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 city’s largest recipients of Head Start funding, our collaboration with 12 community-based agencies allows us to touch the lives of over 2,000 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.