EHS Center Manager

POSITION SUMMARY:

The Early Head Start Center Manager provides leadership, vision, and oversight of the Early Head Start Center. The Manager is responsible for the overall operation of the Center including ongoing daily administration and supervision of the program and staff.

The Center Manager’s responsibilities include ensuring that all licensure, accreditation, and quality rating requirements are met; adhering to the approved program budget; supporting and developing staff; and engaging families, community members, and program partners to increase public awareness and ensure full enrollment. An individual in this position will serve as a leader and role model to staff, families, children, and community partners. The position requires the ability to work extremely well within a team and with minimal supervision.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Ensure staffing patterns promote continuity of care for all children enrolled and allow sufficient time for staff to participate in appropriate training and professional development.
• Provide regular and ongoing supervision to support individual staff professional development and continuous program quality improvement.
• Ensure all facilities, equipment and materials, background checks, safety training, safety and hygiene practices, and administrative safety procedures are adequate to ensure child safety and meet licensing/subsidy requirements and Head Start Program Performance Standards (HSPPS)
• Provide age-appropriate equipment, materials, supplies, and physical space for indoor and outdoor learning environments.
• Structure education and child development services to recognize primary adults’ role as children’s lifelong educators and encourage primary adults to engage in their child’s education.
• Take an active role in promoting coordinated systems of comprehensive early childhood services to low-income children and families in their community through communication, cooperation, and the sharing of information among staff, community partners and families; this may include serving on community committees/task forces.
• Maintain infant and toddler Classroom Assessment Scoring System (CLASS) certifications, conduct biannual CLASS observations, and provide feedback to teachers.
• Maintain children’s records in compliance with licensing and subsidy standards.
• Work collaboratively to ensure policies and procedures relating to the overall operation of the center are kept up-to-date and meet compliance standards.
• Support program and school readiness goals and ensure teaching staff support program and school readiness goals.
• In partnership with Family Services Team, work to resolve family grievances.

In partnership with the Education Manager –

• Ensure teachers provide responsive care, effective teaching, and an organized learning environment that promotes healthy development and children’s skill growth aligned with the Head Start Early Learning Outcomes Framework (ELOF), including for children with disabilities.
• Support staff to effectively implement developmentally appropriate research-based early childhood curricula (HighScope).
• Ensure standardized screening tools (ASQ-3 and ASQ:SE-2) and structured assessments (DRDP) for each child are completed in a timely manner to evaluate the child’s developmental level and progress in outcomes aligned to goals.
• Ensure teachers conduct biannual home visits and biannual conferences with families.
• Ensure staff meet licensing, subsidy and HSPPS training and professional development requirements.
• Participate in state and/or local Early Childhood Unified Measurement and Improvement Systems (Unified Virginia Quality Birth to Five System, and LinkB5)

In partnership with the Family Engagement Specialist –

• Track daily attendance and ensure children are safe when they do not arrive at school.
• Implement procedures for teachers and the Family Engagement Specialist to share information with each other to ensure coordinated family engagement strategies with children and families in the classroom, home, and community.
• Ensure the center offers opportunities for families to be involved in the program’s education services, including as volunteers or employees.
• Implement strategies and practices to support successful transitions for children and their families transitioning out of Early Head Start
• Follow subsidy procedures and monitor subsidy payments and hours for children who attend before/after-care.

In partnership with Family Services Manager –

• Develop creative strategies to continuously promote employee wellbeing and a positive program culture.

In partnership with the Health and Disabilities Manager –

• Promote learning through approaches to rest, meals, routines, and physical activity.
• If warranted from information gathered through screening or assessment, refer the child with a primary adult’s consent to the local agency responsible for implementing Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) for formal evaluation to assess a child’s eligibility for services under IDEA.
• Work with outside agencies to ensure enrolled children with disabilities and their families receive all applicable program services delivered in the least restrictive environment possible.
• Work with contractors to provide high-quality health, oral health, mental health, and nutrition services that are developmentally, culturally, and linguistically appropriate and that will support each child’s growth and school readiness.
• Manage Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP) within the center.

KNOWLEDGE AND ABILITIES:

• Knowledge in early childhood care and education, specifically infant and toddler development
• Knowledge of research-based curriculum, screening, and assessments
• Ability to interpret and implement Head Start Program Performance Standards (HSPPS), ELOF, and Virginia Department of Education Standards for Licensed Child Day Centers and Subsidy Vendor Requirements.
• Ability to establish and maintain collaborative professional relationships and effectively communicate with diverse children, families, colleagues, staff, and community partners.
• Ability to stimulate growth in others to inspire a high-functioning team.
• Ability to utilize technology, including confidential databases (e.g., ChildPlus, Procare, and LinkB5) to appropriately answer questions and provide guidance to staff.
• Ability to operate in an organized, detail-oriented manner while maintaining flexibility.
• Ability to work in a fast-paced environment, responding to stressful situations with maturity.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities and meet all deadlines independently.
• Ability to keep abreast of new research and developments in early childhood care and education.
• Ability to supervise staff and volunteers, coordinate and assign tasks, and evaluate results.
• Ability to operate within and manage a budget.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:

• A child development associate with two years programmatic experience and one-year supervisory experience; OR a bachelor’s degree in a child-related field and one-year programmatic experience; OR a graduate degree such as early childhood education, child development, elementary education, or early childhood special education.
• Valid VA driver’s license and acceptable driving record.
• Complete, pass and maintain all required background checks and drug tests.
• Provide a Staff Health Report signed by physician.
• Provide “TB free” documentation.
• Three references (any combination of professional or educational)