Child Start, Inc. is in search of a dedicated, experienced Head Start Program Director to lead our Head Start program serving children from birth to five years of age. The Head Start Program Director is responsible for providing strategic coordination and leadership across all service areas of the Head Start 0-5 program, ensuring the delivery of high-quality services that align with Performance Standards. This role involves close collaboration with the Executive Team and Program Area Managers to foster teamwork, leverage data for continuous improvement, and ensure adherence to federal, state, and local performance standards. The HS Program Director assists program area managers by monitoring key outcomes and indicators, as well as facilitating effective systems, policies, and processes that support the agency's mission and objectives. In partnership with the Director of Finance, the HS Program Director manages an operating budget exceeding $12 million, oversees contracts for program services and facilities, and works in conjunction with other Child Start programs and community initiatives to advance Child Start's goals.

Responsible for the overall supervision and support of Head Start and Early Head Start program staff including direct supervision of five direct reports. 

• Coordinate across service areas (education, health, family services, data quality, training, enrollment, site operations) to ensure alignment, compliance, efficiency.
• Monitor data: enrollment, attendance, eligibility, performance standards, school readiness goals, outcomes. Use data to inform program improvement.
• Ensure compliance with federal/state regulations (Office of Head Start Performance Standards, licensing, contracts) and agency policies.
• Lead in the design, development, execution, evaluation, promotion and reporting aspects of the program’s services to families, children, the community and other partners.
• Work with Finance & Accountability Director to establish the program’s budgets, deploying resources to address needs and resolve issues.
• Maintain a clear understanding of program budget through monthly review; anticipate and adapt budget to meet developing needs; oversee approval of program expenses.
• Consistently reinforce staff and stakeholder commitment to achieving the full federal share required by Head Start.
• Regularly convey budget and program information and outcomes to the Head Start Staff, Board of Directors, Policy Council and Regional Office.
• Assist with budgeting/resource allocation for the program (or portions thereof) and tracking of key indicators.
• Responsible for identification, writing, reporting, and managing grants.

• Bachelor’s degree in Education, Business, Public Administration, Social Work, or related field.  Master’s degree preferred.
• Minimum of five years of experience in early childhood education programming, with at least two years in a supervisory or leadership role.
• Thorough understanding of the Head Start/Early Head Start program model; regulations and standards in early child development; teaching strategies; and the critical contributing components of a high quality-learning environment for infants and toddlers, as well as preschoolers. Experience in managing organizational change, program development and design, and budget management.
• Previous experience managing $10+ million budget preferred.
• Requires a high level of personal integrity and ethics.
• Requires a high level of problem solving, organization skills, and must be a self-starter.
• Requires good interpersonal, communication, and teamwork skills.
• Requires a high level of confidentiality and flexibility.
• Requires excellent verbal and written communication skills
• Highly computer literate with proficiency in MS Office and related business and communication tools.
• Makes timely and appropriate management decisions
• Develops and implement procedures and controls to promote communication and effective information flow within the organization, enabling program goals to be achieved efficiently.
• Ensures all program activities are carried out in compliance with local, state and federal regulations and laws pertaining to programmatic operations.

About Child Start, Inc.

A child’s earliest years – from birth to age 5 – are the most critical for establishing the building blocks to a successful future. This period is short and we can’t get it back once it’s gone. Child Start gives young children quality, learning experiences and provides valuable training and support to early childhood educators. It is Child Start’s hope that one day every child will have access to quality, early childhood education.

Connections working at Child Start, Inc.