Senior Director of Early Childhood Programs

Compass Family Services

$135K — $140K *
Education, Government & Non-Profit
5 - 7 years of experience
Job Overview by Ladders

Qualifications

  • 5+ years of staff supervision experience, with a proven leadership track record for mentoring and coaching.
  • BA or MA in Early Childhood Education, Special Education, or a related field.
  • Possession or eligibility for Program Director Permit.
  • Fluency in Spanish is preferred but not required.
  • In-depth understanding of early education programs for at-risk populations, with prior Title 5 experience preferred.
  • Experience in managing contracts, budgets, and relationships with funding partners.
  • Strong communication, advocacy, organizational, and interpersonal skills. They should be able to handle crisis situations with a trauma-informed approach.
  • Commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging with demonstrable outcomes in previous roles.

Responsibilities

  • Guide a diverse team of 70+ staff across three Early Childhood programs.
  • Ensure high-quality learning experiences for children aged 0-5 from low-income and homeless backgrounds.
  • Lead continuous improvement initiatives by integrating research, best practices, and innovation into program operations.
  • Ensure compliance with relevant early childhood regulations and provide oversight to program leads and special education services.
  • Identify professional development opportunities and streamline services across programs.
  • Represent the ECE programs within the community and collaborate on advocacy efforts with policy teams.
  • Engage with data to assess program effectiveness and improve outcomes for families.

Benefits

  • 4 weeks of vacation in the first year, increasing to 5 weeks in the second year, plus paid holidays and sick leave.
  • Fully covered health, dental, and vision insurance for employees and their dependent children.
  • Long-term disability and life insurance included.
  • 5% retirement account contribution after one year, vesting over six years.
Full Job Description
Salary: $135,000 - $140,000

Reports to: Chief Executive Officer

Organizational Core Competencies: Accountable I Adaptable I Client-centered I Collaborative I Committed to Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging I Resourceful

Responsibilities: The Senior Director of Early Childhood Education Programs guides 70+ staff working across 3 Early Childhood programs for low-income and homeless families. They supervise program leads, provide vision and direction, coordinate strategy across teams, and create continuity across programs.

Specific responsibilities include:
  • Ensure that Compass Early Childhood Education (ECE) programs provide high quality early learning experiences for low-income and homeless children ages 0-5.
  • Provide leadership in the continuous improvement of program quality by integrating current research, resources, best practices, and innovation into all aspects of program operations.
  • Maintain a strong knowledge of all rules and regulations relevant to early childhood programs, including Title 22, Title V, CSPP, CCTR, and ELFA. Ensure compliance across programs.
  • Provide direct supervision and ongoing support to the program leads of Compass Children's Center, Holy Family Day Home, and the Helen Hawk Children's Center. Support in the delivery of program services, staff supervision and professional development.
  • Provide direct supervision to the Early Intervention Manager and oversee special education services across centers. Engage in strategic partnerships with the Golden Gate Regional Center, San Francisco Unified School District, and other key partners to ensure sufficient funding and long-term viability of special education services.
  • Identify and align professional development and training opportunities across centers.
  • Identify opportunities for programs to streamline and align services.
  • Represent Compass' ECE programs externally in the community. Partner with Compass' Public Policy + External Affairs team to identify opportunities for advocacy.
  • As a member of the Senior Leadership Team (SLoT), work in partnership to coordinate implementation of strategic initiatives and ensure cross-organizational integration of programs and services.
  • Build strong relationships with funders. Ensure that contractual obligations are met or exceeded, that funds are spent effectively, and that outcomes are conveyed successfully. Work with the Development team to identify and apply for additional funding to expand and improve our work.
  • Work with the Impact + Learning team to use data to inform our ECE efforts, diving deeply into what's working, what's not, and how staff across the agency can better target our efforts to improve family outcomes.
  • Collaborate with Compass Behavioral Health Services to ensure that services are delivered from a trauma-informed perspective and that all staff receive robust clinical training and support.
  • Connect with and support Compass families. Step in when appropriate to provide crisis intervention and provide support in challenging situations.
  • Step into the role of interim center director when needed.

Qualifications:

  • Required: at least 5 years of experience in staff supervision, including direct and indirect reports. Demonstrated ability to effectively lead, coach, and mentor.
  • Required: BA or MA in Early Childhood Education/Special Education or related field.
  • Required: Program Director Permit or eligibility.
  • Fluency in Spanish desired, but not required.
  • Deep understanding and experience with early education programs for at risk individuals. Experience in Title 5 programs preferred.
  • Experience overseeing contracts, managing budgets, and maintaining relationships with funders.
  • Strong communication, advocacy, organizational, and interpersonal skills.
  • Experience supporting individuals in crisis and with trauma-informed care.
  • Deep commitment to and demonstrated success discussing, integrating, and promoting diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging throughout a complex and dynamic organization.
  • Proficiency in Microsoft Office required; Salesforce experience a plus.

Compensation and Benefits:
  • Salary range: $135,000 - $140,000 per year.
  • Paid time off: 4 weeks of vacation in your first year, 5 in your second. Also paid holidays, sick time, family leave, and time off for education.
  • Insurance: health, dental and vision insurance are fully covered by Compass for employees and dependent children. We also provide long term disability and life insurance.
  • Retirement: after one year of work, Compass contributes an amount equal to 5% of your salary into a retirement account; this vests during years 2-6.

To Apply:

Please apply through our online application. No phone calls, please.

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