Early Childhood Education Manager

Easterseals Southern California transforms lives every day. For over a century, Easterseals has championed inclusion and independence—delivering essential services like early childhood programs, autism services, employment and independent living support to more than 29,000 people each year. Through advocacy and education, we break barriers and create opportunities for the one-in-four Americans with disabilities. 

OVERVIEW OF POSITION: Provides leadership, plans, develops andadministers, the delivery of early childhood education services, as part ofHead Start and Early Head Start at multiple locations and program options(center based, home based and family child care homes); provide oversight andcompliance with all Child Development Program Education requirem e nts.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTION:

• Participates in monthly meetings with all ECE managers to ensure regional alignment of performance, policies and procedures and goals.
• Conducts regular visits of Head Start and Early Head Start environments to observe activities, provide consultation, determine training needs of teaching staff, and to review curriculum implementation, environment, adequacy of supplies and usage, and the outdoor environments.
• Designs, develops, and delivers training programs and workshops to educators and other interdisciplinary professionals working within ESSC in support of high quality child outcomes. Provide supervision to Mentor (Teacher Coaches).
• Leads the process for School Readiness Outcomes, CLASS, Curriculim to Fidelity, Coaching, ERS, DRDP and all other educational sceenings and assessments for Child Development Programs utilizing various tools and data collection.
• Collaborates monthly with other content managers, ESSC staff, partners and providers to provide individualized support to children and staff in the program as part of a miltidisciplinary case management team.
• Collaborates with center directors and other ESSC team members, assures program environments are high quality, exceedingly safe and provide an engaging environment for children indoors and outdoors.
• Participates in committees and advisory boards and contributes to the development of policies and program initiatives related to student educational outcomes.
• Participates as appropriate in the development of refunding applications; integrate strategic planning initiatives into budget requests as a participant in the ESSC annual budget process.
• Leads an expansion of a “continuous quality Improvement culture”; building on compliance and data analysis as tools for understanding what is working and where we may need to focus on improvements. Review and interpret relevant data to assess program outcomes, completion of contract requirements and to drive strategic planning for the program and associated programs.
• Other duties as assigned.

EDUCATION:

• Bachelor's degree in early childhood education, child development or special education. Master's degree, preferred.
• Possession of a Child Development Site Supervisor Permit or higher in compliance with Title 5 or 24 units ECE/CD including core courses (Child Growth & Development, Child/Family/Community, Infant/Toddler and Programs/curriculum). Must meet ongoing educational requirements to qualify for child development permit/CDA requirements. Must obtain and maintain certification to all screenings and assessments used by the ESSC Education department within 18 months of hire (Including but not limited to ERS, CLASS, Creative Curriculum, Teaching Strategies, HOOVERS, HELP, Kinder charts and DRDP).
• Must complete California-mandated Child Abuse Reporter Training.
• Food Handler Certification (ANSI).
• Pesticide Safety Training (per Healthy Schools Act) prior to beginning work.

EXPERIENCE:

• Documented 5 to 8 years’ experience working with infants, toddlers, and preschool children in an early childhood environment.
• Documented 3 years’ experience in a supervisory role.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, ABILITIES:

• Ability to properly interpret and implement regulations, policies and procedures of Head Start Performance Standard, policies and procedures, the California Department of Education, Funding Terms and Conditions (Title 5), Child Development Division, the Department of Social Services, Community Care Licensing program regulations (Title 22), and the policies and procedures of Easter Seals Southern California, Inc.
• Knowledge of child development and current research-based pedagogy, curriculum resources, appropriate classroom management techniques for teaching environments and reflective practice mentor/coaching strategies.
• Knowledge of HS/EHS performance standards.
• Knowledge of adult learning techniques.
• Knowledge of Development milestones of infants, toddlers, and preschoolers.
• Prior experience with developmentally appropriate practices.
• Experience working with diverse families with very young children.
• Demonstrated proficiency with MS Office applications (e.g. Outlook, Excel, Skype).
• 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.
• Demonstrated competence in ECE instructional methodologies; experience working in a multi-cultural setting.
• Ability to train and provide presentations to large and small groups.
• Ability to communicate effectively, through oral and written skills, and work cooperatively with a variety of individuals and groups. Must relate well to children and their families and maintain a positive effect.
• Ability to exercise sound judgment, plan, establish and meet timelines.
• Open and close facility; conduct ratio audits and supervise staff in Site Director’s absence. Assist in the classroom to ensure ratio when needed. Knowledge of developmentally appropriate practices for early childhood family services; experience working with diverse families of very young children; ability to communicate effectively, through oral and written skills, and work cooperatively with a variety of individuals and groups; must relate well to children and their families.
• Ability to obtain and maintain a criminal record/fingerprint clearance from the Department of Justice and Federal Bureau of Investigation per Easterseals Southern California and/or program requirements. Must have sex offender index clearance.
• Present a clear TB test and pass a pre-employment physical.
• Ability to provide any/all current immunizations as required by the State of California for child development centers and staff.
• Possess up-to-date pediatric (infant/toddler) CPR, first aid and food handler certificate.
• Ability to travel locally with reliable transportation, maintain driving record in compliance with Transportation Safety Standards, and maintain auto insurance and vehicle registration.
• Exercise sound judgment, plan, establish and meet timelines.
• Ability to stand for extended periods. Possess fine manual dexterity, can push, pull, talk/hear, with near and far visual acuity/depth perception/color vision/field of vision.
• Develop knowledge of parent involvement, cooperative family goal setting, supporting families through change.

Carrying/Lifting: Constant / 0-40 lbs.
Standing: Constant / Up to 8 hours per day
Sitting: Occasional / Up to 3 hours per day
Walking: Occasional / Up to 3 hours per day
Repetitive Motion/Activity: Keyboard activity, telephone use, writing
Visual Acuity: Ability to view computer monitor and read newsprint
Travel: Up to 0% of time
Environmental Exposure: May have exposure to unpleasant or hazardous workingconditions (e.g., noise, yelling, dust, bodily fluids, etc.), indoor andoutdoor workplakce.