Program Director - Childcare Partnership

Easterseals Southern California•Escondido, CA

About The Position

Easterseals is leading the way to full equity, inclusion and access through life-changing disability and community services. For more than 100 years, we have worked tirelessly with our partners to enhance quality of life and expand local access to healthcare, education and employment opportunities. Easterseals Southern California provides essential services and on-the-ground supports to more than 15,000 people each year—from early childhood programs for the critical first five years, to autism services, daily and independent living services for adults, employment programs, veterans’ services and more. Our public education, policy and advocacy initiatives positively shape perceptions and address the urgent and evolving needs of the one in four Americans with disabilities today. Together, we’re empowering people with disabilities, families and communities to be full and equal participants in society. Join us as we seek to be the most inclusive place for people with disabilities to live, learn, work & play easterseals.com/southerncal Starting Pay Range: 85k - 97k/yr OVERVIEW OF POSITION: Accountable for the EHS CC Partnership agencies to be in full compliance with allCalifornia and Federal regulatory requirements. Responsible for buildinga culture that embraces compliance and data informed analytics as the basis forinforming continuous quality improvements. Manages the contract processand delivery of subcontracted services. Develops short and long termplans and serves on the leadership team lead by the Area Director for North SanDiego County. Provides direction of day-to-day operations for thecontracted agencies.

Requirements

Bachelor’s Degree in Early Childhood Education or related field, and possession of a valid Site Supervisor Permit or higher from the State of California.
Possession of pediatric (infant/toddler) CPR, First Aid and Food Handler certificate.
5+ years of experience with progressive responsibility in early childhood education program management and services, with at least 2 years’ supervisory experience.
Successful experience in quality assurance, contract management and gap analysis with the ability to target training and professional development to assure a highly qualified teaching staff.
Knowledge of program standards and guidelines of the California Department of Education, Funding terms and conditions (Title 5), Child Development Division, Department of Social Services, Community Care Licensing (Title 22), ESSC and of Early Head Start Performance Standards.
Ability to exercise sound judgement, establish and meet timelines; plan, coordinate and implement school site programs.
Resource development; ability to continuously develop contract partners; develop community partners to assure families have the resources they need to be successful in achieving their goals.
Demonstrated professional leadership in working with all levels of management (Managers, Supervisors, Directors, CEOs); leadership and expertise in early childhood education and family supports.
Experience teaching young children; education and specialized knowledge required to understand quality early childhood education and family supports.
Thorough knowledge of Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, etc.) and other related computer software.
Ability to stand for extended periods.
Ability to lift 40lbs.
Ability to reach, bend, stoop, squat. Also possess fine manual dexterity, can push, pull, talk/hear, with near and far visual acuity/depth perception/color vision/field of vision.
Ability to pass post-offer medical examination and test for tuberculosis.
Ability to obtain fingerprint clearance per Easterseals Southern California and/or program requirements.
Ability to travel locally, maintain driving record in compliance with Transportation Safety Standards, and have current driver’s license, proper auto insurance and vehicle registration.

Nice To Haves

Master’s Degree in related field preferred.

Responsibilities

Ensures sustaining of high quality child care program to families, through partnerships with contracted agencies; ensures compliance by each partnership agency in contractual, program, administrative and safety aspects.
Planns, facilitates and executes continuous quality improvement principles for the EHS partners and contractors.
Conducts quality assurance reviews and audits, program evaluations, by monitoring processes bi-weekly; reports results to Area Director proposing specific corrective actions to challenges discovered.
Documents weekly monitoring findings in ChildPlus, analyzing data, identifying trends and producing reports. Adheres to the ESSC monitoring policy and procedure.
Ensures CCP on-going compliance of regulations from Department of Education, Community Care Licensing, Office of Head Start., ERSEA, Safety, Health and Nutrition, Mental Health and Disabilities, Education, Fiscal, Family and Community.
Works closely and in coordination with executive, administrative, and center based partner’s staff and with ESSC content area specialists to align partner’s program planning, implementation, and evaluation with ESSC guidelines, philosophy, developmental practices, and regulatory compliance from funding sources.
Participates in all contracted child care partnerships events.
Primary point of contact and liaision with contracted partners; troubleshoots and resolves concerns, escalates them to CDS leadership when appropriate, engaging until resolution.
Provides support for staff, child care partnership agencies, funders, and participants; to assure Early Head Start (EHS) requirements for education are being completed by CCP.
Provides supervision, training, and direction to Family Support Worker associates to ensure compliance with program guidelines for all content areas. Additionally, provides oversight for supply equipment purchasing for Early Head Start Partnership program within budgetary constraints.
Participates in writing the Early Head Start grant goals, refunding applications, and the annual continuation of funding application in conjunction with the Area Director, management staff, policy council, parents and staff; and performs other related duties including monthly budget management.
Participates in the creation and implementation of the ESSC School Readiness goals, with focus on ensuring quality educational outcomes.
Accountable for educational progress of all the children served within the partnership contracts.
Serves as primary point of contact and liaison with participants assigned to a CCP when they have a concern and/or grievance. Responds promptly and appropriately to parent concerns, involving teachers, administrators, families or external support personnel, when needed.
Coordinates the parent involvement component of the Early Head Start Partnership program; conducts annual Self-Assessment of the program and Community Needs Assessment to identify unmet needs, making recommendations to address changing community needs; ensures the organization of partner activities are in line with the Parent Engagement Framework and ESSC CDC parent/family goals.
Plans and formulates goals, objectives, policies, performance standards and activities designed to increase parent involvement; supports and encourages parent participation in all Head Start and Early Head Start activities; regularly monitors, tracks, assesses, analyzes and evaluates parent involvement activities; serves as an advocate for parent involvement in the Early Head Start Partnership program and community; collects in-kind and ensures the program reaches its annual quota. Monitors parent involvement budget.
Ensures all Performance Improvement Report (PIR) questions related to Family Services/Engagement are accurately reflected in ChildPlus.
Qualifies new potential partners for program development and future program expansion; collaborates with fellow administration to establish contractual requirements for new partner agreements; obtains Area Director approval and signature for new partners.
Provides recommendations regarding Child Care Partner retention, auditing and vetting processes.
Continually seeks ways to promote an early childhood program by both bringing professionals to a variety of forums and being actively present in the external early childhood community.
Provides expert insight and advises on CCP business plan and development strategy to CDS leadership and stakeholders; based on changing community needs discovered, unmet needs, trends identified, partners performance, foreseen opportunities and first hand CCP operational expertise.
Evaluates contracted capacity to identify need to expand services with current and/or new partners; leading and engaging in all the associated efforts with all parties involved, in order to increase service or service areas.
Other duties that require the associates’ expertise, knowledge or ability.