Deputy Director of Early Childhood Programming

Executive Headquarters (117 West 124th St)

$110,000 -$135,000 / year

Position Summary:

The Deputy Director of Early Childhood Programming will work closely with the Vice President of Early Childhood to provide strategic oversight across all sites. Responsibilities include supervising Education Coaches, Home-Based Education Coordinators, Education Leaders, and Curriculum Specialists. The Deputy Director of Early Childhood Programming will also oversee curriculum implementation, for children aged 0-5 to ensure a successful transition into Kindergarten. Additionally, the Deputy Director of Early Childhood Programming will lead efforts to prepare all children and families for educational success, ensuring compliance with Head Start Performance Standards and funding regulations fostering a culture of continuous improvement and collaboration across the Division.

Essential Duties:

With the support of the Vice President of Early Childhood, the Deputy Director of Early Childhood Programming works across all sites to ensure the following:

Strategic Oversight

• Understand and promote the organization's Mission, Vision, and Core Values to ensure alignment with organizational policies and procedures.
• Provide leadership and supervision to the Education Coach, Home-Based Education Coordinator, Education Leaders, and Curriculum Specialists.
• Oversee and direct curriculum implementation, policies/procedures, and tools across the 0-5 continuum to ensure all children transition out of our early childhood programs Kindergarten-ready.
• Continuously monitor and improve the Division's Education System.
• Keep Children's Aid's Executive Staff, the Policy Council, and the Head Start Board Committee informed on educational progress over the course of each program year.
• Responsibly manage Central training budgets.
• Develop and implement strategic initiatives to enhance program quality and effectiveness.
• Ensure alignment of program goals with organizational objectives and community needs.
• Lead the development and execution of comprehensive professional development plans for staff.
• Foster a culture of excellence and accountability through regular performance evaluations and feedback.

Curriculum & Instruction

• Oversee and direct curriculum implementation, policies/procedures, and tools across the 0-5 continuum to ensure all children transition out of our early childhood programs Kindergarten-ready.
• Build a culture across sites that develops and maintains high-quality, safe, and nurturing environments where children develop trusting and accepting relationships with adults and peers that foster growth and development.
• Work with Education Leaders to implement the child assessment system reliably, including understanding child outcomes data and using them to plan and individualize instruction.
• Ensure that curriculum and instructional practices are aligned with best practices in early childhood education and meet all relevant standards and regulations.
• Support teachers in differentiating instruction to meet the diverse needs of all children, including those with special needs.
• Facilitate the integration of family and community resources into the curriculum to enrich learning experiences for children.
• Regularly review and update curriculum materials to reflect current research and practices in early childhood education.

Continuous Quality Improvement

• Support the Education Coach and Home-Based Education Coordinator in promoting high-quality teaching and learning, including engaging in program evaluations and assessments to identify areas for improvement and ensure adherence to quality standards.
• Support the Director of Compliance and ERSEA in conducting audits to maintain program compliance with the Department of Health and Mental Hygiene Article 47, the Head Start Performance Standards, and all site-specific funding regulations.
• Develop and implement improvement plans based on evaluation findings to enhance program effectiveness and outcomes.
• Support the Deputy Director of Mental Health and Family Services with initiatives centered around child and staff mental health and family engagement.
• Foster a culture of continuous improvement by encouraging feedback from staff, families, and stakeholders.

Data Analysis and Reporting

• Implement and oversee the child assessment system reliably, including understanding child outcomes data and using such data to plan and individualize instruction.
• Monitor educational progress and assess trends across the tri-annual checkpoints for child outcome data.
• Monitor progress and assess trends using various screening and assessment tools (i.e., PICCOLO, ECERS, ITERS, CLASS, ASQ3, ASQ-SE2).
• Provide comprehensive data analysis and reporting using COPA and TSG web-based systems to maintain standards and enhance program outcomes through informed decision-making.
• Analyze program data to identify trends, strengths, and areas for improvement, and develop action plans based on findings.
• Prepare and present regular reports on program performance, outcomes, and compliance to stakeholders, including the Central EC Leadership Team and funding agencies.
• Utilize data to track progress towards goals and objectives, ensuring alignment with organizational standards and regulatory requirements.

