Head Start / ECE Center Director

The Center Director provides monitoring and supervision to ensure all activities and services implemented by the Center are in compliance with all applicable federal, state and local laws and regulations. The Center Director assist in recruiting, hiring, training and retaining qualified staff. This position is instrumental in providing overall direction at the Center on a daily basis; and serves as a resource for all Center program staff/volunteers/consumers.

• Bachelor’s Degree Elementary Education required. Master’s degree preferred or equivalent in education. Specialty certifications and/or completion of training in related areas is a plus (i.e. CDC/FDC, etc.). Requires two to five years’ experience in organizational/public administration, office management, or comparable area directly working in an early childhood or comparable setting; requires three (3) years supervision and management experience.

• Requires demonstrated knowledge of developmentally-appropriate practices, current theories, curriculums (i.e. High Scope, etc.) in Early Childhood Education, child care regulatory standards and legalities regarding education/children; familiarity with Head Start Performance standards and best practices in early childhood education is required.

• Must have strong communication skills, oral and written; requires a strong aptitude for motivating and providing direction to varied groups/individuals; experience in developing and disseminating informational marketing and promotional materials helpful; knowledge of public/media relations, marketing and social media is preferred.

• Knowledge of strategic planning and execution preferred; knowledge of organizational development & change management practices preferred; requires ability to analyze and assess consumer, staff, and Center development, training and facility needs. Experience in identifying and soliciting resources/funding/grants to support program efforts required.

• Requires some fiscal and inventory management experience; requires the ability to comprehend, interpret and effectively manage budgets and Center expenses; experience with inventory control and management helpful.

• Must be highly proficient in the use of Microsoft Office products including Word, Excel, and Outlook; experience in program design and data management systems preferred; knowledge of computerized information systems used in management applications; experience with Head Start data base including COPA is a major plus. Experience in data management for reporting and performance management tasks is required.

• Must have good public speaking, facilitation and training skills; experience in planning/overseeing community outreach and recruitment services required; requires experience coordinating and overseeing special events, initiatives, meetings and supplemental activities for staff/community/consumers. Experience working with Boards, Policy Councils, Advisory groups, committee structures or related governing bodies or committees is helpful.

• Requires strong interpersonal and excellent customer service skills; requires ability to interact with diverse individual’s at all organizational/community levels is required; must be able to maintain respect for diversity and individual cultural backgrounds/practices; ability to initiate and maintain partnerships with both internal & external consumers is required.

• Requires ability to work independently as well as part of team; must be resourceful and able to use sound judgement; requires ability to initiate, plan, and complete assignments with minimal direct supervision.

• Bi-lingual capabilities English/Spanish, is a plus.

• Requires the health and physical capability to work in an office, technology and safety sensitive environment at various Agency/community sites; and must be able to lift up to 50 pounds.

• Requires a valid NYS driver’s license; and must have access to insured vehicle on a daily basis, throughout all scheduled work hours.

All employees of ABC’s Head Start/Early Childhood Services Dept. must receive and maintain a full clearance from the Office of Children and Family Services and Justice Center of New York that confirms any prospective applicant or current employee has no pending criminal cases or prior convictions for sexual assault, domestic violence; has no indication of child abuse maltreatment or neglect; or who cannot be left unsupervised with children. Applicants or employees will not be hired or retained .