Director of Early Learning Programs

You Thrive Florida•Brooksville, FL

2d•$105,000 - $115,000

About The Position

Provides strategic leadership, operational direction, and fiscal oversight for Head Start, Early Head Start, and other assigned early learning programs. Establishes and implements priorities that advance the agency’s mission, respond to community needs, strengthen organizational performance, and support positive outcomes for children and families. Directs program operations through supervisors, managers, and staff, while fostering a collaborative, accountable, high-performing culture. Leads strategic planning, grant writing and administration, budget development and monitoring, and continuous quality improvement. Works with the Chief Administrative Officer (CAO), executive leadership, fiscal staff, Policy Council, Governing Board, and community partners to maintain program quality, meet applicable requirements, and promote financial and operational sustainability. Oversees data-informed instructional improvement, including progress monitoring and identification of classroom instruction weaknesses. Aligns professional development, coaching, and technical assistance with identified needs, and holds program leaders accountable for monitoring implementation and evaluating the effects of these supports on teaching practices and child outcomes. The primary location is early learning facilities in Hernando, Sumter, and/or Volusia counties, with occasional travel to other counties required.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university in education, early childhood education, public administration, business administration, or a related field.
Three to five years of progressively responsible experience in program administration and supervision or management.
Demonstrated experience developing and implementing program plans and supervising staff.
Experience in grant writing, including preparing narratives, coordinating application materials, developing budget justifications, and meeting submission deadlines.
Experience developing and monitoring program budgets, analyzing financial reports, and recommending adjustments to maintain fiscal stability.
Experience administering grants or contracts and coordinating reporting, monitoring, and compliance activities.
Experience leading progress monitoring using classroom observations, child assessment results, and other instructional data to identify weaknesses and guide improvement.
Experience developing, coordinating, and evaluating professional development, coaching, or technical assistance aligned with classroom instructional needs.
Valid Florida driver’s license and ability to be insured under the company’s current auto insurance policy.
Ability to satisfy applicable federal, state, local, and agency background screening and clearance requirements for work involving children.
Ability to work with limited direction and knowledge of community resources, budgeting, and organizational methods.
Strong accuracy, decision-making, crisis-response, oral communication, and written communication skills.
Ability to translate organizational priorities into actionable plans, measurable objectives, and accountable work assignments.
Ability to assess operational challenges, evaluate alternatives, make timely decisions, lead organizational change, and balance immediate needs with long-term quality and sustainability.
Strong persuasive, technical, and analytical writing skills; ability to interpret funding announcements, application instructions, award conditions, and reporting requirements.
Ability to develop proposals connecting documented needs, proposed activities, measurable outcomes, and budget requests.
Knowledge of program budgeting, financial forecasting, expenditure monitoring, budget variance analysis, grant fiscal controls, procurement, contract administration, and cost allocation.
Ability to interpret financial reports and explain fiscal information to nonfinancial audiences.
Knowledge of applicable Head Start, early education, and child care requirements and operating practices.
Ability to develop policies, procedures, and systems supporting consistent implementation and accountability.
Ability to exercise sound judgment, maintain confidentiality, and respond effectively to sensitive or urgent situations.
Ability to analyze quantitative and qualitative information and prepare accurate management reports.
Strong supervisory, interpersonal, public speaking, negotiation, and conflict-resolution skills.
Ability to establish effective working relationships with staff, families, governance bodies, funders, and community partners.
Proficiency with word processing, spreadsheets, presentation software, and relevant program management systems.
Ability to interpret classroom observation findings and child progress data to identify instructional patterns, performance gaps, and professional development priorities.
Ability to distinguish training needs from implementation challenges and other factors contributing to classroom instruction weaknesses.
Ability to translate monitoring findings into targeted training plans with measurable objectives, implementation expectations, and follow-up evaluation.
Ability to provide constructive, evidence-based feedback and guide managers and instructional leaders in supporting sustained improvement in teaching practices.
Ability to meet the position’s physical requirements, including frequent sitting or standing, use of fingers, arms, hands, legs, and voice; correctable eyesight and hearing; frequent walking, driving, bending, reaching, handling, grasping, squatting, and lifting or carrying up to 15 pounds; and occasional pushing, pulling, kneeling, balancing, turning, feeling, and lifting or carrying up to 30 pounds.

Nice To Haves

Master’s degree in a related field.
Five or more years of progressively responsible program administration and supervision or management experience.
Leadership experience in Head Start, Early Head Start, early childhood education, or public school administration.
Experience managing programs supported by multiple funding sources.
A record of successful grant submissions, renewals, or funding expansions.
Experience working with governing boards, policy councils, funding agencies, and community partners.
Experience leading strategic planning, organizational change, or measurable program improvement.

