Executive Director

The Executive Director serves as the driving force behind the mission of delivering courteous, convenient, and comprehensive quality child and family services. This role is responsible for leading the strategic vision, operational planning, and execution of all administrative and programmatic activities. The Executive Director ensures the sustainability, growth, and excellence of the organization by managing a diverse portfolio of programs, fostering community relationships, and securing resources to achieve impactful outcomes for children and families.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

PROGRAMMING (50%)

• Provide visionary leadership to oversee and enhance the organization’s Head Start and Early Head Start programs across three locations, ensuring they meet or exceed program standards and regulatory requirements.
• Spearhead the strategic expansion of the organization’s services to include innovative for-profit and nonprofit programming, such as childcare, mental health services, and other family-focused initiatives.
• Monitor and evaluate program effectiveness, leveraging data-driven insights to continuously improve service delivery and outcomes for children and families.

FUNDING AND FINANCES (25%)

• Provide visionary leadership to oversee and enhance the organization’s Head Start and Early Head Start programs across three locations, ensuring they meet or exceed program standards and regulatory requirements.
• Spearhead the strategic expansion of the organization’s services to include innovative for-profit and nonprofit programming, such as childcare, mental health services, and other family-focused initiatives.
• Monitor and evaluate program effectiveness, leveraging data-driven insights to continuously improve service delivery and outcomes for children and families.

LEADERSHIP AND MANAGEMENT (25%)

• Supervise and evaluate senior administrative staff, fostering a culture of collaboration, accountability, and professional growth.
• Facilitate weekly and monthly leadership meetings to assess program performance, drive strategic initiatives, and achieve organizational goals.
• Represent the organization at national, regional, state, and local conferences and forums to stay abreast of emerging trends, resources, and best practices in child and family services.
• Provide guidance and support to the Board of Directors and Policy Committee, ensuring informed decision-making and alignment with the organization’s mission and goals.
• Oversee all personnel decisions, including hiring, transfers, disciplinary actions, and terminations, to ensure alignment with program needs and compliance with organizational policies.
• Direct the management and supervision of all administrative and programmatic offices, ensuring seamless operations and high-quality service delivery.
• Review and update organizational policies and procedures annually to ensure compliance with Head Start Standards and other regulatory requirements.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Extensive knowledge of organizational and personnel management principles, with a focus on administering publicly funded child care programs such as Head Start and Early Head Start.
• Strong expertise in the planning, development, execution, monitoring, and evaluation of multiple budgets, grants, and contracts, ensuring fiscal responsibility and compliance in an education and early childhood setting.
• In-depth understanding of national, state, and local laws, regulations, and ordinances affecting child care programs, including Head Start Standards and funding requirements.
• Proven ability to exercise sound judgment and discretion in the interpretation, application, and enforcement of agency policies, procedures, and funding guidelines.
• Excellent interpersonal skills, with the ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with leadership teams, supervisors, staff, Board of Directors, Policy Committees, parents, and community partners.
• Highly skilled in organizing, analyzing, and interpreting complex reports, data, and information to inform decision-making and program improvements.
• Strong communication skills, with the ability to express ideas clearly and concisely, both verbally and in writing, to a variety of audiences (staff, funders, community partners, BOD, etc), including individuals and groups.

Education and Requirements

• Minimum of a Bachelor's degree in Public Administration, Early Childhood Education, or a related field.
• 3+ years of proven experience in staff supervision, fiscal management, and program administration, preferably within publicly funded child care programs with 10+ employees
• Demonstrated success in securing and managing multi-million-dollar grants and contracts.
• Strong interpersonal skills with the ability to prioritize independently, take initiative, be a team player, adapt to shifting priorities and manage up
• Willingness to become certified in trauma-informed Mental First Aid to deescalate interpersonal situations
• Strong interpersonal skills and the ability to relate to individuals who may not share basic commonalities, including value systems and behavior norms
• Professional proficiency of English with excellent communication skills, both verbal and written
• Ability to maintain a professional and confidential work environment
• Excellent organizational skills, commitment to accuracy, attention to detail and continuous improvement
• Ability to handle sensitive and confidential situations with diplomacy
• Effective time management and organizational skills so as to effectively handle multiple demands and competing deadlines
• Experience and strong ability to identify needs and be culturally sensitive when serving families with diverse economic, social, racial and cultural backgrounds
• Ability to establish and maintain personal and programmatic boundaries while providing supportive services
• Professional, trustworthy, respectful of others, and displays a positive attitude with an aptitude for a variety of changing expectations and a fast-paced environment
• Must be able to work a flexible schedule to serve families during non-traditional hours, including evening, weekend, and holiday hours, and school holidays
• Ability to listen and speak Spanish is preferred but not required; can use technology to translate
• Post soft offer: successful completion of a Level 2 Background Screening, physical and TB test, in compliance with state and federal regulations; Physical and TB test every 2 years thereafter

Physical Demands

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is frequently required to sit, talk, hear and use hands and fingers to operate and handle keyboards and controls. The employee is occasionally required to walk and reach with hands and arms. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 25 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision and the ability to adjust focus.

Work Environment

The work environment characteristics described in this document are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. The noise levels in the work environment may vary but are usually moderately quiet.