Program Director

Position Summary: The Birth–5 Program Director provides strategic leadership, oversight, and management of all early childhood programs serving children from prenatal through age five. The primary focus is the day-to-day operations of each service in Helping People Succeeds Birth-5 program portfolio. This role ensures high-quality, evidence-based programming that supports early intervention, school readiness, and family stability. The Director is responsible for program implementation, compliance, staff supervision, and continuous quality improvement while advancing the organization’s mission.

Key Responsibilities

Program Leadership & Strategy

1. Lead the operationalization of the organization’s vision, strategy, and growth of all Birth–5 programs aligned with organizational goals
2. Oversee implementation of developmentally appropriate programming for young children and families
3. Ensure programs align with best practices in early childhood development, early intervention, disability support services and school readiness
4. Maintain a growth mindset to remain open to adding services to the portfolio that meet community needs

Program Management & Operations

1. Oversee daily operations of all Birth–5 program sites and services, ensuring appropriate staffing and tracking of all programmatic data
2. Ensure compliance with all federal, state, and local regulations, licensing requirements, and grant standards
3. Develop and manage program budgets, including monitoring expenses and maximizing resource utilization
4. Establish and maintain policies, procedures, and systems that support effective program delivery
5. Ensure program operations follow organizational standards, processes, and expectations to ensure consistency across all departments

Staff Leadership & Development

1. Recruit, supervise, and support program staff ensuring accountability of each team member to meet performance targets and follow organizational procedures
2. Foster a positive, inclusive, and high-performing team culture where data is used to evaluate and adjust for program success
3. Provide ongoing coaching, training, and professional development to team members to ensure the team grows with and stays aligned to best practices in early childhood development
4. Conduct performance evaluations and ensure accountability to program goals

Family & Community Engagement

1. Build strong relationships with families, ensuring programs are responsive to their needs
2. In partnership with the Chief Program Officer, develop and maintain partnerships with community organizations, schools, healthcare providers, and other stakeholders
3. Represent the organization in community early childhood initiatives

Data, Evaluation & Continuous Improvement

1. Establish and track key performance indicators related to child outcomes, family engagement, and program quality
2. Use data to drive decision-making and continuous program improvement
3. Prepare reports for leadership, funders, and stakeholders demonstrating program impact

Fund Development & Grants Support

1. Collaborate with Executive Team on grant writing, reporting, and compliance
2. Ensure program deliverables meet all grant and contract requirements

Qualifications

Education & Experience

1. Bachelor’s degree in early childhood education, Child Development, Social Work, Public Administration, or related field (master’s preferred)
2. 5–7+ years of progressive leadership experience in early childhood or family-serving programs with evidence of success in leading teams of 10 or more staff members
3. Experience managing federally, state, or grant-funded programs strongly preferred

Skills & Competencies

1. Deep knowledge of early childhood development, early intervention, intellectual and developmental disabilities, school readiness, and family systems
2. Strong leadership, team management, and coaching skills
3. Experience with program design, evaluation, and data-driven decision-making
4. Excellent organizational, financial management, and problem-solving abilities
5. Strong communication and relationship-building skills
6. Ability to manage multiple programs and priorities in a dynamic environment

Work Environment & Expectations

1. Full-time position: occasional evenings or weekends may be required
2. Local travel to program sites and community meetings

Key Outcomes for Success

1. High-quality programming with measurable improvements in child development and school readiness
2. Strong staff engagement and performance
3. Positive family outcomes and satisfaction
4. Successful compliance with all funding and regulatory requirements
5. Growth in program reach, partnerships, and funding