The Program Director is responsible for the overall leadership and management of the Head Start and/or Early Head Start Programs. The position directs, administers and manages the day-to-day program operations. Responsibilities include direct and indirect staff supervision; budget and fiscal assets management; and building, leading, and managing team support and performance. The Program Director provides strategic leadership of all applicable program options including center-based, home-based, and services provided through community partners in compliance with Head Start Program Performance Standards and all other applicable federal, State, and local regulatory requirements.
As a front line representative of Save the Children, the Program Director is required to ensure the safety and security of children and families that he/she comes in contact with adhering to the agency’s values of Accountability, Ambition, Collaboration, Creativity, and Integrity.
As a Save the Children employee who will come into contact with children on a routine basis, the Program Director is expected to cultivate a culture of child safeguarding across the program in every situation by striving, through high quality practices, ongoing monitoring, and staff training to minimize risks to children. The Program Director must take positive steps to protect children who may be a subject of concern and report and respond to any instances of alleged or actual child abuse and promote training and awareness around all child safeguarding obligations.
- Lead the design and execution of program strategy for the delivery of comprehensive services to eligible children and families; develops and implements effective, integrated management systems and organizational structures which support the administration of program services.
- Use sound judgment to lead the management team and make timely and appropriate management decisions.
- Implement a system of shared governance, maintaining appropriate communication with the Policy Council and Governing Board and obtaining required approvals for programmatic changes, as needed.
- Develop and implement procedures and controls to promote effective communication and information-flow within the organization.
- Monitor the effectiveness of operations by conducting periodic reviews of the program (including, but not limited to, financial and programmatic reports) to assess progress on strategic objectives and adherence to compliance measures; Communicate program assessment data to a variety of audiences including the Head Start Governing Body, Save the Children Senior Leadership, and others; Makes recommendations and implements measures for program improvement, as needed.
- Ensure all program activities are carried out in compliance with local, State, and federal regulations and laws governing agency operation.
- Represents organization through participation on local, State, Regional, or national committees and boards. Develop collaborative relationships with community partners like public schools and community agencies to enhance delivery of comprehensive services to children and families.
- Coordinates and participates in planning meetings – including strategic planning, community assessment and self-assessment. Collaborates with management team and key partners to develop and ensure the timely submission of annual grant plans and budgets, school readiness plans and overall program training plans.
- Solicits and reviews bids for procurement of goods and services. Ensures that bids are solicited in accordance with agency, state and federal regulations.
- Ensures the mobilization and documentation of matching/in-kind funds, goods, and services.
- Protects the safety of children through the implementation of active supervision techniques to ensure no child is subjected to abuse or neglect, including being left unsupervised at any time.
- Perform other duties as may be assigned.
- Ability to perform medium to heavy physical work exerting up to 50 pounds of force occasionally, up to 20 pounds frequently and up to 5-10 pounds constantly, performing such activities as sitting, crawling, stooping, kneeling, crouching, reaching, standing, walking, pushing, pulling, lifting, grasping. This also includes some duties that require repetitive action and motion skills, keyboarding and computer use.
- Master’s degree in Management, Early Childhood Development, Human Services or a related field preferred.
- Minimum 7 years of progressively responsible supervisory/management experience including working with boards and advisory committees.
- Previous Head Start management experience required.
- Good communication and skills (open, honest, objective, active listener, with team management approach to clear goals and objectives).
- Proficiency with Microsoft Office including Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook.
- Ability to clear criminal records check (including child abuse registry check if required by state regulations) and pass all state and local health requirements required post job offer and prior to employment. To drive agency vehicles (if applicable), must have a valid driver’s license and be insurable by the Save the Children Head Start insurance carrier and have a Motor Vehicle Record acceptable to Save the Children Head Start.
Save the Children provides an attractive benefits package including competitive salaries, a matching retirement plan, health and welfare benefits, life insurance, an employee assistance program, generous time off and much more. We provide equal employment opportunities (EEO) to all employees and qualified applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, ancestry, sexual orientation, national origin, age, handicap, disability, marital status, or status as a veteran. Save the Children complies with all applicable laws.