Deputy Director

Start Early is an energized future-focused organization devoted to providing quality early learning and care across the country.

Our desire to close the opportunity gap and build more inclusive early learning experiences for our youngest learners guides everything we do. As a leader in early learning and care we scale our deep expertise across program policy and research through partnerships across the country.

We are recruiting individuals who want to join us in this mission and share a commitment to our core values of appreciation & respect empowerment diversity excellence learning and communication.

Become part of our rewarding mission-driven culture! We want our employees to feel empowered motivated energized and passionate about the work they do!

Are you ready to lead one of the largest Head Start recipients in the city of Chicago Start Early is expanding its Head Start Network leadership team to enhance our meaningful work in transforming the lives of children and families. We are excited to introduce the new Deputy Director position which will partner closely with the Vice President of the Early Head Start Network (EHSN) to elevate our exceptional early childhood services.

As the Deputy Director you will oversee the operations management and supervision of the Head Start program ensuring that all activities align with Head Start Performance Standards and comply with federal state and local regulations. At Start Early we are dedicated to serving vulnerable children and families across the Chicagoland area and beyond. As one of the citys largest recipients of Head Start funding our collaboration with 12 community-based agencies allows us to touch the lives of over 2000 children each year.

This role is about cultivating a collaborative high-performance environment that empowers our team members to thrive. You will work hand-in-hand with the Vice President of EHSN to lead the planning design implementation and evaluation of our program systems. Additionally you will proudly represent the agency on local regional state and national platforms advocating for our mission and amplifying our visibility in the community.

If you are passionate about making a meaningful impact for children and families and are ready for a transformative leadership opportunity we invite you to join us on this journey of lasting change!

This position requires the Deputy Director to reside in the Chicagoland area to facilitate regular travel throughout Chicago and the suburbs for meetings and site visits.

Start Early is committed to funding this role for two years to account for uncertainty in the Federal funding landscape and providing relocation services (if needed).

Reporting to the Vice President Early Head Start Network you will:

• Oversees plans implements and coordinates all Head Start content area services to maintain program compliance with federal laws state laws policies and guidelines Head Start Performance Standards state childcare licensing requirements Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP) and local grant goals and objectives.

• Work in collaboration with the fiscal team to develop implement and review the fiscal budget of the Head Start program; and ensures program obtains and meets in-kind match requirements for the Head Start grant.

• Serve as the management liaison with the Head Start Policy Council organizing and supporting the Council attending all Council meetings and training Council members. Shares information and collaborates with the Policy Council in program governance of the HS/EHS grant

• Supervises Assistant Directors (Education & Child Development Child Health & Wellness Family & Community Engagement and Professional Development) and collaborates with direct reports to review and update program operations systems including policies and procedures self-assessment Program Information Report (PIR) long and short-term planning/goals and improvement and/or action plans.

• Oversees the on-going monitoring by the Operations team to ensure full implementation of the education program to include curriculum implementation with fidelity child assessments CLASS assessments Concious Discipline Parent As Teachers pilots and projects and use of technology in the classroom home based and family child care homes to meet or exceed the growth range for each child.

• Prepares and submits accurate and timely reports required to the funding sources the Leadership Team Start Early Board Policy Council and any other required parties

• Seeks opportunities to collaborate with other Start Early divisions to improve team communication and strengthen services provided to all children and families in our early childhood programs.

• Continuously Improve our operational systems processes policies and procedures in support of the Start Early and Head Starts mission specifically supporting the management of reporting information flow and planning.

• Develop and maintain collaborative relationships with agency leaders to strengthen local resources and services for families with young children. Collaborate with the Vice President of Early/Head Start Network and the EHSN Chief of Staff to enhance the visibility of Start Early - EHSN through strategic opportunities for positive publicity.

• Performs record keeping and internal and external reporting tasks in a timely and objective fashion. Prepares and submits accurate reports including Program Information Report (PIR) quarterly and annual reports.

• Seeks opportunities to collaborate with other Start Early divisions to improve team communication and strengthen services provided to all children and families in the program.

Education Experience and Knowledge:

• Masters degree in education or related field.

• Six years of of progressive administrative experience in Head Start.
• Demonstrated experience managing Head Start operations
• Six years of increasingly responsible experience in Early Childhood Administration.
• Proven experience developing staff at all professional levels skillfully identifying and promoting talent and building productive and cohesive management teams.
• Significant staff management experience in multi-site early childhood and/or Head Start programs ideally those with a complex or matrixed staff structure.
• Knowledge of a Head Start programs operational characteristics services and activities. (Required)
• Knowledge of organizational and management practices as applied to analyzing and evaluating programs policies and operational needs.
• Knowledge of modern and complex principles and practices of education program development administration and leadership.
• Working knowledge of accounting principles fiscal management budgeting processes and monitoring.
• Skilled in reading interpreting and analyzing complex state and federal regulation policies and procedures.
• Knowledge of organizational and management practices related to the evaluation of services policies and operational needs.
• Ability to organize and successfully meet daily objectives foster a team atmosphere; and possess mediation negotiation skills; and effective conflict resolution skills.
• Ability to communicate both oral and written to individuals with diverse backgrounds and relate to diverse groups of people including low-income families.
• Ability to develop and maintain cooperative warm open working relationship with children parents and staff.

Base Annual Salary: $130000.00-$150000.00

As of the time of this posting this is the expected base annual salary range. The base annual salary will be based on a wide range of factors including skills qualifications experience as well as business needs and limitations.

Our generous benefits plan includes:

Comprehensive Health Plans Commitment to Diversity and Inclusion Holistic Wellness Program Professional Development Program 401k Contribution Paid Volunteer Days 6 months paid parental leave and much more.

Start Early is an equal opportunity employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to our core values by creating an inclusive environment for all staff.