Center Director

Position Title: Center Director

Employee Type: Full- Time Regular

Supervisor Title: Program Director or Assistant Program Director

Division: U.S. Programs & Advocacy

Summary

This position is responsible for the general and day-to-day operations of a Head Start/Early Head Start center or cluster of outlying centers. You will be responsible for providing coverage to multiple classrooms, ensuring compliance with federal, state and local regulations; communicating with parents and the community; supervising and monitoring of all staff assigned to the center(s). The Center Director may be reassigned to various centers as deemed necessary for program operations.

As a front-line representative of Save the Children, Center Directors are required to ensure the safety and security of children and families that he/she comes into contact with, adhering to the agency’s values of Accountability, Ambition, Collaborations, Creativity and Integrity.

As a Save the Children employee who will come into contact with children on a routine basis, you are expected to prevent child abuse in every situation by striving, through mental awareness, good practice and training to minimize risk to children. You must take positive steps to protect children who may be a subject of concern and report and respond to any instance of child abuse and promote training and awareness around all child safeguarding obligations.

What You’ll Be Doing (Essential Duties)

• Hire and coach staff; facilitate resolution of conflicts; encourage and support professional development opportunities; develop and monitor center and staff schedules.
• Oversee staff in the monitoring, control, and review of budgets, identification and interpretation of Head Start and community needs, conformance to Performance Standards, and other regulatory requirements.
• Conduct regular staff meetings, arrange staff training, set job standards/goals and monitor/provide ongoing feedback for performance improvement and appraisals.
• Work with all center staff to ensure quality teaching and learning environments and work with content area managers/specialists/coordinators to plan and implement pre-service and ongoing in-service for cooks, teachers, assistant teachers, and program aides.
• Track and monitor staff attendance, including verification of timesheets.
• Arrange for family days, staff work days, fairs and events as well as work with Family Service Coordinators, center staff, and families to plan and implement monthly center parent meetings; take the lead in arranging Family Nights and Parent Committee meetings.
• Perform systems evaluation and development and ensure adequate systems are in place to maintain highest quality of service to children and families in compliance with Head Start Performance Standards; ensure consistency in service delivery across programs.
• Responsible for monthly safety checks, annual safety inspections, and completion of licensing requirements.
• Report any child or staff incidents.
• Monitor employee on-site filing requirements; assist with the fiscal management of the center, including cost allocations; assist in the identification, purchase, and annual inventory of center supplies and equipment.
• Monitor Child Plus for timely and accurate data input of children and family information.
• Lead the center’s process through state licensing, Quality Rating and Improvement System (QRIS) and special accreditation (including but not limited to National Association for the Education of Young Children – NAEYC)
• Perform other related duties as assigned.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in early childhood development or related field plus at least two (2) years of relevant experience
• Proven work experience in a position that directly relates to the implementation and monitoring of program operations.
• Demonstrated knowledge of program planning and practices in infant/toddler and preschool center-based program’s thorough knowledge of Head Start Performance Standards and best practices related to early childhood education.
• Proven knowledge of general business practices including supervision, accounts payable, inventory control and risk management.
• Proven ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with agency staff, children and parents, and outside agencies.
• Professional proficiency in spoken and written English
• Professional proficiency in MS Office suite
• Demonstrated ability to successfully oversee and operate the day-to-day program in compliance with all local, state, and federal regulations.
• Demonstrated successful time management, organizational, and p