Deputy Director, EHSN

Start Early (formerly known as the Ounce) 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!

The Deputy Director plays a critical role in overseeing the daily operations of the Head Start Recipient, ensuring seamless and efficient functioning of all program components. This position is dedicated to shaping strategic initiatives, forging strong relationships, and achieving excellence in program delivery through informed, data-driven decision-making. An advocate for early childhood education, the Deputy Director will effectively navigate compliance requirements while promoting innovation and continuous enhancement of educational practices.

The Deputy Director is committed to cultivating a collaborative and high-performance environment for team members, providing the necessary support for their professional growth. Additionally, this role involves close collaboration with the Vice President of the Early/Head Start Network to lead efforts in planning, designing, implementing, and evaluating program systems, as well as representing the agency across various local, regional, state, and national platforms.

This position requires the Deputy Director to reside in Illinois to facilitate regular travel throughout Chicago and its suburbs for meetings and site visits.

Reporting to the Vice President, Early Head Start Network, you will:

• Oversees, plans, implements and coordinates all Head Start content area services to maintain program compliance with federal laws, state laws, policies, and guidelines, Head Start Performance Standards, state childcare licensing requirements, Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP) and local grant goals and objectives.
• Collaborate with the Early/Head Start Network staff to implement the organization’s strategic plan to provide excellence and innovation in early childhood education.
• Build and maintain collaborative relationships with other organizations and entities whose mission intersects with that of Start Early to achieve collective impact.
• Oversee daily operations of Head Start and Early Head Start programs. Evaluate staff performance, identify training opportunities, and conduct ongoing progress monitoring to meet program goals. Use programmatic and financial data to enhance quality and effectiveness.
• Manage the preparation and submission of it accurate, timely reports regarding personnel, operations, program outcomes, and finance according to contract requirements and Start Early guidelines.
• Develop and execute comprehensive systems for evaluation, self-assessment, and community assessment. This includes preparing and distributing an annual evaluation report that emphasizes continuous quality improvement.
• Continue to cultivate a culture of data-driven decision-making, so we can ensure high-quality instructing and learning for the families we serve.
• Continuously Improve our operational systems, processes, policies, and procedures in support of the Start Early and Head Start’s mission, specifically supporting the management of reporting, information flow, and planning.
• Develop and maintain collaborative relationships with sub recipient leaders, agencies and organizations to strengthen local resources/services for families with young children and work with the Vice President of Early/Head Start Network, and EHSN Chief Of Staff to increase the visibility of Start Early- EHSN through opportunities for positive publicity.
• Performs record keeping and internal and external reporting tasks in a timely and objective fashion. Prepares and submits accurate reports including Program Information Report (PIR), quarterly, and annual reports.
• Seeks opportunities to collaborate with other Start Early divisions to improve team communication and strengthen services provided to all children and families in the program.

Qualifications:

• Master’s degree in education or related field.
• Six years of dynamic administrative experience in Head Start.
• Demonstrated experience managing Head Start operations
• Six years of increasingly responsible experience in Early Childhood Administration.
• Proven experience developing staff at all professional levels, skillfully identifying and promoting talent, and building productive and cohesive management teams.
• Significant staff management experience in multi-site early childhood and/or Head Start programs, ideally those with a complex or matrixed staff structure.
• Knowledge of a Head Start program's operational characteristics, services, and activities. (Required)
• Knowledge of organizational and management practices as applied to analyzing and evaluating programs, policies, and operational needs.
• Knowledge of modern and complex principles and practices of education program development, administration, and leadership.
• Working knowledge of accounting principles, fiscal management, budgeting processes and monitoring.
• Skilled in reading, interpreting, and analyzing complex state and federal regulation, policies and procedures.
• Knowledge of organizational and management practices related to the evaluation of services, policies, and operational needs.
• Ability to organize and optimally meet daily objectives, foster a team atmosphere; and possess mediation, negotiation skills; and effective conflict resolution skills.
• Ability to communicate, both oral and written, to individuals with diverse backgrounds and relate to diverse groups of people including low-income families.
• Ability to develop and maintain cooperative, warm, open working relationship with children, parents and staff.
• Deep commitment in advancing diversity, racial equity, and inclusion into organizational routines and practice.
• Effectively establish and maintain effective relationships with external program staff, participants, funder representatives, and industry leaders and gain their trust and respect.
• Comfort and experience in handling risk and uncertainty to move work forward.

Base Annual Salary: $121,200.00 – $150,000.00

.We believe that all employees should be paid fairly and equitably. 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.

Salary : $121,200 - $150,000