VP of Head Start

Family & Children’s Place is seeking an experienced and collaborative Vice President of Head Start to provide strategic and operational leadership for our Head Start, Early Head Start, and early childhood education programs.

The Vice President is responsible for the overall quality, compliance, performance, and sustainability of Head Start programming and provides leadership to a team of directors, managers, and program professionals. This role works closely with organizational leadership, Finance, Human Resources, the Board of Directors, Policy Council, community partners, and other stakeholders to ensure high-quality services and positive outcomes for children and families.

The ideal candidate is an experienced people and program leader who understands the complexities of Head Start and early childhood services and can balance regulatory compliance, fiscal accountability, program quality, staff development, and continuous improvement.

Essential Job Functions & Responsibilities

Strategic & Program Leadership

- Provide strategic and operational leadership for Head Start, Early Head Start, and early childhood education programs, ensuring alignment with FCP’s mission and organizational priorities.

- Establish program goals, priorities, and performance expectations and ensure accountability for results across program areas.

- Lead short- and long-range planning focused on program quality, sustainability, growth, and responsiveness to the needs of children and families.

- Collaborate with FCP leadership on organizational planning, workforce needs, budgeting, risk management, and initiatives impacting Head Start and early childhood services.

- Work collaboratively with FCP’s Board of Directors and Board committees as assigned by the President/CEO.

Compliance & Program Administration

- Ensure services are delivered in accordance with Head Start Program Performance Standards, grant requirements, applicable laws and regulations, contractual requirements, and organizational policies.

- Ensure required program reports and information are accurately prepared and provided to the Governing Body, Policy Council, Regional Office, and other applicable agencies.

- Lead preparation for federal monitoring reviews, audits, and other external reviews and ensure timely corrective action when necessary.

- Maintain effective systems to monitor compliance, identify areas of risk, and support consistent implementation of program requirements.

Fiscal & Grant Oversight

- Partner closely with the VP of Finance and fiscal team in the development, management, monitoring, and reporting of program budgets.

- Monitor program expenditures, non-federal share requirements, funded enrollment, and other applicable grant requirements.

- Review financial, enrollment, and program data to evaluate performance and identify areas requiring attention or corrective action.

- Participate in grant planning, continuation applications, and other funding activities supporting program sustainability.

Leadership & Staff Development

- Provide direct supervision, coaching, development, and performance management for the Head Start Associate Director, Head Start Academy Director, Home Visiting Manager, Education Services Manager, and CQI Program Specialist .

- Lead through directors and managers to establish clear expectations, accountability, collaboration, and consistent implementation of program priorities.

- Develop leadership capacity and promote ongoing professional development throughout the Head Start program.

- Partner with Human Resources to support effective recruitment, retention, performance management, employee development, compensation, and other workforce practices.

Program Quality & Continuous Improvement

- Oversee ongoing monitoring, program evaluation, and continuous quality improvement systems.

- Monitor key program indicators and outcomes, including enrollment, attendance, school readiness, child and family outcomes, service quality, and other applicable performance measures.

- Use program data and performance trends to identify strengths, address gaps, establish improvement priorities, and guide decision-making.

- Lead required program self-assessment and community needs assessment activities and incorporate findings into program planning.

- Provide leadership and oversight for recruitment, enrollment, attendance, and retention strategies to support achievement and maintenance of funded enrollment.

Community & Strategic Partnerships

- Develop and maintain strong relationships with community organizations, childcare providers, schools, JCPS, and other partners serving children and families.

- Represent FCP and its Head Start programs with community partners, funders, regulatory entities, and other stakeholders.

- Identify opportunities for collaboration that strengthen services, increase available resources, and improve outcomes for children and families.

Qualifications

- Bachelor’s degree in early childhood education, social work, human services, public administration, nonprofit management, or a related field required. Master’s degree preferred.

- Minimum of five years of progressively responsible leadership experience in Head Start/Early Head Start, early childhood education, human services, or a related program environment, including experience supervising and developing staff.

- Demonstrated experience with program administration, budget and fiscal oversight, regulatory or grant compliance, and continuous quality improvement.

- Experience with Head Start/Early Head Start programs and Head Start Program Performance Standards strongly preferred .

- Experience leading or overseeing childcare, preschool, early childhood education, and/or home visiting services for children and families from diverse backgrounds preferred.

- Demonstrated ability to use program and performance data to evaluate outcomes, identify areas for improvement, and support strategic decision-making.

- Strong leadership, communication, relationship-building, and organizational skills.

- Ability to travel locally between FCP locations, Head Start centers, partner sites, and community meetings as needed.