This role presents a significant leadership opportunity for an experienced early childhood professional to oversee a comprehensive portfolio of education and family services programs, including Head Start, Early Head Start, Voluntary Pre-K, School Readiness, and Court Care initiatives. The Director of Early Childhood Programs will provide strategic and operational leadership to ensure the delivery of high-quality, outcomes-driven services that align with the organization’s mission and values. With a strong emphasis on regulatory compliance, staff development, and continuous quality improvement, this position plays a critical role in advancing school readiness and family engagement across multiple sites.

Key Responsibilities

• Provide day-to-day operational and strategic oversight of all early childhood education and family services programs, ensuring alignment with federal, state, and local regulations and funder requirements.
• Lead implementation and monitoring of Head Start Performance Standards across all program components, including education, family engagement, health, mental health, and disabilities services.
• Build, lead, and sustain high-performing, multidisciplinary teams across multiple locations, fostering collaboration, accountability, and professional growth.
• Oversee curriculum implementation, program enhancements, and school readiness initiatives to ensure consistent, high-quality learning experiences.
• Partner with the Chief Operating Officer and Chief Financial Officer to develop, manage, and monitor program budgets; ensure fiscal accountability and sustainability across all funding sources.
• Prepare, submit, and monitor grant applications, annual program applications, corrective action plans, self-assessments, training and technical assistance plans, and required funder reports.
• Drive continuous quality improvement through data collection, analysis, trend reporting, and outcome-based program planning.
• Ensure staff credentialing, licensing, and professional development requirements are met and maintained; develop and implement ongoing training programs to support compliance and excellence.
• Serve as a key liaison with community partners, school districts, funders, and regulatory agencies to support families, staff, and program growth.
• Oversee recruitment, onboarding, supervision, coaching, and performance management of program leadership and site-based staff.
• Provide oversight of Court Care and KidSpace programs, including enrollment management, revenue monitoring, budget oversight, and funder reporting.
• Conduct regular site visits to ensure safe, nurturing, and developmentally appropriate environments for children and families.

• Bachelor’s degree in Early Childhood Education, Education, Child Development, or a closely related field, including a minimum of 18 credits in early childhood coursework.
• Three to five years of progressive leadership and supervisory experience in early childhood or child-focused programs, preferably within a nonprofit environment.
• Master’s degree strongly preferred.
• Demonstrated experience with Head Start and/or Early Head Start programs highly preferred.
• Proven experience managing multi-site operations, large teams, budgets, and complex compliance requirements.
• Knowledge of federal, state, and local early childhood regulations, including Head Start, Early Learning Coalition, VPK, and related funding streams.
• Ability to obtain Florida Director’s Credential within 90 days of hire, if not already held.

Key Competencies & Attributes

• Strategic and operational leadership
• Regulatory compliance and risk management
• Team building, coaching, and staff development
• Fiscal stewardship and budget management
• Data-informed decision-making and continuous improvement
• Strong written and verbal communication
• Cultural competence and community engagement
• Alignment with organizational values of courage, commitment, and compassion

About Merraine Group Inc.

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