Early Childhood & Specialty Services Manager

Home Of Guiding Hands Corporation•El Cajon, CA

About The Position

Join Home of Guiding Hands in improving the lives of children and families through high-quality early intervention and specialty services. The Early Childhood & Specialty Services Manager provides operational and strategic leadership across Early Childhood Education (ECE), Early Start Therapies (EST), Infant Development Assessments (IDA), Life Planning, and Counseling services. This role is accountable for divisional performance, including service utilization, access to care, financial outcomes, and regulatory compliance. The Manager leads through program supervisors and clinical staff to ensure efficient, scalable operations while maintaining high-quality, person-centered services. This role owns divisional scorecards, drives performance through data, and ensures systems are in place to support sustainable growth and strong operational execution. This position is ideal for a leader who can translate strategy into execution, build accountability across teams, and drive measurable results.

Requirements

Master’s Degree in Human Services, Early Childhood Education, Business Administration, or related field required
Minimum 5 years of experience in human services, early intervention, healthcare, or related field
Minimum 3 years of leadership experience, including supervision of managers or program leaders
Strong understanding of Regional Center systems, Early Start, and/or developmental disability services preferred
Demonstrated ability to manage program operations, budgets, and performance metrics
Strong analytical skills with ability to use data to drive decision-making and results
Experience leading teams, building accountability, and improving operational performance
Excellent communication and interpersonal skills
Highly organized with strong problem-solving and execution skills
Ability to balance strategic thinking with operational follow-through
Proficiency in Microsoft Office and program management systems
Must be 18 years of age or older at the time of hire
Must receive criminal record clearance from DOJ
Must have valid California Driver’s license, safe driving record, and have been licensed to drive at least 2 years
Must maintain current and adequate auto insurance

Nice To Haves

Strong understanding of Regional Center systems, Early Start, and/or developmental disability services preferred

Responsibilities

Own overall performance of Early Intervention & Specialty Services, including utilization, service access, financial outcomes, and compliance
Develop, monitor, and drive divisional scorecards aligned with organizational goals
Identify performance gaps and implement corrective actions to improve operational and financial results
Ensure programs are positioned for sustainable growth and scalability
Oversee operational performance across programs, ensuring timely service initiation, efficient workflows, and consistent service delivery
Ensure systems are in place to support referral flow, intake coordination, scheduling efficiency, and documentation compliance
Monitor key operational metrics such as caseload distribution, assessment turnaround time, and service timeliness
Remove barriers to service delivery and ensure programs maintain readiness to accept new referrals
Own divisional budget performance, including revenue, expenses, and margin
Monitor billing processes, authorization utilization, and service capture to ensure financial stability
Identify opportunities to improve financial performance through operational efficiencies and growth
Partner with Finance to ensure accurate forecasting, reporting, and revenue cycle management
Provide leadership, coaching, and accountability to direct reports, including Supervisor, IDA Manager, and specialty program staff
Ensure clear expectations, role clarity, and accountability at all levels of the organization
Support hiring, workforce planning, and staff development to meet program needs and growth goals
Foster a culture of accountability, collaboration, and continuous improvement
Drive referral growth and conversion across programs
Monitor and improve key growth metrics, including referral volume, conversion rate, and days from referral to service start
Support outreach and partnership efforts with Regional Centers and community stakeholders
Ensure programs maintain accessibility and responsiveness to community needs
Ensure all programs meet regulatory, contractual, and documentation requirements
Oversee documentation compliance, audit readiness, and billing accuracy across programs
Ensure appropriate oversight of clinical quality through Supervisors and licensed staff
Identify and mitigate operational and compliance risks
Use data and reporting tools to drive decision-making and continuous improvement
Ensure consistent use of systems for tracking referrals, service delivery, and program performance
Run effective L10 meetings and ensure alignment with EOS practices