Job Title:
Director of Center Operations
Supervision:
Chief Executive Officer
Department
Early Head Star/ Head Start
Job Function
Working collaboratively with the Chief Executive Officer and executive leadership team, the Director of Operations oversees center operations, site leadership, facilities coordination, transportation (if applicable), emergency preparedness, operational compliance, and implementation of organizational policies and procedures. The Director promotes a culture of accountability, continuous improvement, and excellence while ensuring compliance with Head Start Program Performance Standards, state licensing regulations, CACFP requirements, and all applicable federal, state, and local regulations.
Essential Function
- Provide leadership and oversight for the daily operations of all Head Start and Early Head Start program locations.
- Supervise and evaluate Center Directors and other center staff assigned.
- Ensure each center maintains full compliance with Head Start Performance Standards, state licensing regulations, fire safety, sanitation, and health requirements.
- Develop operational procedures that promote consistency, accountability, and high-quality services throughout the organization.
- Monitor program operations through regular site visits, observations, and operational reviews.
- Collaborate with executive leadership to establish annual program goals and operational priorities.
- Oversee center opening and closing procedures, emergency preparedness plans, and business continuity planning.
- Coordinate facility maintenance needs with management to ensure safe learning environments.
- Ensure corrective actions resulting from monitoring reviews, licensing inspections, audits, or internal reviews are completed promptly.
- Analyze center operational data to identify trends, improve efficiencies, and support organizational decision-making.
- Collaborate with management to implement Quality Improvement Plans and monitor operational performance.
- Participate in federal monitoring reviews, licensing visits, fiscal audits, and accreditation activities.
- Develop operational reports for the Chief Executive Officer, Board of Directors, Policy Council, and funding agencies.
- Ensure all centers maintain appropriate staffing levels and coordinate with Human Resources regarding recruitment and staffing needs.
- Monitor classroom ratios, attendance, enrollment capacity, and operational utilization.
- Promote positive relationships with families, community partners, school districts, licensing representatives, and regulatory agencies.
- Oversee implementation of center organizational policies, procedures, and risk management practices.
- Lead operational response during emergencies, critical incidents, and crises.
- Collaborate with all Program Directors to ensure integrated service delivery.
- Perform other duties as assigned by the Chief Executive Officer.
- Oversee all Child Care Partnership and Collaboration sites, ensuring contracted providers implement Head Start and Early Head Start services in accordance with federal regulations and state licensing requirements.
- Develop, implement, and monitor partnership agreements, provider expectations, and quality improvement plans for all collaborating child care providers.
- Provide leadership, technical assistance, and operational support to child care partner directors and administrators.
- Collaborate with the Director of Family Partnership to develop and implement recruitment, enrollment, and attendance strategies that maintain full enrollment and an active waiting list.
- Ensure partnership sites receive ongoing monitoring, technical assistance, coaching, and training to maintain compliance with Head Start Performance Standards.
- Support the development and implementation of parent engagement opportunities, Parent Committees, and fatherhood initiatives within partnership sites.
- Coordinate operational planning with community agencies, licensing representatives, and collaborative partners to expand access to comprehensive early childhood services.
- Ensure childcare partnership sites maintain complete, accurate, and confidential program records in accordance with federal, state, and organizational requirements.
- Collaborate with the Director of Child Development, Director of Health & Mental Health Services, to ensure integrated service delivery across all partnership and center-based programs.
- Monitor provider performance through regular site visits, operational reviews, corrective action planning, and continuous quality improvement activities.
Supervisory Responsibilities
Provides direct supervision for:
· Provides indirect oversight of center-based staff through Site Directors.
Minimum Qualifications
- Bachelor's degree in Business Administration, Public Administration, Education, Early Childhood Education, Human Services, Organizational Leadership, or related field.
- Master's degree preferred.
- Minimum five years of progressive management experience in Head Start, Early Head Start, early childhood education, or human services.
- Minimum five years supervising multiple program sites or departments.
Preferred Qualifications
- Experience leading multi-site Head Start or Early Head Start operations.
- Experience participating in multiple Federal Head Start Monitoring Reviews.
- Experience with ChildPlus or comparable management information systems.
- Knowledge of Performance Measures, Self-Assessment, Community Assessment, and Strategic Planning.
Physical Requirements
- Ability to travel regularly between program locations.
- Ability to sit, stand, walk, bend, and lift to 25 pounds.
- Ability to operate standard office equipment.
- Ability to attend meetings outside normal working hours when necessary.
Disclaimer
This job description is intended to describe the general nature and level of work performed by employees assigned to this position. It is not intended to be an exhaustive list of all duties, responsibilities, or qualifications. Quality Care Services reserves the right to modify this job description at any time to meet organizational and programmatic needs.
Pay: $70,000.00 - $85,000.00 per year
Benefits:
- 401(k)
- 401(k) matching
- 403(b)
- Dental insurance
- Employee assistance program
- Health insurance
- Life insurance
- Paid time off
- Professional development assistance
- Retirement plan
- Vision insurance
Application Question(s):
- Are you willing to undergo a background and drug screening?
Education:
Experience:
- HS management: 5 years (Required)
Ability to Commute:
- Vineland, NJ 08360 (Required)
Work Location: In person
