VP of Head Start

Family & Children's Place•Louisville, KY

4d•$90,000 - $110,000

About The Position

Family & Children’s Place is seeking an experienced and collaborative Vice President of Head Start to provide strategic and operational leadership for its Head Start, Early Head Start, and early childhood education programs. The Vice President is responsible for program quality, compliance, performance, and sustainability, and leads a team of directors, managers, and program professionals. The role works with organizational leadership, Finance, Human Resources, the Board of Directors, Policy Council, community partners, and other stakeholders to promote high-quality services and positive outcomes for children and families. The role oversees strategic planning, program administration, compliance with Head Start standards and grant requirements, fiscal and grant oversight, staff development, continuous quality improvement, and community partnerships. The Vice President supervises designated program leaders and managers, monitors program outcomes and performance data, and leads program self-assessment and community needs assessment activities. Local travel between FCP locations, Head Start centers, partner sites, and community meetings may be needed.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in early childhood education, social work, human services, public administration, nonprofit management, or a related field.
At least five years of progressively responsible leadership experience in Head Start/Early Head Start, early childhood education, human services, or a related program environment.
Experience supervising and developing staff.
Demonstrated experience with program administration, budget and fiscal oversight, regulatory or grant compliance, and continuous quality improvement.
Demonstrated ability to use program and performance data to evaluate outcomes, identify areas for improvement, and support strategic decision-making.
Strong leadership, communication, relationship-building, and organizational skills.
Ability to travel locally between FCP locations, Head Start centers, partner sites, and community meetings as needed.

Nice To Haves

Master’s degree.
Experience with Head Start/Early Head Start programs and Head Start Program Performance Standards.
Experience leading or overseeing childcare, preschool, early childhood education, and/or home visiting services for children and families from diverse backgrounds.

Responsibilities

Provide strategic and operational leadership for Head Start, Early Head Start, and early childhood education programs, aligning them with the organization’s mission and priorities.
Set program goals, priorities, and performance expectations and ensure accountability for results.
Lead short- and long-range planning for program quality, sustainability, growth, and responsiveness to community needs.
Collaborate with organizational leadership on planning, workforce needs, budgeting, risk management, and initiatives affecting Head Start and early childhood services.
Work with the Board of Directors and Board committees as assigned by the President/CEO.
Ensure services comply with Head Start Program Performance Standards, grant requirements, applicable laws and regulations, contractual requirements, and organizational policies.
Ensure required reports and information are accurately prepared and provided to the Governing Body, Policy Council, Regional Office, and applicable agencies.
Lead preparation for federal monitoring reviews, audits, and external reviews, and ensure timely corrective action.
Maintain systems to monitor compliance, identify risk, and support consistent implementation of program requirements.
Partner with the VP of Finance and fiscal team to develop, manage, monitor, and report on program budgets.
Monitor expenditures, non-federal share requirements, funded enrollment, and other grant requirements.
Review financial, enrollment, and program data to evaluate performance and identify issues requiring attention or corrective action.
Participate in grant planning, continuation applications, and other funding activities.
Supervise, coach, develop, and manage performance for the Head Start Associate Director, Head Start Academy Director, Home Visiting Manager, Education Services Manager, and CQI Program Specialist.
Lead through directors and managers to establish expectations, accountability, collaboration, and consistent implementation of priorities.
Build leadership capacity and promote professional development across the Head Start program.
Partner with Human Resources on recruitment, retention, performance management, employee development, compensation, and other workforce practices.
Oversee program monitoring, evaluation, and continuous quality improvement systems.
Monitor indicators and outcomes such as enrollment, attendance, school readiness, child and family outcomes, service quality, and other applicable performance measures.
Use data and performance trends to identify strengths, address gaps, set improvement priorities, and guide decisions.
Lead program self-assessment and community needs assessment activities and incorporate findings into program planning.
Oversee recruitment, enrollment, attendance, and retention strategies to achieve and maintain funded enrollment.
Develop and maintain relationships with community organizations, childcare providers, schools, JCPS, and other partners serving children and families.
Represent FCP and its Head Start programs with community partners, funders, regulatory entities, and other stakeholders.
Identify collaboration opportunities that strengthen services, increase resources, and improve outcomes for children and families.
Travel locally between FCP locations, Head Start centers, partner sites, and community meetings as needed.