Assistant Director of Education and Child Development

Start Early is an energized, future-focused organization devoted to providing quality early learning and care across the country.

Our desire to close the opportunity gap and build more equitable early learning experiences for our youngest learners guides everything we do. As a leader in early learning and care, we scale our deep expertise across program, policy and research through partnerships across the country.

We are recruiting individuals who want to join us in this mission and share a commitment to our core values of appreciation & respect, empowerment, diversity, excellence, learning and communication.

Become part of our rewarding, mission-driven culture! We want our employees to feel empowered, motivated, energized, and passionate about the work they do!

Under the direction of the Early/Head Start Network (EHSN) Deputy Director, the Assistant Director of Education and Child Development is responsible for overseeing the education and disabilities area, which includes administering the quality-driven educational systems and service to families of children with disabilities. Ensuring approaches in compliance with all state and local regulations and Early/Head Start Performance Standards while collaborating with EHSN Assistant Directors to provide comprehensive services to child and families and developmentally appropriate learning experiences within the Early/Head Start framework. The Assistant Director supervises three Education and Child Development Managers and is the primary liaison to one-three sub-recipients.

Reporting to the Deputy Director, EHSN you will:

MAJOR RESPONSIBILITIES:

Monitoring:

• Monitors education and disabilities service areas to support learning across domains (cognitive, social, emotional, and physical). Ensures the approaches are culturally sensitive and responsive to diverse learners.
• Creates systems, policies, and procedures that ensure the implementation of regular screenings and assessments to identify individual needs and inform instructional planning.
  
  

Operations:

• Designs comprehensive policies and procedures that ensure developmentally appropriate curriculum approaches and disability practices that are aligned with state, local, and Head Start Performance Standards.
• Designs and ensures the implementation of coaching systems that support the enhancement of instructional practices.
  
  

Process Improvement: Aggregates and analyzes education and disabilities data to evaluate the effectiveness of educational programs and adjust approaches to align with continuous improvement.

Collaboration: Participates in EHSN program planning with the Deputy Director and Assistant Directors to ensure an integrated approach to service delivery.

Coaching and Supervision:

• Leads in the supervision and evaluation of three Education and Child Development Managers.
• Plans and oversees the implementation of professional development opportunities for staff on early childhood development, disability mandates, curriculum implementation, and best practices.
  
  

Sub- recipient Liaison: Acts as the primary liaison to 1-3 sub-recipients by assisting in program planning, identifying resources, assessing training needs, building organizational capacity, and monitoring program progress.

Community engagement and governance:

• Collaborates with the Assistant Director of Family and Community Engagement to ensure there are systems of the engagement of parents in their child’s learning.
• Creates systems for communication to ensure the EHSN program staff works with community agencies providing specialized services, such as therapists, mental health consultants, early intervention providers, and medical professionals.
• Reviews, updates, and submits written service plans for education and disabilities to the EHSN leadership team, staff, Policy Council, and Board of Directors.
  
  

Other duties and projects as assigned.

KNOWLEDGE, EXPERIENCE, AND EDUCATION:

Education: Master’s degree in Early Childhood Education or related field

Related Experience:

• Seven years of experience in early childhood education and disability management
• Knowledge of Head Start Performance Standards, Head Start Act, and best practices in early childhood education and disabilities.
• Strong leadership and supervisory skills
• Excellent communication and collaboration skills to work effectively with staff, families, and community partners
• Data analysis skills to interpret recipient program issues and concerns and inform program improvement
• Knowledge of organizational and management practices related to the evaluation of services, policies, and operational needs
• Solid understanding of Early/Head Start and Home-Based programs and a familiarity with Family Child Care Homes.
  
  

Training or Competency:

• Ability to organize and successfully meet daily objectives, foster a team atmosphere, and possess mediation and conflict resolution skills.
• Ability to coordinate and manage projects, work independently, follow through with project completion, and meet requirements and timelines
• Ability to communicate, both oral and written to individuals with diverse backgrounds and relate to diverse groups.
• Ability to solve practical problems and deal with a variety of concrete variables in situations where limited standardization exists
• Knowledge of various software programs such as ChildPlus, Creative Curriculum, Teaching Strategies GOLD, MS Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and other relevant applications
  
  

Base Annual Salary: $103,575.00-$115,000.00

Grade 18

As of the time of this posting, this is the expected base annual salary range. The base annual salary will be based on a wide range of factors, including skills, qualifications, experience, as well as business needs and limitations.

Our generous benefits plan includes:

Comprehensive Health Plans, Commitment to Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion, Holistic Wellness Program, Professional Development Program, 401k Contribution, Paid Volunteer Days, 6 months paid parental leave, and much more.

Start Early is an equal opportunity employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to our core values by creating an inclusive environment for all staff.