali, Swahili, Kirundi, Arabic, or other languages our parents and students speak.

Work Environment/Location

• Location: Beaverton and Portland, OR
• The work environment will vary depending on the specific needs of the program but may include:
  • Public events
  • School campuses
  • Teleworking and working in an office environment
• This position requires frequent use of a keyboard, monitor, mouse, telephone, and/or headset.
• While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to sit, stand, walk and occasionally lift up to 20 pounds.

Salary & Benefits

$72,000 - $ 78,000 per year, depending on experience.

CAIRO offers the following benefits for this position:

• 16 days of accrued Paid Time Off.
• 5 days of accrued Sick Leave
• 16 paid company holidays.
• 100% employer-covered medical and dental insurance; employee-covered vision insurance.
• 401(k) plan with up to a 3% employer match.