The Director of Early Childhood Programs provides strategic and operational leadership for ICAN's portfolio of early childhood services, including, but not limited to, Healthy Families of Oneida, Montgomery, and Schoharie Counties and ICAN Childcare sites in Rome and Syracuse. The Director oversees program quality, regulatory compliance, fiscal performance, workforce development, and continuous quality improvement to ensure the delivery of high-quality, evidence-based, and family-centered services that promote healthy child development and positive family outcomes.
The Director also leads the development and expansion of ICAN's innovative employer-sponsored childcare initiative by building strategic partnerships with employers, community stakeholders, and funders to increase access to high-quality childcare for working families. This position serves as a key ambassador for ICAN's early childhood initiatives, advancing strategic growth through partnership development, public engagement, and collaborative leadership.
Working closely with the Vice President of Family Services, the Director supervises Program Managers and Childcare Center Directors while collaborating across the agency to strengthen systems, support organizational priorities, and advance ICAN's mission.
Duties Responsibilities include the following. Other duties may be assigned.
Strategic Leadership & Program Oversight:
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Provide strategic and operational leadership for early childhood programs and departments, ensuring alignment with agency mission, values, strategic priorities, and long-term organizational goals.
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Translate agency strategy into integrated program operations, workflows, and implementation priorities across early childhood service areas.
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Directly supervise, coach, and support Program Managers and Childcare Center Directors to ensure accountability, strong leadership, quality implementation, staff development, and consistent program performance.
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Ensure programs are implemented effectively and achieve intended outcomes while maintaining a commitment to developmentally appropriate, child-centered, and family-focused practices.
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Maintain oversight of curriculum implementation, child development practices, family engagement strategies, and continuous quality improvement efforts.
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Monitor emerging trends, best practices, and policy changes in early childhood education and child development to inform program innovation and growth.
Community Partnerships & External Relations:
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In partnership with the Vice President of Family Services, serve as a liaison with NYS Office of Children and Family Services (OCFS), funders, school districts, early childhood systems partners, and community stakeholders.
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Support the development, implementation, and expansion of ICAN’s employer-sponsored childcare model.
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Build and maintain strategic partnerships with local employers, business leaders, and community stakeholders to expand access to childcare.
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Represent the agency in community coalitions, planning groups, task forces, and collaborative initiatives related to early childhood education and family support.
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Support partnerships that strengthen service access, developmental screening, school readiness efforts, family engagement, and coordinated systems of care.
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Promote the agency as a trusted leader in early childhood services throughout the community.
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Identify opportunities for program expansion, new funding streams, and innovative service delivery models.
Data, Quality Improvement & Compliance:
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Develop, monitor, and evaluate program outcomes, quality indicators, contractual deliverables, and key performance indicators (KPIs) across early childhood programs.
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Utilize data analytics to identify trends, opportunities, service gaps, and areas for quality improvement.
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Maintain oversight of program compliance, licensing standards, accreditation requirements, quality assurance activities, documentation standards, audits, and corrective action planning.
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Ensure adherence to all applicable local, state, and federal regulations governing childcare and early childhood programming.
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Monitor child, family, and program outcomes to support continuous quality improvement and positive developmental outcomes.
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Present program accomplishments, risks, needs, and improvement opportunities to senior leadership through data-informed reporting.
Fiscal Stewardship & Operational Management:
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Collaborate with the Vice President of Family Services and Finance Department to develop, monitor, and manage program budgets and fiscal performance.
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Monitor program expenditures, staffing patterns, enrollment utilization, funding streams, and resource allocation to support sustainability and quality service delivery.
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Participate in budget planning, contract implementation, grant management, and program sustainability efforts.
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Make operational and staffing recommendations to maintain fiscal responsibility while achieving programmatic goals.
Workforce Leadership, Human Resources & Culture:
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Partner closely with Human Resources and the Vice President of Family Services to support recruitment, onboarding, retention, employee engagement, workforce planning, performance management, and personnel matters.
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Foster leadership development among Program Managers and Childcare Center Managers and support succession planning efforts.
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Support the recruitment and retention of qualified program staff.
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Promote ongoing professional development and continuous learning opportunities for program staff.
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Serve as a culture ambassador by proactively supporting, protecting, reinforcing, and modeling agency mission, values, and culture across teams and departments.
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Promote a culture of accountability, collaboration, inclusion, professionalism, continuous improvement, and psychological safety.
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Participate actively in agency-wide initiatives, strategic planning efforts, and cross-department collaboration to strengthen organizational alignment.
Qualifications:
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Bachelor’s degree in Early Childhood, Child Development, Education, or a related field. Master’s degree preferred.
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At least five years of progressive leadership and management experience.
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Minimum of 3 years of experience in early childhood education, childcare, family support services, human services, or related settings.
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Experience with regulatory compliance, quality improvement systems, accreditation standards, childcare licensing, or early childhood systems strongly preferred.
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Ability to travel frequently across multiple counties/regions.