Communication and Partnerships

• Build a culture across sites that develops and maintains high-quality, safe, and nurturing environments where children develop trusting and accepting relationships with adults and peers that foster growth and development.
• Collaborate with the Central Leadership Team to plan, coordinate, and implement a wide range of diverse, applicable, and creative professional development opportunities for all staff.
• Share highlights of families, children, staff, and community partners to celebrate successes and foster a sense of community.
• Educate and engage our online social media community by collaborating with the EC Instagram committee to share program updates and highlights.
• Develop and maintain effective communication channels with staff, families, and community partners to ensure transparency and collaboration.
• Represent the program at external meetings, conferences, and events to build partnerships and promote the program's mission and achievements.

Stakeholder Engagement

• Collaborate with parents on the Center Policy Committee to design and deliver high-quality programming that aligns with families' needs and interests.
• Engage with Education Leaders to ensure the effective implementation of educational strategies and policies.
• Keep key stakeholders, including the Executive Staff, Policy Council, and Head Start Board Committee, informed and engaged with educational progress and developments.
• Foster strong relationships with community partners, local organizations, and other stakeholders to support program goals and initiatives.
• Engage families in program activities and decision-making processes to ensure their voices are heard and valued.
• Organize and participate in community events and meetings to promote the program and build a network of support.

Training and Capacity Building

• Commit to professional development for self and staff.
• Facilitate regular training sessions and workshops for staff to ensure the implementation of best practices in early childhood education.
• Mentor and coach Education Leadership staff to develop their skills and competencies in working with young children and families.
• Develop and implement individualized professional development plans for Education Leadership staff based on performance evaluations and identified needs.
• Encourage and support staff in pursuing additional certifications and higher education opportunities related to early childhood education.
• Coordinate with external experts to provide specialized training and development opportunities.
• Assess the effectiveness of training programs and make necessary adjustments to meet evolving educational standards and staff needs.

Minimum Qualifications:

• Master's Degree in Early Childhood Education, Early Childhood Development or a related field
• At least five years of management experience, with experience in evaluation, early childhood instructional practices, and staff development
• New York State Professional License ECE Birth - 2 Certification.
• Current Pre-K, Infant and Toddler CLASS Reliability.
• At least three years of experience working with infants, toddlers, preschoolers and children with special needs
• Scheduled and Un-scheduled travel to all Early Childhood sites in the Bronx, Manhattan, and Staten Island is required

Key Competencies:

• Strong administrative skills
• Excellent communication (written and verbal) skills
• Excellent computer skills, particularly in data management systems and Excel.
• Strong analytic skills
• Excellent organizational and time management skills (ability to meet deadlines)
• Ability to work independently and as part of a team.

Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) Statement

It is the policy of Children's Aid to provide equal employment opportunity to all employees and applicants for employment and not to discriminate on any basis, including race, creed, color, national origin, ethnicity, alienage or citizenship status, gender/sex (including pregnancy), disability, religion, source of income, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, familial status, caregiver status, military status, marital or partnership status, status as a victim of domestic violence, sexual violence or stalking, predisposing genetic characteristics, arrest or conviction record, credit history, unemployment status or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local law.

Children's Aid will conduct a prompt and thorough investigation of all allegations of discrimination, harassment, or retaliation, or any violation of the Equal Employment Opportunity Policy in a confidential manner and will take appropriate corrective action, if and where warranted. Children's Aid prohibits retaliation against employees who provide information about, complain about, or assist in the investigation of any complaint of discrimination or violation of the Equal Employment Opportunity Policy.

The incumbent is expected to work a schedule, whether in-person or hybrid, as determined by the department's needs to facilitate effective collaboration with the team. This flexibility is essential for maintaining seamless communication, fostering teamwork, and ensuring the smooth operation of the department's processes. The position's requirements are subject to periodic review and adjustment based on organizational needs and changes in work dynamics.