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. The Center Director is responsible for providing coverage to multiple classrooms, ensuring compliance with federal, state and local regulations; communicating with parents and the community; supervising and monitoring of all staff assigned to the center(s). The Center Director may be reassigned to various centers as deemed necessary for program operations.
As a front line representative of Save the Children, Center Directors are required to ensure the safety and security of children and families that he/she comes into contact with, adhering to the agency’s values of Accountability, Ambition, Collaborations, Creativity and Integrity.
As a Save the Children employee who will come into contact with children on a routine basis, you are expected to prevent child abuse in every situation by striving, through mental awareness, good practice and training to minimize risk to children. You must take positive steps to protect children who may be a subject of concern and report and respond to any instance of child abuse and promote training and awareness around all child safeguarding obligations.
- Hire and coach staff; facilitate resolution of conflicts; encourage and support professional development opportunities; develop and monitor center and staff schedules.
- Oversee staff in the monitoring, control, and review of budgets, identification and interpretation of Head Start and community needs, conformance to Performance Standards, and other regulatory requirements.
- Conduct regular staff meetings, arrange staff training, set job standards/goals and monitor/provide ongoing feedback for performance improvement and appraisals.
- Work with all center staff to ensure quality teaching and learning environments and work with content area managers/specialists/coordinators to plan and implement pre-service and ongoing in-service for cooks, teachers, assistant teachers, and program aides.
- Track and monitor staff attendance, including verification of timesheets.
- Arrange for family days, staff work days, fairs and events as well as work with Family Service Coordinators, center staff, and families to plan and implement monthly center parent meetings; take the lead in arranging Family Nights and Parent Committee meetings.
- Perform systems evaluation and development and ensure adequate systems are in place to maintain highest quality of service to children and families in compliance with Head Start Performance Standards; ensure consistency in service delivery across programs.
- Responsible for monthly safety checks, annual safety inspections, and completion of licensing requirements.
- Report any child or staff incidents.
- Monitor employee on-site filing requirements; assist with the fiscal management of the center, including cost allocations; assist in the identification, purchase, and annual inventory of center supplies and equipment.
- Monitor Child Plus for timely and accurate data input of children and family information.
- Lead the center’s process through state licensing, Quality Rating and Improvement System (QRIS) and special accreditation (including but not limited to National Association for the Education of Young Children – NAEYC)
- Perform other related duties as assigned
- Two years’ work experience in a position that directly relates to the implementation and monitoring of program operations.
- Knowledge of program planning and practices in infant/toddler and preschool center-based program’s thorough knowledge of Head Start Performance Standards and best practices related to early childhood education.
- Knowledge of general business practices including supervision, accounts payable, inventory control and risk management.
- Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with agency staff, children and parents, and outside agencies.
- Ability to oversee and operate the day-to-day program in compliance with all local, state, and federal regulations.
- Ability to communicate effectively with staff and families.
- Good time management, organizational, and problem-solving skills.
Preferred Qualifications
- One-year supervisory experience preferred. Some experience in financial management and budgeting preferred.
- Previous Head Start/Early Head Start experience preferred.
- Aetna Medical and Dental insurance with a concierge service
- Health Care and Dependent Care Flexible Spending Account
- Vision Insurance
- Life Insurance
- Employee Assistance Program
- Paid Holidays
What makes us special!
- Generous Retirement Savings with matching company contributions
- Pet Insurance, Critical Illness Insurance, Identity Protection, Home, Auto and additional Life insurances
- Leadership and Employee Development Training, including:
- Our remarkable in-house CORE, Senior Management Development, and Leadership Development Programs
- Language learning opportunities
- Continuous Improvement skill development programs
- Brown Bag information sharing sessions