Early Learning Programs Manager
Company/Organization: RurAL CAP
Location: Anchorage Child Development Center
Application Dates: 9/30/23
Job Description
Job Summary: Management of the licensed Child Development Center (CDC) operations to ensure compliance with all state and municipality licensing requirements and best practices as determined by the National Association for the Education of Young Children. Assist in management of grants to ensure compliance with Federal and State regulations. Oversees program operations, personnel and program budgets. Leads a team in the provision of high-quality CDC and Parents as Teachers (PAT) programs, ensuring collaboration between CDC, Anchorage Head Start (AHS) and PAT programs.
ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS, DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:
- Oversees programmatic design and implementation of Early Learning programs within the Early Childhood Education (ECE) program area, which includes the Child Development Center and Parents as Teachers with potential growth.
- Provides day to day leadership for overall operations of the agency’s Child Development Center (CDC) and Anchorage Head Start (AHS) including strategic development, appropriate documentation of program operations, and related grant support in partnership with the ECE Leadership Team.
- Implement all applicable federal and state regulations, Head Start Performance Standards, grant requirements, PAT National Center requirements and Agency and Early Childhood Education Head Start Policies and Procedures and Work Plan.
- Ensures compliance with Council on Accreditation (COA) regulations and National Association of the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) best practices.
- Ensures compliance with all applicable federal and state sanitation and safety regulations and Child & Adult Care Food Program (CACFP) guidelines, to include traditional foods guidelines.
- Directly supervises the CDC and Parents as Teachers teams; promotes positive employee morale through healthy role-modeling, mentoring, coaching; team-building, and professional development.
- Leads in partnership with the ECE Programs Director, the planning and implementation of long term and short-term goals for the CDC and PAT programs, including: Financial revenue projections, enrollment capacity, personnel management and child transitions.
- Works with site staff, ECE Programs Director, and RurAL CAP Budget Coordinator to develop and maintain budgets and expend funds in accordance with grant terms/conditions.
- Plans for current and future financial needs by developing a budget available funding; stays within budget in meeting objectives.
- Responsible for the day-to-day leadership, supervision and scheduling of CDC, AHS, and PAT staff; conducting staff performance evaluations, on-boarding orientation, on-going support and training of staff. Promotes a safe work environment and complies with safety guidelines.
- Conducts regular classroom observations to ensure quality programming, including supporting staff with the use of Active Supervision principles at all times.
- Establishes and maintains relationships with other agencies and organizations in the community to meet community needs and to ensure that children and families receive the services they need for support.
- Responsible for Parent Advisory Committee within the CDC and Anchorage Head Start.
- Ensures that parents are actively involved in staff hiring, program planning, decision-making and volunteer activities per Head Start guidelines.
- Monitors and ensures timely collection of required data from site and submits required written reports and information necessary for quarterly RurAL CAP reports, federal and state, Municipality of Anchorage (MOA) Child Care Licensing reports.
- Active member of the Early Childhood Education program area Leadership Team. Assist in the strategic planning, funding and direction of the program area with the Leadership Team and attend bi-weekly meetings.
- Participate on the Head Start Management Team to develop and implement the annual planning cycle, program evaluation, and community assessment.
- Participates actively in advisory committee meetings, and regular supervisory meetings.
OTHER RESPONSIBILITIES:
- Oversees the classroom schedules and ensures staff duties are carried out as required.
- Develops the center schedule and arranges for substitute staff as needed.
- With the ECE Programs Director, prepares Home Visiting programs reporting such as grant and Board of Director quarterly and end-of-year reports; works to ensure timely submission of required data and narratives for quarterly and annual reports and Policies and Procedures revisions.
- Develops and maintains the CDC and PAT Policies and Procedures and Family Handbook, revising as necessary.
- Work in classroom or kitchen as needed to maintain child to caregiver ratios and food service requirements.
- Performs other duties as assigned.
SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES:
- Interprets and communicates work procedures, job duties and company policies to provide assigned staff with guidance in handling difficult or complex problems and in resolving escalated complaints or disputes.
- Conducts and documents staff meetings with CDC, AHS and PAT staff; attends regular supervisory meetings and all required training.
- Encourages and builds mutual trust, respect, and cooperation among team members and getting members of a group to work together to accomplish tasks; seeking guidance from the ECE Programs Director when needed.
- Evaluates and discusses job performance with employees to identify potential difficulties, work on resolving issues, make any appropriate personnel action and to also celebrate the successes.
- Makes recommendations for the suspension and/or termination of Head Start staff to the assigned Regional Manager for Head Start.
- Evaluates assigned staff’s job performance and conformance to regulations and recommends appropriate personnel action.
EMPLOYMENT REQUIREMENTS AND REQUIRED EDUCATION:
- Must be at least 21 years of age.
- Must pass state and federal background checks for convictions of violence and child abuse and/or neglect, including fingerprints.
- Responsible work ethic with reliable attendance.
- Bachelor Degree in Early Child Development, Child Psychology, Human Services or similar field, plus two (2) years of program management experience; OR Child Development Associate (CDA) with six (6) years equivalent education and professional experience in social services or 12 semester hours of college credit in early childhood development, child psychology or equivalent with child development, community development, or related field program management. Experience must include at least one (1) year direct supervisory experience.
- Must pursue an ongoing professional development plan, including formal training certification or college degree as recommended by the program.
- Demonstrated effective oral and written communication skills including an ability to communicate among diverse groups of people.
- Commitment to Alaskan economic and cultural well-being.
- Proven ability and willingness to be self-directed in problem solving and decision-making and perform basic assignment with little or no direct supervision while also working effectively as a team member.
- Demonstrated intermediate level of computer skills necessary in order to use and create documents and reports, spreadsheets, workshop materials and slide presentations, and to enter data into intricate database programs and proficient use of Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Publisher, and Outlook.
- Must keep all matters concerning participants in strictest confidence as required by HIPAA privacy and the 42 CFR, Part II confidentiality regulations.
- Must provide a TB screening and basic physical exam within thirty (30) days of hire with follow-up every three (3) years at employee’s expense.
- Must complete and maintain CPR and First Aid Training certification at employer’s expense.
- Must be able to provide own transportation to meet work schedule requirements.
PREFERRED EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE:
- Experience coordinating training and providing support and supervision.
- Experience in home visiting.
- Extensive knowledge of social, cultural and economic conditions in across Alaska; cross-cultural experience working with Alaska Natives.
EQUAL OPPORTUNITY STATEMENT (EEO)
RurAL CAP is an Equal Opportunity Employer and abides by the federal, state and local laws and regulations. These regulations prohibit discrimination against qualified individuals based on their status as protected veterans or individuals with disabilities, and prohibit discrimination against all individuals based on their race, color, religion, sex(including pregnancy, gender identity and sexual orientation), parental status, national origin, age, disability, genetic information(including family medical history), political affiliation, military service, or other non-merit-based factors. As an Equal Opportunity Employer, we are subject to certain federal recordkeeping/reporting requirements. In order to comply, we will request information from you regarding ethnicity, race, veteran status, and disability status. Agreeing or refusing to provide this information is completely voluntary, will not adversely impact your possible employment, and will only be considered as part of your application upon your request in compliance with our Affirmative Action Plan.
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