Early Childhood Manager - New England Region (Remote Opportunity)

About UMass Amherst

UMass Amherst, the Commonwealth's flagship campus, is a nationally ranked public research university offering a full range of undergraduate, graduate and professional degrees. The University sits on nearly 1,450-acres in the scenic Pioneer Valley of Western Massachusetts, and offers a rich cultural environment in a bucolic setting close to major urban centers. In addition, the University is part of the Five Colleges (including Amherst College, Hampshire College, Mount Holyoke College, and Smith College), which adds to the intellectual energy of the region.

Job Summary

The University of Massachusetts Donahue Institute (UMDI), Head Start Region I TTA Early Childhood Manager (ECM) ensures the smooth delivery of training, consultation and technical assistance in the areas of school readiness and family engagement and coordinates with the delivery of training, consultation and technical assistance in the areas of program systems and organization, and in specific content areas (health, family engagement, and disability services). The Early Childhood Manager works closely with the Training and Technical Assistance Coordinator (TTAC) and Grantee Specialists Manager (GSM) to align their work with the priorities of the Administration for Children and Families (ACF)/Office of Head Start (OHS) Regional Office.

Essential Functions

• Implements a comprehensive system of quality assurance for training and technical assistance (TTA) to grantees and contract deliverables related to the work of Early Childhood Specialists.
• Implements professional development for Early Childhood Specialists to increase their capability to deliver technical assistance that increases program capacity and supports grant recipients in the areas of school readiness, coaching, curriculum implementation and fidelity, teacher-child interactions, family engagement, child and family outcomes, assessment, data aggregation and analysis and related systems.
• Participates in national and regional work groups and meetings, and professional development events, as directed.
• Provides direct TTA, as requested.
• Implements TTA data aggregation, analysis, and reporting processes that inform and improve the quality and responsiveness of Early Childhood Specialist services and improve coordination with state, regional, and national priorities and other early childhood TTA systems, as directed by the Regional Office.
• Supports OHS priorities and initiatives.
• Works with TTAC and OHS Regional Office to ensure coordinated support and technical assistance for Head Start grant recipients in Region I (CT, MA, ME, NH, RI, VT).
• Develops regional/state work plans with the TTAC to address the needs of Head Start grant recipients, identify gaps, and develop strategies to ensure compliance and improve quality.
• Supervises 7 to 9 employees, including regular observations and check-ins, and performance reviews.

Other Functions

• Develops and maintains working understanding, and complies with all national, regional, contract and Institute planning, reporting, recordkeeping and cybersecurity requirements and key University administrative procedures, systems, and tools.
• Delivers public presentations as appropriate to support clients’ dissemination needs and to market the services of Head Start Region I and UMDI.
• Participates in business unit and UMDI initiatives, as required.

Minimum Qualifications (Knowledge, Skills, Abilities, Education, Experience, Certifications, Licensure)

• Demonstrated ability/experience in the following:
• Conducting training and consultations, both in-person and virtually.
• Successfully developing, implementing and managing/improving complex, high profile, multi-faceted projects including experience in implementing quality assurance systems.
• Analyzing, aggregating, and presenting data gathered from multiple sources.
• Three (3) or more years’ progressive supervisory/management experience and staff development with a preference for experience managing remotely located staff/teams.
• Proficiency in use of Microsoft Office and on-line training applications.
• More than seven (7) years’ experience, to include at least three (3) years’ provision of high-level technical assistance and consultation to Head Start or other early childhood programs related to school readiness.
• Experience coaching staff.
• Bachelor’s Degree.
• Communicating clearly, both orally and in writing.

Preferred Qualifications (Knowledge, Skills, Abilities, Education, Experience, Certifications, Licensure)

• Master’s Degree.
• Ten (10) or more years’ experience with high level technical assistance and consultation to Head Start programs, progressive supervisory/management experience and expertise and experience in federal budget oversight and management.
• Academic disciplines: Early Childhood Education/Development, Educational Leadership, or related fields.

Physical Demands/Working Conditions

• Working multiple hours in stationary position using office equipment and computers.
• Traveling throughout New England at least 50% of the time and nationwide travel on occasion.
• UMDI will supply laptop computer, printer/copier, LCD projector, computer speakers, cell phone. Other equipment and resources may be provided. All must be returned to UMDI when leaving UMDI service or upon the conclusion of the contract.
• Entails transporting and setting up equipment and materials weighing up to 20 lbs. per item.
• Must maintain a home office, with high-speed internet access, sufficiently free of distractions to allow work to be done.
• The physical/mental demands and work environment factors described above are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job.

Additional Details

• Any job offer is specifically conditioned upon the potential candidate consenting to and successfully completing a background review.
• Must reside in one of the six New England States (CT, MA, ME, NH, RI, VT).
• The Regional head Start business work is built upon advancing equity and strives to use culturally responsive and equitable practices in all of its work. To this end, we are actively working to engage a diverse team of Training, Consultant, and Technical Assistance Specialists that is reflective of the Head Start Community.
• This is a full-time, benefited position.
• This position is funded by grants and/or contracts and is contingent upon funding.
• Applicants who are not authorized to work in the U.S. will not be considered.

Work Schedule

• Standard full-time work schedule consisting of five, eight-hour days and 40 hours each week. Work performed in addition to regular work hours may be necessary and may require a change in availability at specific times, to accommodate for variations in work demands.
• This position has the opportunity for a remote work schedule, which is defined by the University as an arrangement where the employee’s work location is to work from a site other than the UMass Amherst campus. As this position falls within the Professional Staff Union, it is subject to the terms and conditions of the Professional Staff Union collective bargaining agreement.

Salary Information

Level 31

PSU Hiring Ranges

Special Instructions to Applicants

Along with the application, please submit a resume, cover letter, and contact information for three (3) professional references. The search will remain open until filled.

UMass Amherst is committed to a policy of equal opportunity without regard to race, color, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, age, sexual orientation, national origin, ancestry, disability, military status, or genetic information in employment, admission to and participation in academic programs, activities, and services, and the selection of vendors who provide services or products to the University. To fulfill that policy, UMass Amherst is further committed to a program of affirmative action to eliminate or mitigate artificial barriers and to increase opportunities for the recruitment and advancement of qualified minorities, women, persons with disabilities, and covered veterans. It is the policy of the UMass Amherst to comply with the applicable federal and state statutes, rules, and regulations concerning equal opportunity and affirmative action.