Assistant Early Learning Director

Peninsula Family Service•San Mateo, CA

8d•Onsite

About The Position

Peninsula Family Service (PFS) is a nonprofit organization established in 1950, providing support and tools to children, families, and older adults. As a large provider of infant, toddler, and preschool programs, PFS also offers services in financial empowerment, employment, and older adult support. The organization values Ownership, Proactive Engagement, and Continuous Learning and Adaptability, grounded in community, service, and collaborative teamwork. The Assistant Early Learning Director provides hands-on leadership and operational oversight for early learning programs funded by Early Head Start (EHS), California State Preschool Program (CSPP), and CalWORKs Child Care (CCTR). This role ensures high-quality services, regulatory compliance, fiscal accountability, and supports site leadership and staff during a transition period. Additionally, the Assistant Director will be crucial in planning and preparing for the opening of two new and one rebuilt early learning sites scheduled for 2027, covering staffing, licensing, facilities, and program compliance. Temporarily, this role reports directly to the Chief Program Officer due to a staff leave.

Requirements

Bachelor's degree in Early Childhood Education, Child Development, Human Services, or a related field.
5+ years of experience managing early learning programs, including publicly funded programs.
Demonstrated knowledge of Early Head Start, CSPP, and/or CCTR program requirements.
Experience supervising staff and managing complex program operations.
Strong understanding of compliance, monitoring, and reporting expectations.
Submit and maintain clear Criminal Background Check and Fingerprinting.
Submit and maintain evidence of a current negative Tuberculin test and health report prior to hire.
CPR and First Aid certified or willing to obtain within 3 months of employment; must maintain for the duration of employment.
Ability to communicate effectively in English, both verbally and in writing, with staff, families, partners, and leadership.
Verification to legally work in the US and updated as required.
Regular travel between program sites required.

Nice To Haves

Master's degree or California Site Supervisor/Program Director Permit.
Prior Head Start leadership experience.
Experience supporting program expansion or new site openings.
Bilingual in English and Spanish or other languages relevant to the community.

Responsibilities

Provide day-to-day supervision of early learning programs across EHS, CSPP, and CCTR contracts.
Ensure programs operate in compliance with all applicable federal, state, and local regulations, including Head Start Program Performance Standards and California Department of Education (CDE) requirements.
Monitor enrollment, attendance, ratios, eligibility, and service delivery to meet contract obligations.
Support site leaders with daily operations, staffing coverage, and problem solving.
Oversee program documentation, recordkeeping, and readiness for reviews, audits, and monitoring visits.
Ensure timely and accurate submission of required reports, data, and deliverables to funders.
Address findings, corrective action plans, and technical assistance needs promptly and effectively.
Collaborate with fiscal staff to align program operations with contract budgets.
Use program data to identify trends, inform decision-making, and drive continuous quality improvement across sites and funding streams.
Track and analyze enrollment, attendance, outcomes, and compliance metrics to proactively address gaps before they become findings.
Supervise site supervisors, education managers, and program coordinators.
Provide coaching and guidance to ensure consistent implementation of policies, procedures, and quality standards.
Support hiring, onboarding, performance management, and staff development as needed.
Promote a respectful, supportive, and compliant work environment.
Ensure programs meet family engagement, comprehensive services, and referral requirements.
Maintain relationships with families, community partners, and licensors.
Ensure implementation of health, safety, and child supervision requirements.
Support developmentally appropriate, inclusive, and culturally responsive learning environments.
Address incidents, licensing concerns, or safety issues promptly and thoroughly.
Maintain program stability during leadership transition.
Document key processes and support onboarding of permanent leadership.
Serve as a consistent communication link between site leaders, program staff, and senior leadership, ensuring information flows clearly and equitably across the division.
Translate organizational priorities and regulatory updates into actionable guidance for site teams, and surface site-level needs and concerns to leadership in a timely way.
Support planning and readiness for two new and one rebuilt early learning sites, subject to timing and organizational priorities.
Coordinate with facilities, licensing, HR, and finance on staffing, compliance, and startup timelines.