JOB TITLE:   

CENTER DIRECTOR

Definition

Under direction, plans, develops, implements and supervises program operations for an assigned Head Start or Early Head Start (EHS) center; monitors and ensures center operations are in conformance with MAAC policies and procedures, licensing regulations, Health and Safety Standards and service area plans. Participates in implementation of age appropriate curriculum and ongoing monitoring of children’s cognitive and physical development. Monitors and ensures recruitment and enrollment activities, family development plans and parent participation and overall parent satisfaction. Coordinates and participates in activities of parent committees; compiles and submits site reports; and performs related duties as assigned.

Distinguishing Characteristics

Head Start Center Directors are responsible for planning, implementing and providing day-to-day supervision of the educational programs and operations of an assigned Head Start/EHS center, typically with two or more classrooms/program options. Incumbents are accountable for providing children with a safe, nurturing, engaging and secure learning environment that gives them the awareness, skills and confidence to succeed in their present environment and in later school life. Incumbents are also responsible for ensuring delivery of Head Start and community support services to families and for compliance with all applicable policies, procedures, service area plans and state licensing requirements, including those applicable to health, safety and fire regulations. Center Directors are also accountable for the timely completion of all center reporting and the preparation and maintenance of up-to-date children’s files. Duties and responsibilities are carried out with considerable independence within the framework of established policies, procedures and guide­lines.

Head Start Center Director is distinguished from Master Teacher in that incumbents in the former class have overall responsibility for the operations, staff and resources of assigned Head Start or Early Head Start centers.                                   

Primary Duties

The duties listed below are intended only as illustrations of the various types of work that may be performed. The omission of specific statements of duties does not exclude them from the position if the work is similar, related or a logical assignment to this class.

-       Plans, organizes, supervises and evaluates the programs and activities of an assigned Head Start/EHS center; works with assigned teaching and family service staff and develops, implements and monitors service area and center work plans to achieve assigned goals, objectives and educational outcomes; contributes to development of and monitoring of performance against the available resources; participates in developing, implementing and evaluating work programs, plans, processes, systems and procedures to achieve MAAC and Head Start goals, objectives and performance measures consistent with division quality and service expectations.

-       Plans and evaluates the performance of assigned staff; establishes performance requirements and personal development targets; regularly monitors performance and provides coaching for performance improvement and development; recommends compensation and provides other rewards to recognize performance; subject to management concurrence, takes disciplinary action, up to and including termination, to address performance deficiencies, in accordance with MAAC’s human resources policies and procedures, applicable Head Start regulations and labor contract provisions.

-       Provides day-to-day leadership and works with staff to ensure a high performance, child- and family-centered environment which supports achieving Head Start educational objectives and family service expectations; provides leadership and participates in programs and activities that promote effective parent involvement and a positive employee relations environment.

-       Supervises and oversees the day-to-day operations of assigned centers and program options; ensures centers are properly staffed in conformance with licensing requirements and adjusts staffing as required; responds to telephone calls and parent visits regarding a wide variety of child and family issues; communicates center activities and program master calendar to staff and parents; ensures cooperative working relationships between staff, parents, volunteers, community partners, specialists and consultants; supervises meal service to children; proactively addresses potential parent and/or community concerns and responds to formal parent complaints; resolves food service and transportation issues and special needs with applicable managers.

-       Inspects and monitors center operations to ensure compliance with Head Start Performance Standards, state licensing requirements and health, safety and fire regulations; adjusts staffing to ensure conformance to applicable licensing requirements; performs mandated inspections of classroom and playground facilities and takes necessary corrective action to ensure that housekeeping/cleanliness standards and permit/license requirements are met.

-       Oversees and participates in implementation of daily lesson plans and activities, ensuring they are age appropriate, individualized and culturally sensitive; observes teachers in the classroom and provides feedback; mentors and coaches staff in planning appropriate curriculum and activities; provides technical and problem solving assistance to teachers and other staff; trains staff on curriculum changes and DRDB+ procedures; monitors to ensure timely completion of child observations and assessments; ensures Individual Education Plans have been developed and are being implemented, including those for special needs children; meets with parents to discuss children’s development and behavioral issues; refers children for health, mental health, child development and other special assessments and/or services; takes appropriate action to deal with child or family emergency situations.

-       Promotes parent involvement in center activities; serves as advisor and coordinates and facilities monthly parent committee meetings; plans and conducts parent education/training meetings; oversees the activities of assigned parent trainees; maintains records for Parent Committee funds.

-       Ensures the maintenance of up-to-date, accurate center and children’s files; reviews daily and monthly teacher reports; compiles and submits end-of-the-month reporting for each assigned program option, including site status, classroom status, meal count, volunteer time, in-kind donation, transportation, field trip and other reports required by funding agencies.

-       Fills in for other center staff as required; substitutes in the classroom; portions and prepares children’s meals; serves as bus aide when required; participates with other staff on field trips.

Other Duties:

-       Attends management, staff and program planning meetings; participates in mandatory training sessions.

-       Builds community relationships; participates in recruitment and enrollment activities as required

-       Maintains an inventory and orders materials and supplies for center operations.

-       Conducts home visits as required to address special children and/or family situations and needs.

-       Performs a variety of summer recess activities, including participating in the redesign of center forms, updating policies and procedures and service area plans and development of staff training plans and activities.

Qualifications: Knowledge/Skills

Knowledge of:

-       Principles and methods of instruction, care and supervision of infants, toddlers and pre-school children.

-       Concepts of child development and child behavior patterns of infants, toddlers and pre-school children.

