#nowhiring

Lutheran Services Florida (LSF) envisions a world where children are safe, families are strong, and communities are vibrant.

LSF is looking for a talented Early Childhood Education Program Manager who wants to make an impact in the lives of children and families.

Pay will range from $30 - $32 depending on experience.

Purpose & Impact:

Support the Head Start Director or Director of Education for Head Start/Early Head Start (HS/EHS) in efforts to ensure compliance across the Early Childhood and Development areas. Responsible for education and early childhood development services including program options and staffing, voluntary pre-kindergarten and school readiness. Participates and provides leadership in HS/EHS Quality Assurance efforts.

Essential Functions:

• Support the Head Start program by managing the early childhood services area with the support of Program Leadership.
• Facilitates peer-to-peer learning both one-on-one and group settings in joint process of capacity-building strategies.
• Provides skill development and mentoring to staff progressing in their position by performing on-the-job technical assistance and mentoring of specific skills.
• Provide guidance to staff in building skills and competence.
• Facilitating the development, implementation, and coordination of internal support plans (action plans, behavior plans) with parents, teachers, and supervisors.
• Implements and evaluates skills and strategies.
• Provides ongoing quality assistance to address children’s challenging behaviors and sensory needs.
• Supports the professional development of all staff by delivering coaching and technical assistance.
• Ensures assistance to Center Management in the absence of the Center Director/Site Manager via the ECE Supervisor and VPK/SR Supervisor. Ensures that CLASS, classroom assessments, and all other school readiness requirements are met at each center.
• Provide support in the implementation and roll-out of LSF policy and procedures and management by objectives and the approval process for early childhood services.
• Works collaboratively with the VPK/SR Supervisor with the implementation of Head Start and State Pre-Kindergarten school readiness.
• Provide support in instances in which vacancies exist among early childhood management and classroom staff.
• Provide direct support in the aggregation of school readiness data and required assessments for all LSF Head Start and Early Head Start children.
• Oversees supervision of Center Directors/Site Managers and directly supervises ECE & VPK Supervisors. Ensures adequate staffing at all center locations. Provides CLASS evaluations and the aggregation of children assessments. Reviews all performance appraisals for center staff and prepares appraisals for directly supervised staff. Takes appropriate corrective action as needed in accordance with LSF Personnel Policies and Procedures and HS Performance Standards.
• Participates in site visits, classrooms observations, and work groups to assess program needs and planning strategies for system/process improvement and/or development of early childhood education, disabilities, and mental health.
• Assesses the implementation of the agency’s work plan to ensure the program/content goals and objectives are met.
• Provides guidance and support to staff with implementation of curriculum/individualization plans and ongoing assessments.
• Manages the curriculum implementation county-wide for the Grantee and is responsible for working with the Head Start Director and Director of Continuous Quality Improvement toward providing required assessments for children and outcomes reporting. Maintains content development expertise and disseminates such knowledge by providing ongoing quality assistance to staff. 
• Develops and disseminates resources and best practices for the process of implementing quality improvement efforts. 
• Attends all workshops and meetings as deemed necessary by the HS Director and Vice President of Early Learning, Research & Training.
• Attends all required staff and parent meetings and activities.
• Maintains strict confidentiality with respect to HS/EHS children, families and staff in accordance with established policies and procedures.
• Performs other related duties as assigned.

Qualifications

Competencies (Skills/Knowledge & Abilities)

• Knowledge of HS/EHS performance standards.
• Knowledge of local customs, cultures, languages and resources helpful.
• Knowledge of adult learning techniques.
• Math skills needed to calculate figures and amounts such as discounts, percentages and overtime.
• Computer skills to produce and interpret graphs, charts, spreadsheets and other mathematical reports.
• Ability to define problems, collect data, establish facts, and draw valid conclusions; make recommendations and develop implementation strategies.
• Ability to communicate effectively verbally and in writing.
• Ability to interpret agency, federal and state laws pertaining to the program.
• Ability to speak before groups of individuals and to lead employees and volunteers.
• Ability to plan and direct activities to write goals and objectives.
• Ability to utilize agency resources and technology to appropriately answer questions and provides guidance to staff and parents.
• Ability to train and provide presentations to large and small groups.
• Ability to collaborate with and have working knowledge of local community resources.
• Ability to work independently as well as in a team environment.
• Sustained concentration and attention to detail and accuracy.
• Ability to prioritize and manage workload and deadlines.
• Excellent diagnostic and problem-solving skills.

Exceptional organization skills and attention to detail are required and the candidate must be able to meet designated deadlines.

Required/Preferred Education and Experience

• A baccalaureate or advanced degree in early childhood education from an accredited college or university; or A baccalaureate or advanced degree in any subject and coursework equivalent to a major relating to early childhood education.
• Current Florida Child Care Director’s credential.

Additional eligibility qualifications

• Must be 21 years of age. Five years of supervisory experience required as well as early education teaching experience. 
• Some experience in financial management and budgeting preferred. Previous Head Start/Early Head Start experience preferred.
• Also required: Certification in First Aid and CPR within six months of the date assigned to this position; and successful completion of a Level II background screening and drug screening prior to hiring.
• Bilingual preferred: English/Spanish or English and other languages present in the local area.

Why work for LSF?

LSF offers 60 programs across the state of Florida serving a wide range of populations in need. Mission Driven staff members become part of the LSF community while transforming the lives of those in need. Our staff additionally find growth opportunities as they explore areas of interest within the organization.

Amazing benefits package including:

• Medical, Dental and Vision
• Teladoc (24/7 online access to doctors)
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
• Employer paid life insurance (1X salary)
• 13 paid holidays 1 floating holiday
• Generous PTO policy (starting at 16 working days a year)
• 403(b) Retirement plan with 3% discretionary employer match OR 3% student loan repayment reimbursement
• Tuition reimbursement

Lutheran Services Florida embraces diversity, equity and inclusion in all business practices. LSF is proud to be an equal opportunity employer.