Head Start Program Director

Position Overview

The Head Start Program Director, reporting to the Director of Human Services or their designee, is responsible for leading and managing the Head Start/Early Head Start Birth-to-Five program. This role includes ensuring program success in child outcomes and school readiness, aiming to meet or surpass national averages. The director supervises six direct reports, oversees a $25 million department budget, and manages a team of 100 staff members.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead strategic and operational aspects of the division, setting priorities, goals, policies, and performance standards while ensuring adherence to federal, state, and local regulations.
• Develop and maintain strong collaborative relationships with the Head Start Policy Council, Advisory Board, City leadership, County, State and Federal partners, regulatory bodies, delegate partners, and community stakeholders.
• Ensure delivery of high-quality, culturally responsive child development services that comply with Head Start Performance Standards, California early childhood education standards, and Community Care licensing requirements.
• Manage fiscal responsibilities, including budget planning, financial monitoring, contract administration, invoice processing, payments, and securing grants and alternative funding.
• Review budgets carefully to confirm spending aligns with allowable uses and identify early signs of financial risks in reports, staffing, or enrollment data.
• Oversee divisional operations ensuring consistent policy enforcement and effective cooperation with external agencies, consultants, and vendors.
• Recruit, supervise, and nurture staff; handle public inquiries and eligibility assessments; and provide technical support to community partners.
• Implement community engagement initiatives, educational programs, and training for clients, partners, and the public, including organizing town halls and listening sessions.

Ideal Candidate Attributes

• Mission-oriented, community-focused leader dedicated to equity and positive outcomes for children and families.
• Deep knowledge of Head Start and early childhood programs, including federal performance standards, compliance, monitoring, and multiple funding streams.
• Politically savvy and accountable, comfortable operating in a transparent setting with public meetings, community advocates, and oversight bodies.
• Strong relationship builder with executive presence, capable of working well with governing councils, city officials, labor representatives, service providers, and cross-department stakeholders.
• Operationally adept with a systems-oriented approach to stabilize and enhance staffing, systems, and service delivery across multiple sites and program models.
• Proven talent management leader with experience in hiring, retaining, coaching staff, and cultivating a positive organizational culture and team dynamics.
• Experienced in fiscal oversight and contract management, including budget control, audits, procurement, contracts, and payment processes.
• Effective change leader capable of navigating complex organizations, setting priorities, and implementing improvement plans while maintaining regulatory compliance and service quality.
• Excellent communicator and presenter skilled at engaging with diverse individuals and communities.
• Innovative systems thinker able to advance and coordinate program implementation citywide.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in public administration, business administration, human services, education, health services, sociology, psychology, or a closely related field from an accredited institution; Master’s degree preferred.
• Minimum five years of progressively responsible supervisory or managerial experience in human services program administration.
• Experience managing or working with federally funded programs such as Head Start or similar grant-funded initiatives is highly desirable.

Compensation and Benefits

The role offers a salary ranging between $164,730.84 and $202,265.88 annually, negotiable based on qualifications. Benefits include comprehensive medical and life insurance, automobile allowance, paid holidays, vacation and sick leave, management leave, participation in a public sector retirement plan (CalPERS 2.5% @ 55 for classic members; 2% @ 62 for new PEPRA members), and voluntary deferred compensation options.