Head Start Center Director

Innovative Network of Knowledge•Monroe, LA

About The Position

It's a great feeling to work for a company that does so much good for others around the world! Innovative Network of Knowledge (INK) is an educational nonprofit that specializes in finding and developing solutions to problems faced by teachers, administrators, parents and students in the educational community. Our Services INK provides a variety of comprehensive early childhood education and family support services thanks to strong partnerships with school districts, innovative and fun curriculums, and passionate staff dedicated to learning and academic success. Services for children and families include: • Preschool • Individualized teaching • Degreed teachers • Bilingual services • Social services • Parent trainings • Meals and snacks • Disability services • Dental exams • Mental wellness • Health services • Field trips If you like to work with people that believe they can make a difference in the world, this is the company for you!

Requirements

Required - High School diploma, GED, or equivalency.
Ability to obtain State Center Director certification within the first three weeks of employment.
Applicant will be required to complete a Child Development Certificate (CDA) in the age group that is most prevalent in the center they will lead. If items (1) and (2) are not successfully completed on the first attempt, the employee may choose to retake the course at the employee's expense within 60 days of the unsuccessful completion of the course. If the employee does not seek a second attempt for successful completion of the certificate, the employee will be separated from employment.
Required - Experience in supervision of staff in a licensed childcare center or a licensed childcare home.
Leadership skills evident through professional presence and reinforcement of agency mission, vision, and culture to encourage passion, engagement, and accountability among center staff.
Courtesy and sensitivity when dealing with center staff, children, and parents, including effective management of difficult or emotional child and/or parent situations.
Strong people acumen, knowledge of human resources policy requirements, and personnel management strategies.
Ability to organize and prioritize duties and responsibilities in a fast-paced environment.
Ability to work independently in a flexible schedule including nights, holidays, and weekends.
Sensitivity to the service population’s cultural and socio-economic characteristics.
Familiarity with applicable state and federal Head Start regulations, performance standards and guidelines.
Ability to work independently.
Possess a valid driver’s license
Complete and pass health examination
Confirm work eligibility status
Successfully pass driving history check
Clear criminal background check
Required to lift up to 60 pounds.
Required to stand, sit on the floor, bend, squat, kneel, lift children, and engage with children.
Exposure to communicable diseases, and other hazards such as cigarette smoke, pets, at risk neighborhoods, etc.
Travel up to 50% by car, bus, airplane, or train may also be required associated with attendance at conferences, meetings and other duties carried out at distant locations in and out of state and in some cases where some overnight travel may be required.
Some evenings and weekend work may occasionally be required for events such as home visits, parent teacher conferences, Parent Committee meetings, community, and social events such as field trips.

Nice To Haves

Associate’s degree is preferred.
Experience in early childhood programs is preferred.

Responsibilities

Ensure staff, consultants, contractors, and volunteers protect the physical and mental health and safety of our children and no child is left alone or unsupervised while under our care in your facility. (HSPPS §1302.90)
Hire, train, manage, and evaluate program personnel to support individual staff professional development and continuous program quality improvement. (HSPPS §1302.101)
Manage the delivery of high-quality program services that comply with state and federal standards through implementation, monitoring, and feedback of program policies and procedures. (HSPPS §1302.100)
Monitor compliance of recordkeeping systems for all physical and electronic program files (e.g., personnel, client, accounting, and incident records), including compliance with confidentiality. (HSPPS §1302.101)
Ensure center staff (including contractors) follow appropriate practices to keep children safe during all activities, including reporting at a minimum suspected or known child abuse and neglect, appropriate supervision of children at all times, and all standards of conduct. (HSPPS §1302.47,§1302.90)
Track and monitor child outcomes and quality assessment results on a center-wide basis, including compliance with positive adult-child interactions as measured by the CLASS: Pre-K instrument. (HSPPS§1304.16)
Support staff development, including completion of minimum training requirements as specified in state and federal standards (HSPPS §1302.92), continuing professional development, and staff wellness initiatives.
Monitor and address attendance for each assigned child, to include direct contact with parents and intensive case management. (HSPPS §1302.16)
Engage families in a partnership that identifies needs, interests, strengths, goals, and services and resources that support family well-being, including safety, health, and economic stability. (HSPPS §1302.50, 1302.51)
Meet with families to establish Family Service Plans (FSP) and review individual progress, evaluate/revise goals, and provide resource referrals based on the urgency and intensity of identified needs and goals as applicable. (HSPPS §1302.52, 1302.53)
Coordinate new and existing community referrals to maximize resources and avoid duplication of effort or services as applicable. (HSPPS §1302.52, 1302.53)
Ensure physical and electronic child files are current and organized.
Monitor facility to be certain it is free from physical and environmental hazards.
Report incidents within the timeframes designated in program policy and protocol.
Establish weekly staff meetings to ensure effective command, control, and coordination.
Prepare and submit reports prior to deadlines.
Provide timely communication as the first point of contact for the Head Start center for center personnel, support staff, families, and community partners.
Analyze program, financial, and child data and make program development recommendations to program leadership team.
Participate in program efforts and events designed to actively inform, recruit, and engage families with eligible and/or enrolled children in the service area.
Ensure teachers understand, generate and document in-kind contributions from parents and others and other allowable costs applied toward the non-federal share requirement.
Support development of grant applications, budgets, and required reports in accordance with INK and Office of Head Start timelines and criteria for composition.
Perform other job duties as assigned.