-       MAAC policies and procedures, Head Start Performance Standards and relevant federal, state and local regulations applicable to the operations of a Head Start/EHS center.

-       Health and safety regulations and requirements for maintaining Head Start/EHS centers and grounds in a safe, clean and orderly condition.

-       Federal, state and local laws, regulations and court decisions applicable to assigned areas of responsibility.

-       MAAC administrative procedures and forms applicable to the operations of a Head Start/EHS center.

-       Principles and practices of sound business communication; correct English usage, including spelling, grammar and punctuation.

-       Computer hardware and standard business software.

-       Principles and practices of effective supervision.

-       MAAC human resources policies and procedures, applicable Head Start regulations and labor contract provisions.

Skills and Abilities to:

-       Plan, organize, and develop work schedules; supervise, monitor and evaluate the activities of an assigned Head Start/EHS center to ensure Performance Standards are met and compliance with all applicable regulations is maintained at all times.

-       Develop and implement developmentally appropriate curriculum, lesson plans and instructional strategies to meet the needs of infants, toddlers and preschool-aged children.

-       Create and maintain a safe learning environment.

-       Observe and document child development, behavior and health.

-       Operate a computer using standard business software.

-       Prepare clear, concise and comprehensive documentation, reports and other written materials.

-       Organize, set priorities and exercise sound independent judgment within areas of responsibility.

-       Communicate clearly and effectively, orally and in writing.

-       Maintain sensitive and confidential information.

-       Exercise tact and diplomacy in dealing with sensitive and complex issues and situations.

-       Establish and maintain effective working relationships with center staff, parents, children, other division managers, the community and others encountered in the course of work.

Value-Based Behavior

-       Listens attentively to others. Ask clarifying any questions to gain a better understanding of the other person’s views and underlying assumptions.

-       Works effectively in a team environment and actively participates in joint problem solving; willingly cooperates with co-workers.

-       Identifies and takes advantage of opportunities for personal and professional development.

-       Attends work consistently and punctually. Comes to meetings prepared and on time; honors work commitments; follows through on what was agreed upon; meets deadlines.

-       Honors the private and confidential matters of co-workers. Protects the proprietary information of the MAAC Properties Management System.

-       Follows rules, regulations, and policies. Positively contributes to implementing changes.

-       Communicates courteously and effectively with others.

-       Deals with issues directly, in a respectful and timely manner. Focuses on resolving the issue while not criticizing the person.

Education/Experience/Certification

A typical way of obtaining the knowledge, skills and abilities outlined above is graduation from a four-year college or university with a major in early childhood education, child development or a closely related field which includes 15 semester units in child development [12 CORE units] and 3 units in administration or staff relations; and at least four years of progressively responsible teaching experience in a Head Start or child development program, at least one of which was in a lead or supervisory capacity; or an equivalent combination of training and experience.

A Child Development Permit at the Site Supervisor or Program Director level may be required.

Note: Submission of transcripts, certificates, diplomas, verification of work experience may be required for certain    Positions.

Health Status

Must have a physical examination and TB clearance as required by state and federal regulations by a doctor/clinic designated by MAAC Project within seven (7) days of hire for new employees.

Physical and Mental Demands

The physical and mental demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this class. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Physical Demands

While performing the duties of this class, an employee is regularly required to stand, walk and sit; talk or hear, both in person and by telephone; use hands to finger, handle or feel objects or controls; reach with hands and arms. An employee also is regularly required to stoop, kneel, bend, crouch or crawl, climb or balance and lift up to 50 pounds.

Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, depth perception, color vision and the ability to adjust focus.

Mental Demands

While performing the duties of this class, the employee is regularly required to use written and oral communication skills; read and interpret information; analyze and solve problems; observe and interpret people and situations; use basic math; learn and apply new information or skills; work under intensive deadlines and interact with MAAC management, administrators, staff, teachers, parents, family members, children and others encountered in the course of work.

Background Clearance

Positions subject to a background and/or credit check are those that may involve, but are not limited to the following: responsibility for the care, safety and security of people, including children and minors, or property; direct access to, or control over, cash, checks, credit cards, and/or credit card account information; authority to commit financial resources of MAAC through contracts greater than $5,000; control over  business processes, either through functional roles or system security access; access to detailed personally identifiable information about employees which might enable identify theft; access to controlled substances; or possession of building master or sub-master keys for building access.

Note: California Start law requires background criminal checks on anyone who works in a licensed childcare facility who is not a client. Must have or obtain a current criminal background check clearance, signed criminal record statement, and signed Acknowledgement to Report Child Abuse form prior to employment or first day in facility.

Transportation

Must have and maintain a valid California Driver’s License, daily use of a personal, insured vehicle, and an acceptable Motor Vehicle Report. Incumbents will be enrolled in the California DMV Pull Program.

Disclosure: The provisions of this bulletin do not constitute an expressed or implied contract. Any provision contained in this bulletin may be modified or revoked without notice.

In compliance with The Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986 (IRCA), new employees are required to prove that they are legally entitled to work in the United States and must provide documents that establish both identity and employment eligibility as required for completion of the Employment Eligibility Verification form (Form I-9).

MAAC PROJECT promotes a diverse workforce and is an equal opportunity employer.

Applicants with disabilities requiring special attention and/or interview arrangements may Contact Human Resources.

MAAC Project Administrative Offices

1355 third Ave., Chula Vista, CA 91911

(619) 426-3595 * HR Fax (619) 426-3443

Head Start Division

800 W Los Vallecitos, Suite J, San Marcos, CA 92061

(760) 471-4210 * HR Fax (760) 471-3753