Job Goal:
In alignment with the agency’s vision and strategic plan, the Associate Director of Early Childhood Services ensures strong, cohesive systems across the Health and Safety, Professional Development, and Early Childhood Regional Management components to ensure children—and those who care for them—are prepared for lifelong learning and success. This position provides strategic leadership and operational oversight to ensure all program systems are effectively aligned, compliant, and designed to support high-quality service delivery for children, families, and staff. The Associate Director leads the planning, organization, and integration of early childhood systems to strengthen program quality, consistency, and accountability, ensuring that infrastructure, policies, and practices across all components support measurable outcomes in school readiness, child well-being, staff excellence, and family engagement. Working as part of a multidisciplinary leadership team, the Associate Director promotes a culture of continuous improvement, compliance with Federal Performance Standards and state regulations, and alignment with UMHS’s mission to prepare children for lifelong learning and success.
Essential Responsibilities:
- Ensures that Regional Managers effectively implement high-quality Education and Disabilities services across all early childhood programs, promoting consistent, compliant, and developmentally appropriate practices that promote school readiness and equitable outcomes for children and families.
- Administer high-quality early childhood programs, ensuring effective implementation of Education and Disabilities components across Head Start, Early Head Start, and other preschool initiatives.
- Provide leadership, guidance, and support toECERegional Managers to ensure effective implementation of the Education and Disabilities components,maintainingcompliance with all Federal Performance Standards and state regulations.
- Plan, coordinate, andmonitoreducational benchmarks, ensuring that curriculum, assessment, and instruction align with developmentallyappropriate practiceand contractual requirements.
- Facilitate integration of educational strategies with health, mental health, nutrition, and safety systems to promote holistic child and family outcomes.
- Ensure culturally and linguistically responsive practices are embedded throughout educational environments, supportingequitableaccess and inclusion.
- Maintain an active and supportive presence in classrooms and regional programs, using data and observation to guide continuous improvement and model educational excellence.
- Use data and monitoring results to drive continuous quality improvement,identifystrengths and challenges, and guide program enhancements at the classroom, regional, and system levels.
- Advise theCEO, Director of Head Start and Early Childhood Services,and other relevant Directors in educationcomponentplanning, development, andoperations
- Assistin the facilitation of multidisciplinarytierstaffingsand trackfollow-up
- Effectively communicate vision, policies,practice,and redirection in alignment with bestpractice
- Maintainpoliciescomplying withHead Start/EHS/EHS CCP/OPK Performance Standards, relatedto curriculum, disabilities, attendance, and personally identifiableinformation
- Coordinate hiring of ECE professionals,including screening, interviewing,selection,andlocationappointment to discern supportive teachingteams
- Guidethe identification and procurement of education supplies to meet educationalobjectives.
- Ensure that all education tools,including curricula, forms, meetings,andChildPlusare wellimplemented.
- Ensure all education systems—including curriculum, assessments, documentation tools, and data platforms such asChildPlus—are effectively implemented andmonitoredfor fidelity.
- Oversee curriculum planning and implementationtoensure alignment with lesson plans, individual goals, documentation, and staff training.
- Use assessment data and child outcomes to drive continuous quality improvement, ensuringtimelyanalysis, interpretation, and reporting to leadership, the Board, and Policy Council.
- Support Regional Managers and education staff in the evaluation of classroom practices, goal setting, and family engagement through conferences, observations, and reflective supervision.
- Ensure accurate and comprehensive documentation of children’s progress, goals, and outcomes across all education files and data systems.
- Ensures a strong, cohesive system of professional development is in place for early childhood staff through effective planning, implementation, and evaluation of training and ongoing professional growth initiatives.
- Ensures a strong, cohesive system of professional development is in place for early childhood staff through effective planning, implementation, and evaluation of training and ongoing professional growth initiatives.
- Provides leadership and oversight to the Professional Development Manager to ensure that staff training, coaching, and mentorship systems are data-informed, aligned with School Readiness Goals and the ELOF, and responsive toidentifiedneeds.
- Supports the coordination of shadowing, mentorship, and coaching opportunities,identifyingmodel classrooms as learning environments for continuous quality improvement.
- Collaborates with national, regional, and local partners to align training and classroom strategies that strengthen outcomes for children and families.
- Ensuresthat professional development systems—including curriculum committees, staff development planning, and reflective supervision practices—are effectively implemented, evaluated, and continuously improved.
- Ensures a comprehensive and compliant system of health and safety practices thatprotectschildren, families, and staff while supporting program quality and operational excellence across all early childhood sites.
- Provide oversight and guidance to the Health & Safety Manager to ensure effective implementation of safety protocols, emergency preparedness, and health compliance systems.
- Ensure alignment of health and safety policies with federal and state regulations, Head Start Performance Standards, and agency procedures.
- Monitor data and incident trends toidentifyrisks, support corrective actions, and drive continuous improvement in health and safety practices.
- Promote a culture of safety and wellness through communication, collaboration, and staff training across all program areas.
- Record keeping and monitoring
- Complete monthly reports for the CEO and Director of Head Start, as required for the Early Learning Hubs and a Policy Council Report three times each year, and provide necessary data as requested
- Oversee accurate collection and submission of information needed for PIR
- Ensures an integrated, compliant, and data-driven system of disabilities services that promotes inclusion, collaboration, and equitable outcomes for children with suspected or identified disabilities across all early childhood programs.
