Director of Early Learning & Community Health

UMATILLA-MORROW COUNTY HEAD START INC•Hermiston, OR

3d•$108,900 - $119,320

About The Position

The Director of Early Learning and Community Health provides strategic and operational leadership for Child Care Resource & Referral (CCR&R), Every Child Belongs (ECB), Women, Infants, and Children (WIC), and UMHS’s fiscal backbone and employer-of-record responsibilities for the Eastern Oregon Health Equity Alliance (EOHEA) Regional Health Equity Coalition (RHEC). The Director supervises program managers and assigned staff, oversees program work plans, contract performance and budgets in partnership with Finance, and strengthens coordination across early learning and community health services. The Director serves as UMHS’s primary liaison and strategic partner to the Blue Mountain Early Learning Hub, working with IMESD, Hub leadership, and community partners. The role represents UMHS in regional planning, coordinates UMHS’s agreed contributions to shared initiatives such as Upstream, and supports connections among early learning, nutrition, health, and family services. For EOHEA/RHEC, the Director coordinates UMHS’s fiscal-backbone and employment responsibilities and supports coalition staff and administrative needs while respecting the coalition decision-making body’s authority over its priorities and agenda. The position also represents UMHS at state and local meetings, contributes to the agency’s five-year strategic plan, builds relationships with funders and community partners, uses data and community feedback to guide improvement, and supports workforce development and professional training. The role requires a bachelor’s degree in a relevant field and at least five years of professional leadership, management, and supervisory experience in early learning, community health, or family and community services. Work is normally performed in a typical interior office environment, with occasional travel and physical tasks described in the posting.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Early Childhood Education, Child Development, Public Health, Community Health, Nutrition, Social Work, Social Sciences, Public Administration, Nonprofit Management, or a closely related field.
At least five years of professional leadership, management, and supervisory experience in early learning, community health, or family and community services, including staff supervision, grant and budget oversight, and community partnerships.
Strong knowledge of theories and practices of Early Childhood Education/Development and Family/Social Services.
Ability to build positive working relationships, collaborate, and lead teams toward shared goals.
Familiarity with data analytics and systems used for measuring performance.
Experience designing and delivering training, or ability to coordinate and/or conduct training sessions.
Demonstrated ability to deliver culturally competent services and work effectively in multicultural situations, with commitment to recruiting and retaining a diverse workforce.
Ability to review program financial information, identify funding needs, and collaborate with Finance and program managers on budgets and spending decisions.
Ability to work within UMHS’s mission, goals, and service objectives while honoring local community context.
Adequate means of transportation; ability to drive a private or agency vehicle and possess a valid driver’s license and personal automobile, or provide a plan that fulfills position requirements. DMV record check will be conducted before hire.
Ability to establish relationships of trust and respect with staff, families, children, and community members.
Experience submitting successful grants and contracts.
Desire to work with low-income children and their families.
Current enrollment in the Child Care Division’s Central Background Registry.
Current physical examination, drug screen, and TB screen documentation prior to hire.
Ability to communicate effectively with staff, families, children, and the public by telephone and in face-to-face, one-to-one, and group settings.
Fluent in spoken and written English.
Ability to meet the physical demands described, including prolonged sitting and computer use, repetitive arm and hand movements, occasional filing, standing, walking and reaching, and occasional lifting or moving of up to 50 pounds.
Ability to drive as required and meet the stated physical and work-environment requirements, with reasonable accommodations available for qualified individuals with disabilities.

Nice To Haves

Experience in management or administration balancing regulatory requirements and budget constraints while responding to community needs.
Experience working with rural communities.
Experience ensuring grant and contract performance standards are met.
Multilingual ability or multicultural experience.
Community service experience.

