Director Education Services

Company Overview

At Orange County Head Start, we believe every child deserves the chance to shine. That's why we're on a mission to level the playing field for children and families in poverty. We partner with families to provide high-quality education and support through our Head Start and Early Head Start programs. We're looking for passionate individuals who share our commitment to helping children reach their full potential. Be part of a team making a daily impact in children's lives. Work in a purpose-driven environment where your passion meets opportunity. Help children overcome challenges and unlock their potential. As part of our team, you'll play a vital role in shaping young lives. Do you have the purpose and passion to make a real difference? Join us and help children unleash their potential, while you unleash your own!


Job Purpose Summary
Responsible for the operational excellence of education services, the Director of Education Services provides executive leadership and expert advocacy for early childhood development, inclusive of mental health and disabilities services, at OCHS. Tasked with overseeing the quality and integration of services across all program models for OCHS and our partner locations, this role ensures the Agency remains at the forefront of educational research and regulatory compliance. By advising the Executive Director and partnering with Program Services leadership, the Director of Education Services translates complex state and federal trends into actionable policies that empower Center Directors and staff to deliver exceptional outcomes for children and families. The Director of Education Services serves as the Agency's chief strategist for early childhood development and a champion of exemplary leadership. This role ensures the delivery of high-quality, integrated services across all HS and EHS programs by modeling the way and inspiring a shared vision. The Director drives educational excellence by challenging the process, enabling others to act, and encouraging the hearts of staff across over 30 locations.

Director of Education Services Essential Job Duties
Strategic Leadership, Vision, & Policy Architecture

• Visionary Alignment: Create and communicate a compelling vision for educational excellence at OCHS that aligns with the Agency's mission. Ensure that every Education and Inclusion Team member understands their role in achieving long-term child outcomes.
• Policy Development: Architect and maintain the Education, Mental Health, & Disabilities Service Area Plan, Policies, and Procedures (SAPPP) to ensure OCHS remains a gold-standard grantee. Translate complex federal and state trends into actionable policies.
• Regulatory Subject Matter Expert: Serve as the leading advisor to the Executive Director on issues related to early childhood development, research-based pedagogy, and 2 CFR Part 200 and HSPPS compliance.
• Systems Integration: Partner with the Director of Program Services to ensure educational strategies are seamlessly woven into the daily operations of all OCHS locations (including partnerships).
• Delegate Oversight: Establish and maintain OCHS standards in ECE for monitoring the Agency's partners, providing technical assistance and corrective action plans as needed.
• Licensing: Serves as the primary point of contact for childcare licensing.

Educational Excellence & Innovation

• Continuous Improvement: Search for opportunities to improve and innovate educational services, minimizing administrative and paper documentation where possible. Proactively identify outdated practices and implement modern enhancements (e.g., advanced ChildPlus or AI utilization).
• Curricula & Outcomes: Direct the selection and implementation of curricula enhancements and teaching staff development programs to maximize school readiness and child outcomes.
• Community Partnerships: Establish and enhance educational collaborations with community organizations, higher education teacher preparation programs, and specialized service providers.
• Risk-Taking & Learning: Foster a culture where staff are encouraged to experiment with new pedagogical methods. Use the Staff Suggestion Box information as a primary tool for identifying and implementing "small wins" that lead to systemic progress and to integrate grassroots feedback into program improvements
• Innovation: Cultivate an "intrapreneurial" environment where innovation is recognized, implemented, and encouraged.

Data-Driven Operations

• Reporting & Analytics: Direct the collection and analysis of agency-wide education data. Present progress reports on Education Department goals and outcomes to the Board of Directors and Policy Council.
• Performance Tracking: Establish a systematic approach to monitor improvements and document successes, ensuring that data is used to drive continuous program refinement.
• Strategic Communication: Present progress reports on Education Department goals and outcomes to the Board of Directors and Policy Council, highlighting key performance indicators (KPIs) and data-validated achievements.
• Fiscal Stewardship: Establish and manage budgets for all directly operated and partner centers and programs, ensuring cost containment while maintaining high-quality service delivery.
• Structure Analysis: Regularly analyze the organizational staffing structure to ensure all performance standards and licensing ratios are consistently met or exceeded.
• Innovative Scheduling: Design and manage scheduling practices that are both mindful of staff personal needs and innovative in meeting the fluctuating operational requirements of the center.
• Grant Support: Lead the authorship of the educational and direct-service components of the agency's annual grant applications.

Leadership & Talent Management

• Executive Oversight: Manage and guide Education Managers and Center Directors in leadership practices, performance expectations, and strategic initiatives.
• Workforce Development: Forecast staffing needs and modernize the recruitment process by incorporating innovative interviewing techniques and direct supervisor collaboration during selection; coordinate specialized training initiatives to sustain a high-performing education team.
• Culture & Values: Lead initiatives to ensure a positive, inclusive, and supportive workplace culture for all education and inclusion staff. Foster and demonstrate a people first culture.
• Compliance: Ensure the Education Department adheres to employment laws, internal policies, and laws/regulations.

I ntegrity & Standards

• Leading by Example: Establish and uphold high standards of excellence for the Education Department. Ensure personal and professional actions are consistently aligned with OCHS core values and the Head Start mission.
• Staff Wellness & EQ: Prioritize and sustain staff wellness by embedding high emotional intelligence (EQ) standards into daily communication, leadership strategies, and conflict resolution practices to foster a resilient, supportive work environment.
• Value Clarity: Build a common understanding of organizational values among a diverse workforce of ~300-350 staff members, ensuring these values guide daily decision-making.

