Description:
EMBRACING ABILITIES. EXPANDING POSSIBILITIES.
At Easterseals of Chicagoland and Greater Rockford, we are committed to two – often interconnecting - pillars of work… early learning and disability. Through these pillars, we transform the lives of early learners and individuals of all abilities through access to expert educational, family, and community support. As an affiliate of America’s largest nonprofit health care organization, we have proudly served the communities and families of Chicagoland and Greater Rockford since 1936.
For more information about our organization, please visit us online at www.eastersealschicago.org.
The Director of Child and Family Services leads Head Start and Early Head Start programs, ensuring services for children and families are high-quality, integrated, and data-driven. Overseeing Education, Health, Disabilities, Family Engagement, and ERSEA, this role aligns all efforts with federal regulations and agency goals, focusing on both compliance and real community needs.
By leveraging data to guide strategy, monitor outcomes, and support continuous improvement, the Director fosters strong, collaborative teams and a culture of accountability. This position is key to advancing Easterseals’ mission of equity and inclusion, using data-informed practices to support school readiness and family well-being across all program areas.
This position is headquartered at Easterseals Chicago Location at 1939 W 13th Street, Chicago, IL 60608.
MAJOR FUNCTIONS/ACCOUNTABILITIES:
Strategic Leadership & Oversight
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Provide strategic leadership and daily oversight for core service areas: Education, Health, Mental Health, Disabilities, Family and Community Engagement, and ERSEA, ensuring alignment with Head Start Performance Standards and Easterseals’ mission.
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Build and strengthen service area frameworks that support consistency, integration, and high-quality service delivery across all Early Head Start and Head Start sites.
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Coach, supervise, and lead a team of content-area managers, fostering leadership development, accountability, and cross-functional collaboration.
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Develop clear roles, communication protocols, and shared expectations for teams to ensure cohesion and timely implementation of goals and initiatives.
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Serve as a key member of the ELS Director’s leadership team, contributing to ELS-wide decision-making, planning, and execution of strategic initiatives.
Program Planning, Implementation & Monitoring
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Lead the School Readiness goal process and lead the creation, implementation, and monitoring of the School Readiness Plan.
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Monitor and track budgets for content areas, including materials, consultants, and professional development.
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Guide the analysis of child outcomes, assessment data, and monitoring reports to inform planning, drive decision-making, and support continuous quality improvement.
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Partner with the Quality, Safet,y and Compliance team to implement a comprehensive system of ongoing monitoring, including unannounced visits, observations, and file reviews.
Collaboration & Communication
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Facilitate and actively participate in recurring leadership and team meetings, including education and inclusion team meetings, regional director meetings, senior leadership team meetings, and cross-content planning groups.
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Establish and maintain collaborative relationships with Local Education Agencies, school districts, and community partners to ensure timely and inclusive evaluation, service coordination, and resource access.
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Support the integration of services across departments to ensure a holistic approach to meeting the needs of children and families.
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Serve as a liaison between service area managers and broader program operations, ensuring communication flows effectively and decisions are made collaboratively.
Professional Development & Leadership Capacity Building
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Supervise and support the development of individualized coaching, mentoring, and professional development plans for service area managers and their teams.
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Participate in the coordination of program professional development efforts, including an annual conference, training calendars, and cohort-based learning (e.g., CDA, degree pathways).
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Conduct or support the delivery of foundational training for staff in areas such as Creative Curriculum, Teaching Strategies GOLD, CLASS, and inclusive practices.
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Promote a reflective, strengths-based culture that values staff learning, feedback, and continuous professional growth.
Data, Compliance & Quality Assurance
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Oversee the implementation and use of data systems to ensure accurate, timely documentation across all content areas.
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Review and interpret monitoring and PIR data in partnership with managers and leadership; identify trends and opportunities for program improvement.
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Prepare and present child and program outcome reports for the Policy Council, Board of Directors, and other stakeholders.
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Participate in self-assessment, federal reviews, licensing visits, and internal audits to ensure quality, compliance, and responsiveness.
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Ensure alignment between program goals, federal and state requirements, and internal performance expectations.
Enrollment, Outreach, and Community Engagement
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Partner with ERSEA and Family Engagement teams to ensure full enrollment, equitable recruitment practices, and strong connections with families and communities.
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Support development of systems that enhance family participation, goal setting, and successful transitions to kindergarten and other services.
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Build external partnerships to support family and staff access to comprehensive services, wraparound supports, and workforce development opportunities.
Other Responsibilities
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Travel regularly to Easterseals’ locations and partner sites to provide hands-on leadership, coaching, and technical assistance.
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Support site readiness efforts, classroom quality (ECERS/ITERS), and assessment processes for new and existing program locations.
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Perform other duties as assigned in alignment with the mission and evolving needs of the organization.
Requirements:
Education/Certification:
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Bachelor’s Degree in Early Childhood Education, Child Development, or another related field.
Experience and Knowledge Required:
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Minimum of 5–7 years of leadership experience in Head Start/Early Head Start or a comparable early childhood setting.
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Demonstrated success in supervising leaders and multidisciplinary teams (e.g., education, mental health, disabilities, health, family engagement, ERSEA).
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Strong background in inclusive practices, trauma-informed care, and supports for children with developmental delays or disabilities.
Skills/Abilities:
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Deep understanding of the Head Start Program Performance Standards, IDEA, and applicable federal, state, and local regulations related to early childhood education, family services, disabilities, and health.
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Demonstrated ability to analyze and interpret data to assess program effectiveness, identify trends, and drive informed decision-making across service areas.
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Demonstrated experience in building and implementing systems for program planning, data-informed decision-making, and compliance monitoring across multiple service areas.
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Able to conceptualize, communicate, and evaluate program outcomes, translating complex information into actionable strategies.
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Strong ability to build and maintain collaborative relationships across all levels of the organization, including internal teams, partner sites, community agencies, and funding source personnel.
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Proven ability to manage multiple complex projects simultaneously while maintaining attention to detail and meeting deadlines.
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Exceptional project management skills: ability to lead complex projects from conception to fruition, with continuous follow up to ensure timely project completion.
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Technologically adept – comfort, familiarity, and ability to proficiently use variety of computer applications. Intermediate-level knowledge of Microsoft Word, PowerPoint, Teams, Outlook, Excel, and Canva. Ability to use internet browsers and video conferencing.
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Highly organized, detail-oriented, and accuracy-driven, with a strong commitment to documentation, follow-through, and quality assurance.
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Excellent interpersonal and supervisory skills, with a demonstrated ability to coach and develop managers and promote high-performing teams.
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Exceptional verbal and written communication skills, with the ability to adapt messages for various audiences including staff, families, funders, and leadership stakeholders.
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Skilled in facilitation, systems thinking, and problem-solving, with a growth mindset and commitment to continuous quality improvement.
ADA: Easterseals will make reasonable accommodations in compliance with the Americans with Disability Act of 1990. Unless exempted by the Americans with Disabilities Act, all persons hired for this position are required to possess the ability to perform the physical tasks necessary to treat clients, i.e., bending, floor-sitting, etc., as well as to have the ability to lift up to 50 pounds frequently.
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