Review Team Lead – Head Start Monitoring and Compliance

Description

We are seeking a highly skilled and mission-driven Team Lead to support oversight and quality assurance of Head Start Monitoring and Compliance Consultants. The Team Lead will guide teams through the execution of monitoring reviews for Head Start, Early Head Start, and EHS-CCP grantees. The ideal candidate will be a subject matter expert in Head Start Program Performance Standards (HSPPS), federal grant compliance, and early childhood systems, with proven experience in team management and peer collaboration.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead and supervise teams of Monitoring and Compliance Consultants during Foundational and Comprehensive Reviews, Improper Payment Reviews, and CLASS assessments.
• Coordinate workflows and deliverables, ensuring adherence to federal timelines and review protocols.
• Review and validate consultant findings to ensure accuracy, consistency, and alignment with Head Start Program Performance Standards and Uniform Guidance (2 CFR Part 200).
• Serve as primary point of contact for review teams, escalating issues, troubleshooting challenges, and ensuring consistent communication across stakeholders.
• Facilitate pre- and post-review team meetings, ensuring alignment on roles, responsibilities, and expectations.
• Mentor and support consultants, providing quality assurance, technical assistance, and performance feedback as needed.
• Collaborate with federal staff and oversight bodies, summarizing team activities, findings, and recommended actions.
• Support the development and refinement of monitoring tools, templates, and procedures.
• Ensure equitable review practices, particularly when working with American Indian/Alaska Native (AIAN) programs.
• Prepare or oversee preparation of team-level reports, deliverables, and documentation.
  
  

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Early Childhood Education, Public Administration, Human Services, Social Services or a related field (Master’s degree preferred).
• Minimum 7 years of experience in Head Start/Early Head Start program operations, compliance, or federal monitoring, including 2 years in a supervisory or team lead capacity.
• Demonstrated experience in CLASS, Video CLASS, and AIAN CLASS assessments and/or experience conducting and/or overseeing Improper Payment Reviews and Monetizing Disallowance Assessments.
• Deep knowledge of Head Start Program Performance Standards (HSPPS)
• Understanding of Uniform Administrative Requirements (2 CFR Part 200), and federal fiscal compliance.
• Strong leadership, problem-solving, and interpersonal skills.
• Exceptional organizational and time management abilities.
• Proficient in virtual collaboration tools (Zoom, MS Teams, SharePoint) and project management systems (e.g., Monday.com).
  
  

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience leading monitoring efforts for AIAN and Migrant/Seasonal Head Start programs.
• Director or manager level experience in a childcare setting.
• Familiarity with supervision and peer support strategies related to Head Start.
• Knowledge of EHS-CCP programming and layered funding compliance.
• Bilingual abilities are a plus (Spanish, French, Patois, and Jewish/Hebrew).
  
  

Work Environment And Travel

• Remote-based position with required travel for onsite reviews and observations as needed.
• Flexible scheduling to support teams across U.S. time zones.
• Must be adaptable to changing federal review timelines and priorities.
  
  

Manhattan Strategy Group (MSG) is an Equal Opportunity Employer and considers all qualified applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law. Our hiring decisions are based solely on merit and qualifications, ensuring a fair and competitive selection process.