Culture & Recognition

• Recognizing Contributions: Implement systems to recognize individual excellence in the classroom and in administration. Ensure that staff efforts toward school readiness goals are celebrated and tied to the Agency's broader successes.
• Celebrating Values: Create a "spirit of community" by celebrating program milestones and cultural victories, reinforcing the emotional connection staff have to the families they serve.
• Managerial Accountability & Advocacy: Hold managers accountable for implementing specific strategies and systems that advocate for and celebrate frontline staff. Ensure that those making the greatest impact with our families and children are consistently highlighted, supported, and championed at all levels of leadership.

Collaboration & Capacity Building

• Stakeholder Engagement: Foster collaboration by building spirited teams. Strengthen the partnership between Education and Program Services to ensure a seamless "one-agency" approach.
• Empowerment: Strengthen others by sharing power and discretion. Provide Center Directors and Education Managers with the tools, data, and authority they need to lead their own teams effectively.
• Partner Mentorship: Provide high-level technical assistance to Partner Agencies, treating them as partners in the shared goal of regional excellence.

Other Essential Job Duties

• Demonstrate a strong commitment to early childhood education and school readiness while serving as a passionate advocate for underserved children, families, and communities.
• Mandated reporter under California's Child Abuse and Neglect Reporting Act (CANRA).
• Must abide by all agency policies, including the agency's Standards of Conduct, fraud, and confidentiality policies. Must not discuss the affairs of the staff, children, or Head Start families. Will only discuss agency business on a need-to-know basis.

Job Qualifications:

• Education: Master's degree in Early Childhood Education, Educational Leadership, and/or a related field. Completion of a recognized Head Start management fellowship (e.g., UCLA/PMFO) is highly desirable. Bilingual (English/Spanish) is also highly desired.
• Driving: Must have a valid driver's license and proof of insurance. Must be able to drive to and from different centers, meetings, and/or training venues.
• Experience: Seven years of progressively responsible experience in an administrative or management role within a multi-site, integrated Head Start/Early Head Start ecosystem. Experience working in a non-profit or public sector environment, preferably with experience in early childhood education or a related field. Demonstrated ability to apply leadership development principles that support collaboration, accountability, and organizational growth across multiple sites and departments.
• Knowledge: Expert knowledge of ECE theory, best practices, and diverse curricula. Deep working knowledge of Head Start Performance Standards, 2 CFR Part 200, and California Title 22/Title 5 licensing requirements. Knowledge of research methods, data collection, and statistical analysis techniques used to evaluate program effectiveness and support continuous quality improvement. Comprehensive understanding of management and supervisory principles and practices, including strategic planning, goal setting, staff development, performance management, work planning, and organizational effectiveness.
• Language Skills: Exceptional written, verbal, and interpersonal communication skills, with the ability to communicate clearly, professionally, and effectively with employees, families, community partners, governing bodies, and individuals from diverse cultural and professional backgrounds. Ability to read, analyze, interpret, and apply complex regulations, policies, reports, safety rules, operating and procedure manuals, and other technical or compliance-related documents. Ability to prepare clear, concise reports, correspondence, presentations, and program documentation. Strong presentation and facilitation skills, including the ability to effectively convey information in individual, small group, and large group settings. Ability to build collaborative relationships, navigate sensitive conversations, and support positive communication across a multi-site organization. Bilingual English/Spanish preferred.
• Math Skills: Strong analytical and quantitative skills, including the ability to interpret and apply data related to program performance, child outcomes, enrollment, compliance, budgeting, and continuous quality improvement. Ability to analyze statistical data, trends, percentages, ratios, and projections to support strategic decision-making, reporting, and operational effectiveness.
• Reasoning Abilities: Demonstrated ability to analyze complex organizational, operational, and personnel issues and develop effective, strategic, and solution-focused responses. Ability to exercise sound judgment and make timely decisions in dynamic and high-pressure environments. Skilled in problem-solving, conflict resolution, collaboration, and consensus-building with employees, leadership,
• Physical Demands: The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to talk or hear. The employee is frequently required to stand, walk, sit, stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl. Typically requires sitting or standing for extended periods of time. Ability to sit for extended periods and perform computer-intensive tasks. Ability to frequently lift and/or move 10-30 pounds, and occasionally 50 pounds.
• Technical & Operational Skills
  • Platform Agnostic Productivity: Advanced proficiency in navigating and managing workflows within both Microsoft 365 and Google Workspace environments. This includes expert use of spreadsheet applications (Excel/Sheets) for data analysis, reporting, and dashboard management
  • Specialized Childcare Systems: Highly proficient in industry-specific data management systems, including ChildPlus and Learning Genie, with a demonstrated ability to quickly master and implement new proprietary software platforms.
  • AI & Emerging Tech: Skilled in utilizing AI-powered tools and prompt-based technologies to optimize efficiency, communication, and internal workflow processes.
  • Collaboration & Communication: Expert in virtual collaboration tools, cloud-based document management, and work technologies to maintain seamless team connectivity.
  • Operational Excellence: Strong organizational and project management skills with exceptional attention to detail. Solid foundation in Windows/Google operating environments, cybersecurity awareness, and the ability to troubleshoot standard office technology in both physical and virtual settings.

Pay Range: $147,472 - $163,862 per year