SUMMARY: The Director I is responsible for planning, directing, and oversight of the operations and comprehensive services within the Head Start/Early Head Start and CDE programs. As a strategic thinker and highly competent leader, Director I is responsible for the management and oversight of operational systems that result in effective, efficient, and timely delivery of quality and comprehensive services. Develops program goals and establishes policies and procedures that meet contractual obligations and program continuous quality improvement. Will ensure service integration, coordination, and related administrative functions to achieve compliance with all applicable federal, state, and local regulations, Community Care Licensing, Child, and agency contracts, as applicable.
ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS AND RESPONSIBILITIES
- Provide vision, leadership, plans, directs, manages, and administers the operations of the program.
- Implements the organization’s strategic plans through leadership and oversight of grantee program design and development, monitoring, and capacity building.
- Ensures staff conducts monitoring activities in all areas of the comprehensive services. Compiles and analyzes monitoring results by aggregating monitoring data, identifying trends, patterns, and developing effective and sustainable corrective actions with the comprehensive services team.
- Oversees the ongoing monitoring for program performance in school readiness goals/outcomes and program goals/outcomes. In collaboration with the comprehensive services team, develops strategies that support continuous quality improvement and improve child/family outcomes.
- Coordinates ongoing monitoring activities with the partners and delegate agency. Develops quality improvement plans as necessary to correct findings and to ensure continuous program quality improvement.
- Establish operating and administrative policies and procedures to assure efficient operations and compliance with all contractual terms, conditions, and obligations.
- Review data for compliance with federal and state regulations, for program planning, and monitoring of progress in meeting program goals and objectives.
- Directs staff activities for the deliverance of quality services and to effectively work with delegate agencies, partners, staff, parents, and families.
- Identifies status and progress of delegate agencies’ quality improvement plans and makes recommendations to the Senior Director for appropriate action steps.
- Ensures that appropriate consultative and technical assistance is provided to delegate agencies and partners.
- Directs the activities of capacity building to ensure that training and support is provided to internal staff, delegate agencies, and partners.
- Supports the management of program budget, ensuring compliance with contracts; implements changes as needed; develops budgets and monitors expenses in accord with approved budgets.
- In collaboration with Senior Director and Fiscal Officer, directs the development of program financial plans, and budgets including operating costs, capital, and extraordinary expenditures.
- Develops and monitors service area budgets. Ensures services are appropriately supported with and by the necessary fiscal resources. Oversees the purchase by service areas to ensure direct service staff have the necessary materials to provide quality services and maintain quality, safe and compliant environments.
- In collaboration with Senior Director, oversee the development of funding applications, including budget development, annual program Self-Assessment, program goals and objectives, Community Assessments, and annual Program Information Report.
- Directs the development and revision of policies and procedures that set expectations and timelines for implementing and assessing administration, management systems, and specialized interdisciplinary service areas and ensures that the partners and delegate agencies policies and procedures meet the Head Start requirements.
- Oversees the monitoring processes for administration, management systems, and specialized interdisciplinary service areas in accordance with federal, state, and local regulations and mandates.
- Establishes county-wide partnerships with various community and social services agencies that will enhance ability to effectively work with parents and families.
- Manages the performance of the service area coordinators to ensure the delivery of effective and high-quality services and ongoing monitoring.
- Directs staff activities to improve interdisciplinary services and to effectively work with partners and delegate agencies staff, parents, and families.
- Ensures that appropriate consultative and technical assistance related to management policies and practices and interdisciplinary services are provided to partners and delegate agencies.
- Provides advice and guidance to the Policy Council and its committees.
- Directs the activities of capacity building to ensure that appropriate training and support is provided to internal staff, partners, and delegate agencies.
- Coordinates the team review of refunding applications for Head Start/Early Head Start and State Preschool and identifies issues that need to be resolved prior to funding.
- Ensures full enrollment for both the federal and state programs and proposes corrective action if the program, partners, or delegate agency are under-enrolled.
- Prepares reports on a monthly, quarterly, semi-annual and annual basis or as required.
- Attends interagency organizational and planning meetings as appropriate and/or assigned.
- Ability to represent MAOF professionally and skillfully.
- Oversees the licensing applications, preparing actions plans to address any licensing findings and ensuring compliance.
- Prepare reports for the governing bodies on the program's progress in meeting Head Start Performance Standards.
- Manages the program's planning calendar to ensure the program is in compliance with yearly requirements for ongoing monitoring, self-assessment, program plans, community assessment, and reporting requirements.
- Manages and supervises the performance of service area staff.
- Performs related duties as assigned.
JOB REQUIREMENTS
Knowledge
- Applicable laws, codes, and regulations including federal and state program regulations and policies that apply to the management and administration of Head Start/Early Head Start and California Department of Education funded programs
- Principles and practices of program management
- Business operations and administrative practices
- Concepts, capabilities, and applications of management systems
- Desktop computer applications including word processing, spreadsheets, and presentation software
- Principles and practices of human resources management and organizational development
- Microsoft Office Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and other MS applications
Minimum Qualifications
- Bachelor’s degree in public administration, public health, human services, early childhood education, social work, or related field. A Master’s degree in a related field, and certification in education and administration highly desirable
- Direct experience in managing grant funded programs.
- Minimum of seven (7) years of professional, supervisory, and program management experience associated with educational services, social services, community, family development program, including three years (3) of supervisory experience specifically in Head Start.
MAOF offers the following benefits: Medical, Dental, Vision, Life & Accidental Insurance, Employer Contribution and Employer Match 403(b) Retirement Plan with 100% vesting, Employee Assistance and Wellness Programs (EAP), Paid Holidays, Paid Time Off, 501(c)(3) Designation Public Service Loan Forgiveness, other supplemental benefits such as AFLAC, Credit Union Membership and Discount tickets to Southern CA theme parks and attractions.