Preschool and Early Head Start Director

JOB TITLE: Director of Programs and Impact
REPORTS TO: Executive Director
SUPERVISES: Assistant Program Director, Parent Program Coordinator; teaching staff; kitchen staff
STATUS: Full-time exempt, ~40-hrs/week (100% Programs)
SCHEDULE: On-site Monday-Friday, 6:30am-3:30pm, or 9:30am-6:30pm; Flexible scheduling may be required. Some additional
evening, early morning, and weekend work may be required with this position.
COMPENSATION: $60,000-$65,000/year DOE
BENEFITS: Four weeks of built-in paid holidays aligning with Fort Worth ISD’s major breaks; Two additional weeks of paid time off
plus flex time; Telemedicine health program (this is a supplemental health service; this is not insurance); Free and/or reduced price
mental health counseling; Complimentary lunch.
JOB DESCRIPTION
The Director of Programs and Impact is responsible for the oversight of the organization’s early childhood and parent engagement
programs, ensuring fidelity of program delivery as outlined by the organization’s logic models and data collection plans. The Director
is additionally responsible for managing and supervising the program team and day-to-day operations to provide a safe, enjoyable,
and enriching experience for children and parents alike. As a member of the organization’s executive team, the Director advises on
mid- and high-level program choices using an outcomes-based evaluation model and contributes to the strategic planning and
execution of the overall mission of the organization.
ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS, DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
● Maintains awareness of trends and best practices and is proactive in continually acquiring knowledge in fields related to
children and families, poverty and homelessness, and early childhood development and education.
● Maintains familiarity and ensures compliance with the organization’s internal policies and procedures, and with the
regulations of all programmatic governing agencies, including HHS Child-Care Licensing, CACFP, CCMS, Texas Rising Star, and
Head Start.
● Leads and supervises the teaching team through communication, collaboration, and discussion of individual children’s
needs, services, and curriculum planning.
● Leads and supports Assistant Director to manage enrollment, tuition agreements, data collection, reporting, staff training,
etc.
● Supervises kitchen staff to ensure delivery of timely, tasty, nutritious meals in accordance with CACFP guidelines.
● Works closely with the Parent Engagement Coordinator to ensure families and children are referred and/or connected to
community resources, as appropriate.
● Assures that accurate program data is submitted to CNM on a timely basis and utilizes analyzed data to inform the program
for effective program monitoring, assessment, and improvement
● Completes the process of screening, interviewing, and hiring staff in collaboration with the Operations Coordinator.
● Annually, reviews the performance of each direct report and communicates the results of that review to the employee and
to the Executive Director.
● Annually, develops a budget in conjunction with the Executive Director and finance department.
● Monthly, monitors expenses to ensure adherence to budget projections and/or revises as needed.
● Collaborates with organization’s data consultants by submitting monthly and quarterly data, evaluating the demonstrated
outcomes, and making data-driven decisions to improve programming.
● Supports the fundraising efforts of the organization by providing timely data to the development team as requested.
● Other duties as assigned.
EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE

● Bachelor’s Degree in Early Childhood Education or related field with three to five years of management/leadership
experience in an early childhood setting.
● Minimum of three years of classroom or management experience in an early childhood setting.
KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, ABILITIES
● Knowledge of Texas Child Care Licensing Minimum Standards.
● Knowledge of CCMS program and Texas Rising Star requirements.
● Knowledge of Head Start and Early Head Start Performance Standards.
● Knowledge of Best Practices in Early Childhood Development.
● Knowledge of the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) accreditation process and philosophy.
● Knowledge of Google Workspace apps including Drive, Sheets, Docs, and Gmail - or the ability to learn them independently
and to use them.
● Ability to learn and use any other software programs needed in the operations of Fortress programs, including, but not
limited to BambooHR, Brightwheel, or any other data collection and reporting software.
● Strong analytical skills, especially when looking at data and trends.
● Excellent mental and physical organization, with the ability to divide a large task into small parts and manage each
component of multiple and simultaneous projects or events.
● Excellent time management and a self-starter attitude.
● Bonus: Bilingual in English and Spanish.
● Bonus: Formally trained in one or more of the theories of practice that Fortress utilizes, including: Trust-Based Relational
Intervention; Conscious Discipline; Outcomes-Based Program Evaluation; Crisis Prevention Institute; Asset-Based
Community Development; and Understanding Poverty/Bridges Out of Poverty.
PERSONAL QUALIFICATIONS
● Is a mature and practicing Christian, with the ability to serve as a spiritual leader to other staff.
● Has a passion for the mission and goals of Fortress, particularly when it comes to meeting the academic, social, emotional,
and spiritual needs of children and families experiencing poverty.
● Meets the Texas Health & Human Services (HHS) director qualifications, which requires that directors:
○ Be 21 years of age or older;
○ Have a sufficient combination of education and experience (See section §746.1015 of HHS Minimum Standards for
details. Preference will be given to candidates who meet non-expiring director’s qualifications.)
○ Pass a criminal background check; and
○ Comply with Texas HHS Minimum Standards for Child-Care Centers.
● Has a strong grasp of the formal and casual language registers, exceptional interpersonal skills, and the ability to interact
effectively with staff, clients, and community partners.
● Is highly dependable, with good attendance, resourcefulness, and the ability to initiate and oversee projects in adherence to
timelines and schedules.
● Possesses empathy and the ability to provide both nurturing care and relational structure for children, families, and
employees.
● Operates from a trauma-informed and equity-oriented perspective when working with children, families, and employees.
WORK ENVIRONMENT
● At least 60% of time will be spent on your feet or otherwise actively interacting with students, staff, and parents.
● As much as 40% of time will be spent in administrative work, such as being seated at a computer, participating in meetings,
or making phone calls.
● This role involves meeting moderate physical demands, particularly while interacting with children, such as lifting and
carrying items weighing up to 40 lbs.

● The majority of this role occurs on-site and at Fortress’s facility, however, some local travel is required. This role must
possess and maintain a valid Texas driver’s license.
EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER
Candidates with lived experience facing economic or racial injustice are strongly encouraged to apply. Fortress does not discriminate
on the basis of race, nationality, color, sex, sexual orientation, age, disability, or other non-merit factors. We reserve the right to
inquire about and screen for religious affiliation and faith practices as a bona fide occupational requirement, as allowed by federal
law under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act.
MISSION
Fortress provides hope and resources for children and their families as they work toward long-term stability, health, and happiness.
Through programs focused on academic, social-emotional, and spiritual support, our dual-generational approach utilizes existing
strengths and develops new skills to help families overcome barriers rooted in systemic inequities, generational trauma, and life
circumstances.
CORE VALUES
Our team is dedicated to upholding a core set of values which define our organization and align with our overall mission. At Fortress,
we are:
● United in Christ
● Equity Oriented
● Family Focused
● Learning Centered
● Trauma Informed
● Unflinchingly Bold
● Rooted in Empathy
● Entrepreneurial yet Disciplined
To learn more about our work culture, core values, and faith practices – and to apply! – visit www.fortressfw.org/hiring.