- Ensure cohesive, compliant systems for disability services across all early childhood programs.
- Maintain current interagency agreements and partnerships with LEAs, EI, and ECSE providers.
- Monitor data accuracy and use results to guide continuous quality improvement.
- Provide guidance to managers to ensure inclusive, individualizedsupportsfor children and families.
- SystemsCoordination
- Facilitatecollaboration with school districts, community partners, and Early Learning Hubs to strengthen transitions, align child and family outcomes, and support shared professional learning opportunities.
- Oversee the collection, analysis, and sharing of data related to child outcomes, school readiness, workforce development, and health and safety performance to inform continuous quality improvement.
- Support system-wide coordination of transitions for children and families, including kindergarten readiness, program completion, and engagement in ongoing learning opportunities.
- Promote cross-component planning and communication to ensure cohesive service delivery across education, health, safety, nutrition, and family engagement.
- Supervision
- Provide direct supervision to component managers through monthly reflective supervision, promoting accountability, professional growth, and alignment with the agency’s strategic plan, policies, and Performance Standards.
- Support managers in developing and achieving individualized professional development plans that strengthen leadership capacity and promote continuous improvement.
- Lead and coordinate the work of component managers to ensure cohesive, data-informed implementation of program systems across Health & Safety, Professional Development, and Early Childhood Regional Management.
General Staff Responsibilities:
- Participate in staff meetings, conferences, training sessions, and workshops as assigned
- Demonstrate familiarity with employment policies, performance standards, work plan,andobjectivesof Agency
- Maintain congenial and respectful relations with staff, children,familiesand community
- Keep current andaccuraterecords and file reports on time
- Maintain confidentialityregardingstaff and family information
- Maintainobjectivesand professional standards
- Improve self‐skills and education
- Fulfill role as mandated reporter asstatedin Child Abuse and Neglect Policy
- Be present at worktoprovide consistency of services
- Be a contributory team member in a positive/productive manner
- Demonstrate commitment to mission, values, and policies in the performance of daily duties
- And or any other duties deemed necessary by your supervisor
Education Requirements:
- Preferred: Master’s degree in Early Childhood Education, Education, Public or Business Administration, Health Administration, ora related field.
- Minimum: Bachelor’s degree in Early Childhood Education, Child Development, Education, Public or Business Administration, Health Administration, or a related field
Experience and Skills Requirements:
- Minimum four (4) years of leadership experience in early childhood, human services, or related nonprofit/public programs preferred.
- Strong knowledge of early childhood development and program operations.
- Experience supervising staff or managers and supporting professional growth.
- Ability to analyze program data and use results for planning and improvement.
- Skilled in collaboration, communication, and community partnership building.
- Proficient in Microsoft Office and capable of learning or using data systems such asChildPlus.
- Head Start/EHS/EHS-CCP/OPK experience preferred.
- Bilingual (English/Spanish) and/or multicultural experience preferred.
Physical Requirements:
The physical demands and work environment described below are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is required to:
- Sit forlong periodsof time with daily use of computerscreen;
- Do tasks involving repetitive arm and hand movements, such as heavy word processing/keyboarding, using variousofficetoolstocollate,punch,cut,orstamppaperandotherrepetitiveorhigh‐volumetaskssuchasbulk mailings, filing projects,etc.;
- Occasionalfilingisrequired.Thiswouldrequiretheabilitytoliftfiles,openfilingcabinetsandbendingas necessary;
- Occasionally required to stand,walkand reach with hands andarms;
- Occasionally lift and/or move up to50pounds
- Drive a private or Agency vehicle; mustpossessa valid driver's license and personal automobile or provide a planthatwillallowfulfillmentofpositionrequirements.(ADMVRecordcheckwillbeconductedpriortohire)
Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable qualified individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
Work Environment/Conditions:
- Work is normally performed in a typical interior/office work environment.
- Job tasks are performed in close physical proximity to other people.
Safety:
Apply safe practices in the performance of duties
- Reporting of unsafe or hazardous working conditions and/or any injury immediately
- Complying withAgency safetystandards
- Participate in emergency drills
- Promote a culture of safe environments in the workplace
Agency‐Wide Requirements:
- Current enrollment in the Child Care Division’s Central Background Registry
- Current physical examination, drug screen, and TB screen documentation prior to hire
- Ability to drive a private or Agency vehicle; mustpossessa valid driver's license and personal automobile or provide a plan that will allow fulfillment of position requirements. A DMV Record check will be conducted prior tohire.
- Desire to work with low‐income children and their families
- Communicate effectively with staff, families, children, and the public using the telephone and in face‐to‐face, one‐ to‐one, and in group settings
- Fluent in English both verbally and written
The job description does not constitute an employment agreement between the employer and the employee and is subject to change by the employer as the needs of the employer and requirements of the job change.
Umatilla-Morrow Head Start, Inc. is committed to providing equal employment and advancement opportunities to all individuals in all aspects of employment, including, but not limited to, recruitment, hiring, job assignments, promotions, career advancement opportunities, working conditions, scheduling, disciplinary action, termination of employment, compensation, and access to benefits and training. We recruit, hire, and promote into all job levels the most qualified applicants without regard to legally protected characteristics.
Job Type: Full-time
Pay: $90,416.23 - $92,496.23 per year
Benefits:
- Dental insurance
- Employee assistance program
- Flexible spending account
- Health insurance
- Life insurance
- Paid time off
- Retirement plan
- Vision insurance
Work Location: In person
