Program Lead

Catalyst Family•Redwood City, CA

About The Position

The Program Lead manages programmatic and staffing aspects of a licensed early care and education center, ensuring quality programming and alignment with Catalyst Family Inc.’s goals, mission, values, philosophy, and curriculum. The role oversees planning, implementation, assessment, reflection, and program requirements for school-age and/or infant/toddler children. The Program Lead coaches, mentors, observes, and provides feedback to teaching staff; ensures children receive quality interactions and are supervised in a safe, healthy environment; and works with the Center Manager/Site Supervisor on enrollment, attendance, purchasing, and community relationships. The role promotes cultural responsiveness and creates environments reflecting the backgrounds and experiences of children, families, and staff. The Program Lead is scheduled in ratio approximately 33% of the work week, depending on center needs, and manages a team of approximately 2–5 staff, depending on center size and enrollment. The Program Lead supports program quality, curriculum implementation, staff development and performance, family and community partnerships, regulatory compliance, and center business operations. They help assess and improve program quality, lead QRIS for infant/toddler programs, support child growth planning, and implement the agency’s Positive Behavior Approach. They also maintain compliance with licensing, funding, health, safety, nutrition, and agency requirements; support staffing and recruitment; and help maintain full enrollment and attendance. The position requires a high school diploma or GED and qualifying ECE coursework, an associate degree with specified ECE/CD and administration coursework, a bachelor’s degree with specified ECE/CD and administration coursework, or a Site Supervisor Permit or above. A Site Supervisor Permit or higher is preferred, or the candidate is expected to acquire a Site Supervisor Permit upon hire. Continuing education is required. The stated experience minimum is 2–3 years in an ECE/CD setting, including at least one year mentoring and leading adults or teaching staff. The schedule is Monday through Friday, an 8-hour shift between 7 a.m. and 6 p.m.

Requirements

High school diploma or GED and completion of 15 ECE units, including 3 units in administration or staff relations and core units; or an associate degree with 24 ECE/CD units, 6 administration units, and 2 adult-supervision units; or a bachelor’s degree with 12 ECE/CD units, 6 administration units, and 2 adult-supervision units; or a Site Supervisor Permit or above.
A Site Supervisor Permit or above is expected upon hire if the candidate does not already have one; the permit or above is preferred.
Continuing education to meet professional growth standards is required.
2–3 years of experience in an ECE/CD setting.
At least 1 year of experience mentoring and leading adults or teaching staff.
Ability to complete Child Care Center Part II Orientation Certificate and Mandated Reporter training.
Ability to pass criminal record clearance, health screening, and TB test, and have updated immunizations.
Knowledge of and appreciation for the impact of culture on children’s development; understanding of diversity, cultural sensitivity, and inclusivity.
Ability to provide strategic approaches and assist with implementation.
Strong interpersonal skills, including listening, receiving feedback, and providing constructive feedback to peers and staff.
High initiative, motivation, and direction.
Ability to interact with children in a manner consistent with Catalyst Family Inc.’s philosophy.
Knowledge of agency philosophy, curriculum standards, and Developmentally Appropriate Practices, and ability to implement and model consistent program practices and standards.
Ability to partner appropriately with the community and internal departments.
Ability to stay abreast of research and theories in early childhood education and youth fields.
Demonstrated ability to manage staff, coach, and mentor.
Effective customer service and leadership skills, with a commitment to continuous improvement.
Strategic thinking and planning, interpersonal and team communication, and effective program quality, implementation, and people management.
Ability to track and follow a budget.
Team-player mentality.

Nice To Haves

Working knowledge of staffing and marketing communication.
Proficiency in a second language.

Responsibilities

Communicate Catalyst Family Inc.’s vision, mission, philosophy, and curriculum approaches to staff, parents, school personnel, community members, and government agencies as needed.
Ensure documented learning processes—from observations and anecdotes through lesson plans, documentation, assessments, and reviews—align with the agency’s mission, values, philosophy, and position statements.
Share program information and assessment results, and support, mentor, and role-model teachers in creating, implementing, and evaluating center action plans.
Collaborate with center staff to provide enriched indoor and outdoor environments that meet children’s diverse and cultural needs and interests and draw on staff, family, and community expertise.
Maintain safe, clean, well-maintained environments that meet agency and industry standards.
Assess program quality, curriculum implementation, health and safety, and licensing standards, and take steps to continuously improve and meet or exceed external requirements.
Fully participate in and lead QRIS for infant/toddler programs.
Use staff observations and program assessment tools to work with staff on child growth plans.
Partner with center leadership and staff to follow the Positive Behavior Approach and protocol with families and support agreed-upon strategies.
Work in ratio approximately 33% of the work week, depending on center needs.
Manage a center team of approximately 2–5 staff, proactively manage performance, and provide regular coaching, support, and feedback.
Conduct annual performance reviews on time and provide regular feedback.
Facilitate participatory team meetings that foster ownership of expected outcomes.
Observe staff interactions, planned activities, and learning environments and provide immediate, useful feedback; mentor and model practices in classrooms.
Train and mentor teaching staff, review weekly lesson plans, observe curriculum implementation, and provide constructive feedback on age-appropriate activities supporting child development.
Orient and integrate new staff, communicate job expectations, and support staff retention.
Communicate the agency’s mission and philosophy and ensure center behavior and outcomes are consistent with agency values.
Partner with staff to develop professional growth plans, support continuous development, align individual and team goals with agency goals, and hold staff accountable to performance expectations.
Co-develop and implement corrective action plans when needed.
Pursue ongoing learning in child and youth development, curriculum, program implementation, and leadership; attend relevant training and share practices with stakeholders.
Advocate for, communicate, and implement organizational changes in practices, systems, and processes; nurture team spirit and morale; and mentor internal candidates.
Encourage staff to recruit, promote the employee referral program, and help recruit through relationships with families, schools, and communities.
Build authentic, reciprocal, culturally responsive relationships with children, youth, families, schools, communities, and center teams, and provide excellent customer service.
Partner with the Center Manager/Site Supervisor and staff to organize and support a parent advisory committee.
Represent the agency in local and school community activities, including PBIS meetings, IEP meetings, and PTO events.
Assess community needs, involve the community in planning, and adjust programs and services accordingly.
Partner with families through an open-door policy, ongoing two-way communication about activities and child progress, shared decision-making, problem-solving, and responses to questions and concerns.
Provide families with ongoing information, parent education, and requested community resources; participate in local, regional, and statewide advocacy for children and families.
Maintain compliance with agency policies and procedures and protect agency assets and resources.
Ensure center operations meet or exceed state licensing regulations, funding terms and conditions, Desired Results requirements, health, safety, nutrition requirements, and agency policies and quality tools.
Ensure staff schedules meet required adult-to-child ratios.
Forecast staffing needs and partner with Recruiting on interviews and hiring.
Partner with the Center Manager/Site Supervisor on classroom and center staffing schedules and purchasing, as appropriate.
Maintain full enrollment and attendance and earn all ADE as determined by the center leadership team.
Identify ways to improve center performance, support enrollment and marketing, and follow budget and purchasing guidelines.