Responsibilities

Provide strategic leadership and operational oversight for Head Start, Early Head Start, and other assigned early learning programs.
Develop, implement, and evaluate strategic plans, translating priorities into measurable objectives, operational plans, timelines, and assigned responsibilities.
Use community assessments, program data, family feedback, monitoring findings, and financial information to guide planning, resource allocation, and continuous improvement.
Anticipate changes in funding, enrollment, workforce availability, community needs, and regulations; develop contingency plans and recommend strategies for program quality and sustainability.
Evaluate proposed program changes, service expansions, and partnerships for strategic alignment, feasibility, financial impact, and sustainability.
Direct operations through supervisors, managers, and staff; set expectations and hold personnel accountable for service quality, compliance, and results.
Recruit, supervise, coach, and evaluate assigned staff; address performance concerns and build leadership capacity through development, delegation, and succession planning.
Ensure programs comply with applicable federal, state, and local requirements, Head Start Program Performance Standards, grant and contract conditions, and agency policies.
Develop, implement, and review program policies, procedures, and management systems that support consistent operations and internal controls.
Oversee ongoing monitoring, community assessment, self-assessment, and continuous quality improvement, ensuring deficiencies receive timely corrective action and follow-up.
Lead progress monitoring using classroom observations, child assessment results, instructional implementation data, and other relevant information.
Work with education managers, supervisors, and instructional coaches to identify instructional strengths and weaknesses and prioritize improvements.
Establish measurable instructional improvement goals, timelines, and follow-up expectations; monitor progress and direct adjustments when results fall short.
Align professional development, coaching, and technical assistance with instructional needs identified through observations, child progress data, staff assessments, and program reviews.
Ensure training addresses specific instructional practices, provides opportunities for application and follow-up, and is differentiated to staff needs and program priorities.
Evaluate training and coaching effectiveness through observations, evidence of classroom practice changes, and review of children’s progress; hold instructional leaders accountable for sustained improvement.
Identify and evaluate funding opportunities aligned with community needs, strategic priorities, organizational capacity, and financial sustainability.
Lead development, writing, and submission of grant applications, continuation applications, competitive proposals, supplemental funding requests, carryover funds, and amendments.
Develop grant narratives, statements of need, measurable objectives, implementation plans, evaluation approaches, and supporting documentation with stakeholders.
Coordinate grant schedules, staff contributions, reviews, and approvals to ensure complete, accurate, timely submissions and achievable commitments.
Collaborate with fiscal staff and program managers on grant budgets and justifications that reflect proposed activities, staffing, service costs, and funding requirements.
Oversee grant implementation and reporting, monitor funded objectives, coordinate modifications and approvals, and maintain documentation for monitoring, audits, and future applications.
Lead annual program budget development and multiyear financial planning with fiscal staff, program managers, and executive leadership.
Review financial reports, analyze budget-to-actual variances, forecast year-end results, and recommend corrective actions.
Evaluate financial implications of staffing, compensation, enrollment, service models, contracts, and major purchases; recommend resource allocations that balance quality, efficiency, and sustainability.
Monitor allowable expenditures, funding restrictions, matching or nonfederal share requirements, cost allocation, procurement practices, and adherence to approved budgets with fiscal staff.
Review contracts and agreements for programmatic alignment, financial impact, deliverables, and performance expectations; coordinate approvals and support audits, fiscal reviews, and corrective action plans.
Support an effective Policy Council and collaborate with the Governing Board and executive leadership on governance responsibilities, including review of policies, plans, budgets, and funding applications.
Prepare and present programmatic and financial reports on performance trends, instructional improvement, risks, resource needs, and recommendations.
Build relationships with funding agencies, community organizations, governmental entities, and other partners to strengthen services, coordinate resources, and advance program priorities.
Represent the agency at public meetings, community events, early learning coalitions, and other forums; coordinate communications, public relations, and negotiations within delegated authority.
Promote meaningful parent and family engagement, advocate for children and families, and coordinate training and presentations for staff, parents, governance members, and community stakeholders.
Review safety practices, incidents, and loss trends and direct appropriate corrective actions and follow-up.
Maintain confidentiality of child, family, employee, and agency information and handle sensitive records and communications according to requirements and agency policies.
Follow You Thrive Florida, Head Start, federal, state, and local policies, procedures, regulations, laws, standards, notices, and administrative directions.
Perform additional duties as directed or assigned by a supervisor, CEO, or other executive-level staff, provided they do not conflict with the CAO’s directives.