Job description

Senior Director of Early Childhood Programs

Organizational Overview

East End House community center uses a holistic approach to promote the wellbeing, academic achievement, and successful transition to adulthood of children and youth from under-resourced families in Cambridge and surrounding communities. As part of the approach, East End House provides support services to a diverse population, from infants to seniors, to strengthen family and community.

East End House is a 147-year-old, non-profit, multi-service agency, serving culturally diverse families and individuals of all ages in Cambridge, Somerville, and surrounding communities. We provide fully licensed and high-quality childcare for children ages fifteen months through five years of age in our Early Learning Programs and five years (K2) through thirteen years in our Out-of-School-Time Programs. In addition, Emergency Food and Infant Necessities Programs we offer free Middle-School Aged Youth and Teen programming, a developing high school program, a School Age Summer Program, nutritional, social, and recreational programming for the elderly; community space for advocacy, self-help and community groups, and a variety of other community programs and initiatives.

Advancing achievement. Strengthening Communities is more than just a tag line at East End House. In recent years, the agency has developed a Theory of Change (“ToC”) blueprint that aligns all programming to the long-term goal of youth completing at least two years of post- secondary education or finding gainful employment by age 24. East End House also uses the Five Preventive (Proactive) Factors for Strengthening Families (adopted from the Center for the Study of Social Policy’s Strengthening Families Project) framework to help shape all its core programs and services: (1) Parental Resilience, (2) Social Connections, (3) Knowledge of Parenting and Child Development, (4) Concrete Support in Times of Need, (5) Social Emotional Competence of Children.

Position Summary

The Senior Director of Early Childhood Programs is an exciting opportunity for a proven leader to gain broad experience in nonprofit management and make a measurable impact on the agency’s ability to provide transformational programming for community members. This is a full-time, exempt position with benefits that reports to the President and CEO and will work closely with the senior leadership team and program directors. The overarching role of this position is focused on, but not limited to, the following areas:

• Assist with recruiting and hiring the best early childhood educators possible
• Assist with developing and implementing evaluation and quality improvement processes across the Early Childhood Programs in line with the East End House’s Theory of Change Blueprint (“ToC”) and Five Protective Factors model
• Work to become reaccredited and maintain National Association for the Education of Young Children (“NAEYC’) and Council on Accreditation (“COA”) accreditations
• Achieve and maintain a Level Four Quality Rating and Improvement System (QRIS) rating
• Create, maintain, and measure program activities and staff against high quality program standards
• Conduct research on strategic opportunities for program, quality, and organizational growth and innovation through new initiatives and partnerships

Duties and Responsibilities

• Oversees Early Childhood Programs implementation and success:
• Displays commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion, and social justice
• Maintains compliance with Massachusetts Early Education Care (EEC) and Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education Child and Adult Food Program regulations
• Ensures timely and full completion of supervisory responsibilities (e.g., personnel recordkeeping; classroom observations; disciplinary actions; payroll; and administrative reporting and regular tracking of work schedules, time-off, etc.)
• Assures that the staff is adequately trained (e.g., first aid, other licensor requirements) and has appropriate opportunities for continuing education and professional development
• Ensures and maintains a minimum of 95% of Center enrollment; facilitates and manages enrollment process, tours, enrollment waitlist, enrollment paperwork, tuition, billing, etc.)
• Conducts Parent/Caregiver meetings alongside teachers, when necessary, to discuss developmental or behavioral concerns
• Ensures adequate assessments of all children; reviews/edits and approves progress reports before sharing with parents/guardians
• Oversee and help develop evaluation, data collection, performance management and quality improvement systems, particularly in its early childhood programs
• Ensures compliance with all relevant state, city, and grant requirements
• Create, maintain, and measure program activities and staff against high quality program standards as delineated by the Council on Accreditation, Massachusetts Department of Early Education and Care, National Association for the Education of Young Children, and the Quality Rating and Improvement System (QRIS)
• Work with outside evaluation consultants to coordinate evaluation and quality improvement plans.
• Develops, facilitates, and delivers high quality parenting workshops and seminars consisted with the Five Protective Factors and Theory of Change Frameworks
• Involved in targeted community outreach, engagement and needs assessment as relevant to developing alignment with East End House’s programs and services
• Identify opportunities for the agency to leverage cross-program strengths to take advantage of new opportunities and/or to address organizational needs, in alignment with the agency’s Theory of Change and Five Protective Factors Framework
• Conducts research on strategic opportunities for program and organizational growth through new initiatives and partnerships
• Collaborate with Program Directors to create and track progress towards distinct short- term, intermediary, and long-term goals laid out in a strategic logic model designed in alignment with the agency’s Theory of Change (“ToC”) and Five Protective Factors Framework
• Leads, mentors, oversees, and evaluates staff using ongoing informal and formal performance measures regarding conduct, work performance, classroom programs, care provided, and the frequency, quality of Parent/Caregiver interactions, and other areas
• Attends industry seminars and conferences to maintain knowledge in the professional field; maintains strong professional relationships with other area Directors and EEC licensor
• Take a primary role in the recruitment and hiring of talented, skilled, and motivated staff to the core programs and services
• Participate as part of the East End House Management and Leadership Teams
• Serve as a visible spokesperson and advocate for East End House’s mission and programs in the broader community
• Model and exhibit excellent interpersonal relationships formally and informally across all levels of the organization, as well as externally with funding sources and collaborating organizations and bodies
• Actively participate in special projects, grant writing, strategic planning and implementation of new initiatives

Requirements:

• Skilled and passionate about the East End House’s mission and Theory of Change.
• Aligned, believes in, and able to follow East End House’s Statement of Values*
• Experience in nonprofit management, program development, and evaluation required.
• Excellent problem-solver who can flexibly balance multiple tasks and responsibilities
• Strong organization skills, an ability to meet deadlines and work independently and collaboratively
• Experience with data analysis, reporting, and using data to guide decision making
• Knowledge and expertise in child development across the spectrum of ages, from early childhood to young adulthood is a plus
• Bachelor’s degree in related field required; Master’s Degree preferred
• Massachusetts Department of Early Education and Care Director I qualified; must obtain certification within 45 days of hire. Director II qualified upon hire is preferred.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills

Job Type: Full-time

Pay: $55,000.00 - $65,000.00 per year

Benefits:

• 401(k)
• 401(k) matching
• Dental insurance
• Health insurance
• Life insurance
• Paid time off
• Parental leave
• Professional development assistance
• Retirement plan

Schedule:

• 8 hour shift
• Monday to Friday

Experience:

• Teaching: 1 year (Required)

License/Certification:

• Massachusetts EEC Director I qualification (Required)

Work Location: One location

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