Deputy Director, National Center on Head Start Early Learning, Health and Family Engagement

ICF is currently seeking an experienced early childhood senior leader to serve as Deputy Director for the National Center on Head Start Early Learning Health and Family Engagement (ELHFE). This position supports the Project Director in providing leadership and management for a large complex federal contract that advances the Office of Head Starts priorities for early learning health and family engagement. The Deputy Director will help ensure high-quality technicalassistance(TA) services and resourcesprovided forHead Start programs nationwide through the Training and Technical Assistance (TTA) System.

The ideal candidate will have extensive experience in early childhood education systems at the state or national level including deep knowledge of the Head Start Program Performance Standards Early Learning Outcomes Framework and related federal regulations. The Deputy Director will play a key role in managing project operations supervisingteamleads andsupporting the development and dissemination of research-based resources. This position requires strong leadership project managementexpertise and the ability to collaborate effectively with federal partners stakeholders and internal teams.

This position is home based with up to 25 percent travel to attend client meetings relatedconferencesandadditionalmeetings.

Key Responsibilities:

• Incollaboration with the Project Directorprovideleadership direction and priorities to project staffto achieve the primary vision including key contract deliverables using a coordinated approach to ensure seamless services for the client.
• Work closely with the Project Director and other managers to ensure contract deliverables aremetand that timeliness messaging and quality meet federal requirements and ICF standards.
• Assist the Project Director in ensuring full staffing of the project with professionals who have the knowledge and skills necessary to support federal priorities andobjectives.
• Manage projectworkflowassiststaff with managing their workfacilitateteam building and communication andparticipateas part of the project leadership team.
• Support evaluation of technicalassistanceservices and report TA progress to the client.
• Build strong positive relationships across the Head Start TTA System andadditionalpartners for ongoing communication collaborative planning and shared problem-solving including participation in national workgroups and task forces as assigned.
• Stay abreast of the latest research tools and resources that support the activities of ELHFE.
• Support Office of Head Startdesignatedpriorities and special projects including development of TA materials responding to requests for reference material training sessions conference calls information sharing and FAQs.
• Serve as a liaison with the federal government other organizations with government-funded technicalassistancecontracts and other stakeholders.
• Work with the Project Director to ensure creation and execution of communications and information dissemination plans for key deliverables.
• Participate in regular team meetings and calls.
• Leverage specialized depth and breadth ofexpertiseand apply a broad perspective toidentifysolutions to complex tasks and deliverables on multiple early childhood topics and activities.
• Participate in presentations at national meetings and conferences.
• Represent the project on a corporate leadership team supporting the Office of Head Start Portfolio Lead and contributing to the divisions vision and services.
• Support business development efforts including contributing to proposals andidentifyingopportunities for growth.

Basic Qualifications:

• A bachelors degree in early childhood education education public policy public administration or management.
• 12 years of experience in the early childhood or public administration field including:Collaboration and partnership experience across early care and education systems including State and Federal partners.Knowledge of Head Start Program Performance Standards Early Learning OutcomesFramework and related federal regulations.Extensive prior experience with the development of systems-oriented technicalassistancematerials and high-quality written products such as tools presentations handouts issue briefs reports etc.Prior experience with project management including leading a group of senior professionals and complex deliverables

Preferred Skills/Experience:-

• A masters degree in early childhood education child development public administration public policy education or related degree
• A minimum of 8 years of experience at the state or national level focusing on early childhood policies regulations and systems
• Demonstrated consultingexpertise
• Demonstrated ability to work closely with diverse stakeholders
• Demonstrated experience managing large and complex national TA efforts involving multiple types of tasks simultaneously in several geographic locations.
• Demonstrated ability toestablishand maintain effective relationships in support of program objectives
• Demonstrated ability to motivate and supervise professionals working in a virtual environment
• Demonstrated ability toaccomplishproject work through a virtual environment
• Demonstrated ability to oversee and implement allfacetsof contract management including budgeting monitoringdeliverablesand project accomplishments planning activities and addressing challenges
• Demonstrated knowledge of and experience in developing successful collaborations within the field of early learning
• Demonstrated analytic problem solving and decision-makingcapabilities
• Experiencein a leadership position involving implementation of Head Start programs and services.
• Experience working with Microsoft Office Suite and project management tools such as Smartsheet. These need to be measurable in years of experience or moved to preferred

Professional Skills:

• Excellent verbal interpersonal and written communication skills.
• Strong communication skills for client relations team building and business development purposes.
• Strong analytical problem-solving and decision-making capabilities.
• Ability to be a team player and multitask in a fast-paced environment.
• Demonstrated outstanding level of professionalism in providing team support including ability to exercise good judgment discretion tact and diplomacy.
• Sound business ethics including the protection of proprietary and confidential information.
• Ability to apply detailed knowledge of organizational procedures to make independent decisions and serve as a credible resource for a senior management team.
• Ability to work with all levels of internal staff as well as outside clients and vendors.

Working at ICF

Pay Range - There are multiple factors that are considered in determining final pay for a position including but not limited to relevant work experience skills certifications and competencies that align to the specified role geographic location education and certifications as well as contract provisions regarding labor categories that are specific to the position.

The pay range for this position based on full-time employment is: