DIRECTOR OF CHILDRENS SERVICES

ALLEGHENY LUTHERAN SOCIAL MINISTRIES INC•Bedford, PA

About The Position

DIRECTOR OF CHILDREN’S SERVICES FULL TIME – EXEMPT Allegheny Lutheran Social Ministries (ALSM), a faith-based, not for profit organization, provides compassionate community programs and services for people of all faiths and generations. ALSM is actively seeking candidates for a full time, exempt Director of Children’s Services position to support the following programs in Bedford, Fulton, and Cambria counties: Head Start, Early Head Start, Growing Years Early Learning Centers, Kid Stop Centers, Pre-K Counts, and the Family Center. This position will plan, develop, direct, monitor, and evaluate all services and programs to ensure that the highest quality services are provided to meet the needs of families and children in our service area.

Requirements

Minimum of a bachelor’s degree in early childhood education or a related field; master’s degree preferred.
Must have four (4) years of experience in a human services setting including managing social services/early childhood programs for and working with low-income children and families. This includes program planning, operations and evaluation, and the use of management information systems.
Must have a minimum of three (3) years of supervisory, fiscal management, and administration experience.

Responsibilities

Provide direct oversight, monitoring, planning, and management of Children’s Services.
Advocate within the community for the development or enhancement of services to meet the needs of children and families, including those with low incomes.
Oversee the community assessment process to define and evaluate these needs.
Preside at various meetings of staff, personnel and special committees to obtain guidance, provide leadership, plan, and coordinate the activities of these groups for the best interest of ALSM and Children’s Services.
Assist with gathering and analyzing client, community, and market data for needs assessments and feasibility studies and their impact on program planning, development and implementation.
Establish effective communication and maintain productive community relationships including interactions with the governing body, managers of other agency programs, the Policy Council and parents.
Represent the program in dealings and collaboration with outside agencies, including congregations, schools, governmental agencies and community leaders.
Assist in preparation, facilitation and follow-up of staff, community and Policy Council meetings.
Administer ALSM’s Children’s Services program and provide a vision of ministry consistent with the ALSM corporate mission incorporating the philosophies and policies of existing programs/services for children and families.
Coordinate current ALSM Children’s Services programs to foster cooperation and provide a unified focus for services.
Make written and oral reports/recommendations to the CEO/President or others as necessary concerning the operation of the Children’s Services program.
Ensure implementation of all governmental statutes, regulations, transmittal notices, conditions, and memorandums pertaining to HS/EHS programs.
Prepare grant applications and obtain appropriate approvals prior to submission.
Develop and monitor an ongoing recordkeeping and monitoring system to ensure quality control of the total Children’s Services program, including program activities, personnel hiring and performance records, fiscal accountability and cost-effectiveness.
Develop and monitor the implementation of administrative and program policies and procedures that ensure efficient program operation and ensure compliance with all federal and state regulations, contractual terms, conditions and obligations.
Direct the development of program financial plans and budgets including all operating costs, in-kind, capital, and extraordinary expenditures.
Submit consolidated annual budgets to the ALSM Board of Trustees, Policy Council and funding sources for approval.
Assist in the development of Finance and Planning in implementing a fiscal accounting management system; monitor budget expenditures and budget revisions, property procurement and inventory control; work to resolve audit exceptions and implement management recommendations.
Create and maintain positive partnership with landlords and collaborative program locations (i.e., schools, churches).
Ensure all contracts, leases, agreements, liaison groups, etc. are updated in a timely manner.
Coordinate and facilitate organization of the Children’s Services program outcomes tracking, measurement and analysis, including MIS, Service Delivery and Planning Committees.
Monitor appropriate utilization of the facilities, materials and equipment of the program.
Develop component meeting agenda and facilitate the meetings.
Identify and correct problem areas and/or the improvement of services.