Responsibilities

Provide leadership, supervision, coaching, and performance evaluation for program managers and assigned staff; set expectations and support professional growth.
Develop annual program work plans with managers and monitor goals, staffing capacity, outcomes, deadlines, and corrective actions.
Oversee grant and contract performance, service goals, reporting, deliverables, and program documentation; coordinate with Finance on fiscal compliance, forecasts, budgets, and audits.
Provide program priorities, staffing needs, service projections, and program-related spending concerns to support budget development and adjustments with Finance and program managers.
Maintain operating procedures, reporting calendars, and desk manuals; track complaints and concerns and coordinate their resolution.
Keep the CEO informed of program progress, staffing needs, funding concerns, and issues requiring organizational action.
Oversee CCR&R services through the CCR&R Manager, including provider recruitment, training, coaching, technical assistance, quality improvement, workforce development, and access in rural and underserved communities.
Coordinate CCR&R with the Professional Development Committee, licensing staff, Early Learning Hubs, 211info, community partners, and ECB; support the Grow Your Own initiative and ECE pathways.
Monitor CCR&R performance, contract deliverables, financial information, program needs, staffing priorities, spending concerns, cost allocations, and match requirements in coordination with Finance.
Oversee ECB regional access to infant and early childhood mental health consultation and supports that prevent suspension and expulsion.
Coordinate ECB Connect requests, response plans, referral pathways, partner roles, memoranda of understanding, consultant workforce support, implementation plans, service data, quality improvement, reports, and contract deliverables.
Promote timely, equitable, culturally responsive, trauma-informed ECB services and coordinate ECB with CCR&R, providers, and regional partners.
Provide administrative and program oversight of WIC in partnership with the WIC Manager; monitor clinic access, staffing, caseload performance, and service barriers.
Ensure implementation of WIC’s Nutrition Services Plan and oversight of eligibility, certification, nutrition-risk assessment, eWIC benefits, breastfeeding support, referrals, reporting, confidentiality, records retention, monitoring, and corrective actions.
Strengthen WIC coordination with Head Start, home visiting, health partners, and community clinic sites; monitor applicable Farm Direct Nutrition Program requirements and other approved WIC-funded activities.
Serve as UMHS’s primary liaison and strategic partner to the Blue Mountain Early Learning Hub; represent UMHS in Hub meetings, advisory groups, workgroups, and regional planning.
Coordinate communication among Hub leadership, UMHS leadership, and program managers; lead UMHS’s agreed contributions to regional initiatives, including Upstream, and monitor activities, deliverables, timelines, and staff contributions.
Oversee UMHS’s fiscal-backbone and employer-of-record responsibilities for EOHEA/RHEC while respecting coalition authority over priorities and decision-making.
Serve as UMHS’s primary liaison to the coalition and OHA for assigned fiscal sponsor responsibilities; coordinate the coalition memorandum of understanding and required updates.
Coordinate recruitment and hiring with Human Resources and coalition representatives; provide onboarding, employment supervision, coaching, professional development, and performance support to two coalition staff members.
Participate in coalition meetings, document agreements and follow-up, support staffing and administrative processes, and coordinate with Finance, coalition leadership, and OHA as appropriate.
Represent UMHS at state and local meetings and contribute to the five-year strategic plan, assigned objectives, and weekly Senior Leadership Team meetings.
Build relationships with child care providers, health and education partners, public agencies, tribal partners, community organizations, and funders; support funding applications and program sustainability.
Strengthen referrals across UMHS services and use program data, family voice, provider feedback, and partner input to identify service gaps and guide improvements.
Promote culturally responsive services and support accessible communication and employment, payment, and administrative processes.
Participate in Grow Your Own and collaborate with Human Resources, professional development staff, and senior leadership on agency-wide training, career pathways, recruitment, evaluations, and workforce development.
Attend required meetings, staff gatherings, conferences, training, and workshops; maintain accurate records, confidentiality, professional standards, and timely reports.
Fulfill mandated reporter responsibilities, follow agency policies and safety standards, maintain respectful relationships, and perform other duties assigned by the supervisor.