Head Start Center Manager

POSITION SUMMARY

This position is responsible for the general and day-to-day operations of a Head Start/Early Head Start center or cluster of outlying centers, covering multiple classrooms, assuring regulatory and legal compliance with federal, state, and local regulations, communicating with parents and the community and supervision and monitoring of all staff working at the assigned center(s). This position serves as the lead worker in a Head Start center by planning, implementing, and supervising all classroom activities. This position works with typically developing children and children with disabilities.

Because this position is one part of a large system of services provided to children and families, this position also serves as a social service referral person and shares responsibility for parent involvement in the program. The position of Center Manager works in tandem with the rest of the parts of the system as an integrated team to support the goals of the program. The position may be reassigned to various classrooms/centers as deemed necessary for program operations. The position may serve as site director for childcare licensing purposes.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

• Program Administration and Coordination
• Develops and monitors center and staff schedules.
• Arranges for family, staff workdays for center improvements, fairs, events, etc.
• Assists in establishing and fostering a team approach and coordination of services and the sharing of resources among centers within the overall program.
• Responsible for monthly safety checks, fire drills and safety meetings as well as updating of the Safety Log.
• Investigates any child or staff incidents, assuring all forms are complete and notifying the appropriate authorities and/or supervisor.
• Attends IFSP/IEP Meetings as needed or requested.
• Responsible for monitoring and compliance with applicable local, state, and federal rules, regulations, and standards as well as with any state and federal contracts, health, safety and childcare licensing regulations and renewal.
• Responsible for assuring compliance with quality assurance and program evaluations requirements.
• Meets with parents and community members as appropriate.
• Performs similar job-related duties as assigned.
• Recordkeeping and Fiscal
  • Maintains filing, tracking and documentation systems.
  • Submits verbal and/or written reports to immediate supervisor and/or Program Director on the activities and status of the center on a regular basis.
  • Monitors staff attendance, collects, verifies, and signs all staff time sheets and leave requests, verifying accuracy.
  • Monitors employee on-site file requirements and keeps them secure in locked files.
  • Works with family services staff (case managers) to monitor all of childrens files for content, organization, and security.
  • Contributes to the collection and edit processes of correct documentation for the Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP). This process is important and contributes additional dollars which in turn enhances food delivery.
• Supervision and Training
  • With content area managers/specialists/coordinators plans and implements pre-service and ongoing in-service for cooks, teachers, assistant teachers, and program aides, etc.
  • Conducts regular staff meetings.
  • Arranges for staff training as needed.
  • With content area managers/specialists/coordinators plans and arranges for training and family nights and Parent Committees for parents. Maintains minutes, sign in sheets, in-kind forms, training logs, etc.
  • Assists staff member responsible for early childhood education and career development to work with individual teachers to develop training plans for obtaining an CDA, AA degree or higher in Early Childhood Education.
  • Provides guidance and oversite to staff through monitoring.
  • Becomes thoroughly familiar with and follows CAFI Head Start Employee Handbook Human Resources Policies and Procedures and the CAFI Head Start Operations Manual(s) and ensure that all center staff are aware of these manuals and any changes that may occur.
  • Set the job standards, sets goals, deadlines, monitors and provides ongoing feedback for performance improvement and submits performance appraisals in a timely manner.
  • Treats all staff member equally and fairly and provides the staff member the opportunity to openly express concerns without judgement.
• Program Implementation
  • Supervises all classroom activities, field trips and outdoor activities.
  • Monitors developmentally and linguistically appropriate curriculum and experiences in a manner appropriate to the ages, languages and cultures of children served.
  • Directs any special needs problems to the appropriate manager/specialist/coordinator or supervisor.
  • Ensures learning experiences advance the intellectual and physical development of children including improving the readiness of children for school by developing their literacy and phonemic, print and numeracy awareness, their understanding of the use of language, their understanding and use of increasingly complex and varied vocabulary, their appreciation of books, their understanding of early math and early science, their problem-solving abilities, and their approaches to learning.
  • Ensures education lesson plans and daily programs for children are in accordance with each child's need, based on a method of observing and recording childrens interests and current levels of functioning.
  • Uses practice-based coaching to support program CLASS fidelity.
• Parent Involvement and Community Relations
  • Sets up system to assure program's needs for parent involvement in each classroom are met.
  • Establishes positive and productive relationships with families focusing on a relationship of trust and rapport with the parents of the children.
  • Participates in the orientation of parents to Head Start throughout the year.
  • Facilitates and supports monthly Parent Committee meetings at the center.
  • Schedules and arranges meetings and documents parent-teacher conferences and home visits as required.
  • Participates in the training of parents as requested.
  • Involves parents in the educational activities of the program:
  • to emphasize their role as the principal influence on the child's education and development; and
  • to assist parents to increase their knowledge, understanding, skills and experience in basic child development.

WORK ENVIRONMENT

This job operates in a clean, organized, and professional classroom environment. The role routinely uses standard office equipment such as computers, phones, photocopiers, filing cabinets and fax machines. The noise level in the work environment may be moderate to loud.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS AND WORKING CONDITIONS

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to talk or hear. The employee frequently is required to sit; stand; walk; use hands to finger, handle or feel; lift up to 45 pounds; and reach with hands and arms; the employee may occasionally need to provide gentle physical restrain to children.

Reasonable accommodations may be made for individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of this position.

POSITION TYPE/EXPECTED HOURS OF WORK

This is a full-time position, and days and hours of work are Monday Friday 8 hours per day unless otherwise approved by the Executive Director.

TRAVEL

Travel by car, bus, airplane, or train may be required associated with attendance at conferences, meetings and other duties carried out at distant locations in and out of state and in some cases where some overnight travel may be required.

OTHER DUTIES

Please note this job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this job. Duties, responsibilities, and activities may change at any time with or without notice

QUALIFICATIONS

• Minimum
  • Bachelors degree or higher, preferably related to Early Childhood Education, Social Work or Human Services.
  • One year of supervisory/management experience.
  • Effective November 7, 2016, Program must ensure staff who work directly with families on the family partnership process have within eighteen months of hire, AT MINIMUM, a credential or certification in social work, human services, family services, counseling, or a related field.
• Preferred
  • Two years of experience in case management or office management is preferred.

AAP/EEO Statement

CAFI provides equal employment opportunities (EEO) to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, or genetics. In addition to federal law requirements, CAFI complies with applicable state and local laws governing nondiscrimination in employment in every location in which the company has facilities. This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation, and training.

CAFI expressly prohibits any form of workplace harassment based on race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, age, genetic information, disability, or veteran status. Improper interference with the ability of CAFIs employees to perform their job duties may result in discipline up to and including discharge.