Assistant Center Manager

Assistant Center Manager

The Assistant Center Manager assists the Center Manager with the leadership, program management, and coordination of the local Head Start program. The Assistant Center Manager provides support in communication, resource development, and team effectiveness. The Center Manager and Assistant Center Manager may delegate direct supervision and evaluation to staff members in designated support services, including transportation and kitchen, staff. The Assistant Center Manager also provides leadership and supports program mentoring strategies in place. Helps recruit potential parents by providing information to them about the various program services and benefits offered to enrolled children and families.

Essential Functions and Responsibilities

Leadership Support

• Provides vision for the center, which includes meeting family needs and exceeding performance standards and other regulations, while providing an optimal work environment.
• Assists with planning and evaluation to facilitate progress towards the vision.
• Assists with the development of problem-solving strategies for the operation and improvement of the center program.
• Represents the center in the community and with other agencies.
• Supports local parent ownership, particularly through consultation with the center parent committee.
• Identifies and utilizes appropriate resources to enhance the quality of program services.
• Reports program concerns and areas of weakness to supervisor. Proposes potential remedies and collaborates with supervisor to resolve them.

Support Services

• Assists with transportation and kitchen services and ensures that classroom staff provide child safety and meet program regulations.
• Assists Center Manager with coordinating parent involvement activities, which includes welcoming, registrations, parent meeting, and center events.
• Reviews applications, eligibility forms, and supporting documentation to ensure they are complete, accurate, and compliant with program requirements.
• Verifies family eligibility for one or more program funding sources in accordance with established criteria.
• Compiles and analyzes family eligibility data from the database to support enrollment selection priorities.
• Maintains accurate and up-to-date enrollment data and assists the Center Manager with enrollment selection and placement.
• Ensures the accuracy and quality of data entered into the program database by conducting regular data reports and correcting discrepancies.
• Supports center staff in the accurate and timely entry of program data.
• Maintains, enters, and transfers enrollment data in an accurate and efficient manner.
• Compiles program data and assist in preparing reports to support program operations and compliance.
• Maintains current and accurate records of child enrollment, daily attendance, in-kind contributions, and meal counts.
• Ensures child and family enrollment records are accurately entered into data system and that required copies are maintained.

Center Support

• Assists the Center Manager with purchasing and ordering center supplies.
• Assists the Center Manager with completing center contracts and collecting required documentation to ensure accurate recordkeeping.
• Maintains an accurate inventory of supplies and materials and ensures inventory data is entered into the program database.
• Assists with documenting purchases, processing payments, and maintaining accurate financial records.
• Ensures supplies and materials are distributed to staff in a timely manner.
• Assists with collecting and documenting information for the community assessment process.
• Assists the Center Manager in scheduling required DOT inspections for agency buses and ensuring vehicles are prepared for inspections.
• Assists the Center Manager in scheduling preventive maintenance and routine oil changes for agency-owned buses.
• Assists the Center Manager in maintaining an accurate car seat inventory and ensuring all car seats meet current safety and expiration requirements.
• Assists the Center Manager in preparing bus route information, including routes and designated pick-up locations.
• Assists the Center Manager with developing, maintaining, and updating bus passenger attendance lists.

Personnel

• Ensures effective systems are in place for the recruitment, hiring, and retention of center personnel, with opportunities for staff and parent involvement.
• Ensures performance evaluations are completed for transportation and kitchen staff with input from appropriate supervisors and other relevant sources.
• Assists and coordinates job assignments, staff orientation, and ongoing professional development to meet center needs.
• Assists with the development of staff work schedules, including breaks, lunches, planning time, and daily staffing coverage.
• Promotes positive staff relationships and addresses workplace concerns through effective communication and conflict resolution.
• Assists with personnel documentation is completed accurately and submitted in a timely manner.
• Assists that all required staff training is completed, documented, and verified in accordance with program requirements.

Communication and Training

• Assists with day-to-day communication and cooperation among all personnel.
• Assists with the center's communication to ensure that parents are informed and involved in program policies and activities.
• Assists the Center Manager in identifying training needs and coordinating or delivering training and technical assistance for staff and parents.
• Ensures training materials and resources are available to staff as needed.
• Assists in maintenance of accurate and up-to-date staff training records.
• Coordinates effective communication and collaboration with non-Head Start programs and personnel sharing the facility.
• Assists staff in identifying concerns, developing solutions, and implementing appropriate strategies to address classroom and center or program challenges.

Monitoring and Evaluation

• Observes, monitors, reviews, and documents center compliance with State, Federal, and program guidelines regarding health, safety, and education issues.
• Identifies short-term and long-term staff training needs, including recommendations for professional development to improve qualifications and job performance.

Safety

• Have or obtain within 90 days of hire a First Aid and CPR Certification as well as maintain the certification during employment.

Supervision and Leadership

• Ensures quality services are provided by their staff; provides comprehensive training on duties, responsibilities, and expectations of each position; offering continued support, guidance, and resources as needed to be successful.
• Monitors staff performance, providing positive and negative feedback in a timely manner. Conducts annual performance appraisals, supports staff in defining and meeting goals and professional development needs.
• Addresses performance concerns promptly, holding staff accountable for their actions. Offers constructive feedback, clear expectations, and necessary support to promote a positive outcome. Seeks assistance from management and the Human Resources Director as needed to ensure staff are given sufficient support in meeting the expectations of their position.
• Communicates and enforces the expectation of a professional and positive work environment, treating everyone with respect.
• Leads by example, energizes and encourages staff to commit to excellence; empowering them to succeed, and making each day a positive experience for themselves and others.
• Provides solid, unified, encouraging leadership for staff in times of challenge or change; displaying support and confidence, adapting priorities and focus as needed.
• Effectively plans short and long-term goals for success, both personally, and for the workgroup.
• Effectively manages multiple projects, commitments, and the work produced by staff; ensuring deadlines are met and the quality of work meets expectations.
• Ensures a safe, uplifting, and productive work environment is provided to staff.

Minimum Requirements

• Associate's degree or 2 years equivalent experience and training in Early Childhood Education, Public or Community Health, Social Work, Business Management or another field directly related to the responsibilities of the position.
• One year experience supervising others.
• Comfortable working with computers, willing and able to learn program-specific systems.
• Proof of valid driver's license and current/adequate vehicle insurance coverage.

Tri-Valley is a non-profit community action agency. We believe in the value of all human beings. It is that belief that drives our efforts to identify needs, seek resources and provide opportunities for people to thrive.

Our work is committed to strengthening our communities so that its citizens have better places to live, work, worship and enjoy.

The mission of Tri-Valley Opportunity Council,