Senior Managing Director, Early Childhood Systems- REMOTE

ICF is currently seeking an experienced early childhood senior leader capable of providing vision and priorities for key technical assistance (TA) programs on an Office of Child Care project as the Program Director for the Child Care State Capacity Building Center. Candidates should have a superior mix of project management and business development skills; experience and knowledge of; and a strong understanding of federal early learning priorities, systems, and services. The Senior Managing Director plans and manages deliverables for a large contract with the federal government to help state, territory and tribal grantees implement early care and education programs and services in a mixed delivery system, workforce supports, child care licensing, health and safety standards, quality initiatives including QRIS, and early childhood systems development. The Senior Managing Director is responsible for establishing and managing key relationships with the federal government and its representatives and will work closely with external stakeholders.  

The ideal candidate will have both a background in and experience with early childhood education (ECE) systems at the state or national level, including extensive experience supporting the implementation of the Child Care and Development Fund (CCDF) regulations and program implementation, with a focus on supporting effective CCDF administration, capacity building, and the full implementation of CCDF requirements. Knowledge of other federal programs and policies related to early childhood and school-age care continuous quality improvement is expected. The Senior Managing Director will be responsible for leading, managing and monitoring all aspects of the project including contractual administration.

This position is home based with up to 25 percent travel to attend client meetings, related conferences, and additional meetings. 

Key Responsibilities:

• Provide leadership, direction, and priorities to project staff to achieve the primary vision including key contract deliverables working as part of a portfolio of similar contracts and using a coordinated approach to ensure seamless services for the client.
• Ensure contract deliverables are met and that timeliness, message and quality are per the federal contract and the standards of ICF  
• Support business development efforts including support for proposals
• Ensure full staffing of project with professionals who have the knowledge and skills necessary to support federal government and contract priority and objectives
• Serve as the principal liaison with federal government, other organizations with government-funded technical assistance contracts, and other stakeholders
• Represent the project on a corporate leadership team, supporting the Office of Child Care (OCC) Portfolio Lead, line of business and division’s vision, supports and services.
• Oversee the project budget and subcontracts, fiscal tracking, and corporate reporting
• Ensure regular reporting and evaluation goals are well-established and met
• Oversee the evaluation of TA services and reporting TA progress to the client.
• Ensure creation of and execution of communications and information dissemination plan for key deliverables
• Support OCC designated priorities and special projects being sensitive to federal guidance and structure
• Build strong, positive relationships across the Child Care Technical Assistance Network (CCTAN) and additional partners for ongoing communication, collaborative planning, and shared problem solving to meet the needs of clients, states, and territories, including participation in national workgroups and task forces as assigned. 
• Participate in regular team meetings and calls. 
• Leverage specialized depth and breadth of expertise and apply a broad perspective to identify solutions to complex tasks 
• Lead the development and delivery of complex tasks and deliverables on multiple ECE topics and activities   
• Possess strong communication skills for client relations, team building, and business development purposes
• Stay abreast of the latest research, tools, and resources that support the activities of the SCBC
• Excellent delegation skills and ability to work with the leadership team using a strength-based and collaborative approach to management
• Identify and manage risks in a timely and effective manner

Basic Qualifications:

• A bachelor’s degree in early childhood education, education, public policy, public administration, or management. 
• 15+ years of experience in the early childhood or public administration field at a national or state level, including:  
  • Collaboration and partnership experience across early care and education systems, including State and Federal partners. 
  • Experience with conten