Chief Operations Officer

Family Star Inc•Denver, CO

22h•Hybrid

About The Position

Family Star Montessori has provided transformative early childhood education for over 30 years, serving pregnant women and children from infancy to age six through authentic Montessori education via the Head Start platform. With two schools and a home-based program in Denver and a future location in Lakewood, they employ a whole-child, multi-generational approach, offering resources like housing, health, nutrition, and mental health. The Chief Operating Officer (COO) is a key leader responsible for the operational infrastructure of Family Star Montessori. Reporting to the Executive Director, the COO integrates administrative functions and programmatic operations, ensuring robust, scalable systems aligned with Montessori practices and Head Start standards. This role is crucial for architecting operational systems to sustain excellence during significant organizational transition, including a facility move, managing logistical complexities, ensuring continuity of care, and building a framework for scaled impact.

Requirements

7–10 years of progressive leadership experience in a nonprofit or education setting, with at least 5 years at a senior management level (Head Start/EHS experience highly desirable).
Bachelor’s degree in Nonprofit Management, Business, Education, or related field (Master’s Degree preferred).
Proven track record in managing complex multi-site operations, including facilities, IT, and human resources.
Demonstrated experience managing multimillion-dollar budgets, including federal or state grants (e.g., Head Start, CCCAP, or Title I funding).
Experience leading an organization through periods of significant change, such as restructuring, facility expansion, or program scaling.
Deep familiarity with federal Head Start regulations, including ERSEA, program governance, and fiscal operations.
Comprehensive understanding of state-level childcare licensing requirements and quality rating systems.
Experience preparing for federal monitoring reviews and ensuring ongoing organizational audit-readiness.
Proficiency in Microsoft Office suite
Proficiency in using data systems (like COPA or similar) to monitor program performance and drive operational improvements.
High-degree systems thinker, resilient under pressure, and a collaborative consensus builder.
Excellent interpersonal communication skills capable of building and maintaining relationships with colleagues and families of diverse backgrounds, cultures, and perspectives.
Deep appreciation for early childhood education and the Montessori philosophy.

Nice To Haves

Master's Degree preferred.
Head Start/EHS experience highly desirable.

Responsibilities

Responsible for all facilities maintenance, lease agreements, and expansion projects. Serve as the lead logistical coordinator for the Denver building sale and new facility purchase.
Supervise the Operations/Facilities staff to ensure daily facility excellence, licensure compliance, and safety across all sites.
Oversee the IT work and software strategies; manage the IT Coordinator/contractors to ensure a modern, secure, and tech-enabled workplace.
Align IT infrastructure to support data collection for child outcomes and family engagement, ensuring data security and privacy (HIPAA/FERPA).
Monitors key performance measurement practices including but not limited to child outcomes, staff turnover and engagement, recruitment, enrollment, and programmatic expenditures.
Ensure that all physical locations meet both local licensing and federal Head Start safety standards. This includes oversight of cleaning, janitorial services, and complex building matters.
Manage the training and technical assistance (T/TA) plan to ensure staff maintain necessary credentials (like the CDA or Montessori certifications).
Oversee Human Resources team to support greater Family Star operations and services.
Oversee the finance team and ensure rigorous internal controls and audit readiness.
Collaborate with the Executive Director, Sr. Director of Community Partnerships (Development), and Finance Director to develop and monitor program and grant budgets.
Assist in the preparation of the annual grant application, ensuring that the budget reflects operational needs like facility maintenance, safety equipment, and competitive staff wages.
Oversee the Program Management and Fiscal Operations (PMFO) domain of Head Start, ensuring all federal funds are spent according to regulations.
Oversee the use of federal systems such as the Head Start Enterprise System (HSES) and Grant Solutions for reporting and documentation in collaboration with Finance Director.
Manage programmatic operations within budget; identify areas for improvement and implement creative, cost-effective solutions.
Supervise the Head Start/Community Services Director to lead the overall design of service delivery, ensuring compliance with OHS Performance Standards and state licensing.
Oversee the Home-Based, Mental Health and Disabilities, and Data systems teams to ensure integrated support for children and families across Family Star.
Collaborate with the Policy Council (composed of parents and community members) to ensure they are active participants in operational decisions, including recruitment and hiring.
Oversee the annual community assessment to identify the most vulnerable families and adjust recruitment strategies accordingly.
Collaborate with department leaders to ensure compliance with federal and state funding requirements, including data reporting, grant development, and program monitoring.
Responsible for driving projects to completion and overseeing the progress of organizational projects by conducting collaborative planning meetings, establishing timelines, monitoring, and reviewing project progress, escalating issues as needed, and reporting updates to key stakeholders.
Lead the organization through the Federal Monitoring Review and Program Information Report (PIR) processes and ensure ongoing adherence to all Head Start Performance Standards
Facilitate collaboration between educational, Head Start, and program staff to ensure best practices are followed and implemented.
Act as a contributing member of Family Star’s leadership team, setting strategic priorities which align with the strategic and budget planning, ultimately ensuring Family Star can meet its long-term goals.
Analyze and assess current procedures, evaluate their effectiveness, identify areas of improvement, and implement creative and effective solutions.
Provide regular updates to the Board and Senior Leadership on project progress and strategic trends. Ensure caregivers are effectively engaged via governing opportunities.