Project Director

As the Quality Support Center Project Director (QSC Project Director) you will be responsible for the vision, strategy, and execution of all quality support services delivered by Shine Early Learning and its subcontractors as the SPARK Quality Support Center (SPARK QSC), powered by City of Philadelphia PHLpreK. The QSC Project Director leads a mission-driven team committed to increasing access to, and the quality of, early childhood education across Philadelphia's diverse neighborhoods and provider community. Why Acelero? Our mission is bold: To design and deliver research and evidence-based approaches to eliminate the gaps between young children’s inherent potential and their achievement in school and life. With our partners, we accelerate child and family outcomes that honor all of the aspirations and cultures of the communities we serve. Our values: Data-Informed Learning; Transparent & Open Communication; Growth Mindset; Championing Equality; Caring Teams & Communities. Your Role: As the QSC Project Director you will be SPARK QSC's primary liaison to the City of Philadelphia’s Office of Children and Families (OCF), the PHLpreK Administrative Intermediary (PHMC), and all key early childhood ecosystem partners. This leader is accountable for contract performance, fiscal stewardship, staff development, data-driven continuous improvement, and the relationships that position SPARK QSC as a trusted and responsive presence across Philadelphia. What You’ll Do: Strategic Leadership & Vision: Lead the overall vision, strategy, and continuous improvement of SPARK QSC’s service model to ensure alignment with PHLpreK program goals and City of Philadelphia priorities. Oversee the implementation of a tiered quality support system—Tier 1 (Universal: Knowledge Hub, Help Desk, and city-wide training), Tier 2 (Communities of Practice and Group Coaching), and Tier 3 (Intensive, individualized coaching and QIP support)—ensuring appropriate dosage and intensity based on provider need. Lead SPARK QSC’s transition to a community-centered, hub-and-spoke model, directing the alignment of managers, coaches, and specialists to neighborhoods across the city to strengthen local relationships and deepen impact. Collaborate with the Shine Leadership Team to set organizational priorities, respond to emerging field needs, and advance Shine’s broader early childhood mission. Champion equality across all SPARK QSC operations, service delivery, content development, and hiring; ensure all services are culturally responsive and asset-based. Quality Support Services Oversight: Direct the planning, coordination, and high-quality delivery of all evidence-based quality support services, including instructional coaching, Technical Assistance, professional development, communities of practice, and operational/business supports. Oversee the delivery of Tier 3 intensive supports to providers identified with deficiencies, coordinating the resolution of QIPs, CAPs, and Notices of Default in partnership with PHMC and OCF. Oversee the coordination of specialized supports including Kindergarten Transition planning, health/safety/nutrition guidance, behavioral/special needs referral, workforce development and trauma-informed practice supports. Lead SPARK QSC’s implementation of the Positive Behavior Support (PBS) and trauma-informed training strategy, including city-wide training series, asynchronous learning modules, and follow-up communities of practice. Set high-level content standards, approve content development processes, and ensure all PD, training, and resource materials are grounded in adult learning principles and evidence-based best practices. Oversee provider readiness supports for pre-qualified PHLpreK providers preparing for seat expansion or reallocation. City, Intermediary & Stakeholder Partnership: Serve as SPARK QSC’s primary point of contact with the City of Philadelphia’s Office of Children and Families (OCF), maintaining a high-frequency, strategic partnership grounded in shared goals and mutual accountability. Maintain a structured, high-frequency collaboration with PHMC (PHLpreK Administrative Intermediary) to align on provider deficiency data, monitoring activities, and support referrals. Lead engagement with the Philadelphia Early Learning Systems Administrator (PELSA) group, the School District of Philadelphia, ELRC, First Up, Lakeside, DBHIDS, and other early childhood ecosystem partners to reduce duplication, align services, and advance a “no wrong door” approach. Oversee the PHL preK Advisory Council and community feedback structures (focus groups, provider convenings, neighborhood-based sessions) to ensure service design is informed by the voice of providers and communities served. Manage all subcontractor relationships, including contract development, performance monitoring, and quality assurance. Represent SPARK QSC at city, regional, and national meetings, conferences, and stakeholder events as required. Data, Accountability & Reporting: Oversee the maintenance and continuous improvement of SPARK QSC’s Salesforce CRM system, ensuring accurate, real-time tracking of all provider interactions, support referrals, CAPs, QIPs, and service delivery. Review provider, caseload, and program performance data on an ongoing basis; use data to drive decisions, identify gaps, and adapt strategies in pursuit of continuous quality improvement. Ensure seamless integration and utilization of all PHLpreK data systems, including PELICAN (Keystone STARS), ChildWare (enrollment/attendance), the PD Registry, and PHMC compliance tracking systems. Produce timely, accurate, and actionable reports—monthly, quarterly, and annual—for OCF, PHMC, and internal Shine/Acelero leadership; maintain compliance with all contractual reporting requirements. Direct the deployment of real-time data dashboards and the Provider Portal to support on-demand data access for City and partner staff. Ensure compliance with all document retention policies and secure management of confidential provider and program records. Organizational Leadership & Staff Development: Partner with Human Resources to recruit, hire, onboard, and retain a high-performing, diverse team reflective of the communities served. Directly supervise the Project and Strategic Initiatives Manager and Deputy Director - and through them, all staff and relevant subcontractor staff. Build a collaborative, accountable, and high-growth team culture; provide regular coaching, feedback, professional development, and performance management to all direct reports. Ensure workloads are balanced across the team and that caseload structures align with the community-based model as the organization transitions its approach. Oversee the full contract budget in partnership with Shine’s Finance team, including budget planning, expense monitoring, variance management, subcontractor invoice review, and quarterly financial reporting to OCF. Supervision: Supervises assigned management personnel, including but not limited to: hiring, training, scheduling, evaluating, and ensuring accuracy, timeliness, and the completion of all work performed by direct reports. Educates direct reports on all department and organizational policies and procedures. Meets with assigned staff regularly to identify and resolve problems, manage projects, track goals, and review work processes and procedures. Represents team and/or department at meetings, events, and training as required. What You Bring: Educational Background Master’s degree required in Early Childhood Education, Public Administration, Human Services, or a related field; Ph.D. preferred. Professional Experience 5–10 years of progressive experience in early childhood education, quality improvement, or public systems work, including significant experience in program management, staff supervision, and large-scale contract management. Demonstrated experience as a primary liaison to a government or public funding entity, preferably at the municipal or state level. Knowledge of Pennsylvania’s Keystone STARS Quality Rating and Improvement System (QRIS), PHLpreK program structure, CLASS (Classroom Assessment Scoring System), and/or Philadelphia’s early childhood ecosystem strongly preferred. Experience delivering or overseeing professional development, instructional coaching, and technical assistance in a variety of modalities, including coaching cycles, communities of practice, and large-scale training. Experience managing complex, multi-stakeholder budgets with accountability for contract compliance and fiscal reporting. Experience working with data management systems (Salesforce preferred) and translating data into actionable performance strategies. Experience in or deep familiarity with Philadelphia’s early childhood landscape and/or communities served by PHLpreK. Physical exam and background check required for this position. Local travel required up to 25% of the time for provider site visits, City meetings, community events, and partner engagements across Philadelphia. Must have a valid driver’s license and reliable transportation. Skills & Abilities Strategic thinker with the ability to translate vision into operational plans and measurable results. Exceptional relationship-building and stakeholder management skills; ability to operate effectively at executive, community, and provider levels simultaneously. Ability to lead organizational change and manage complex transitions with clarity, equity, and staff support. Strong data fluency: ability to analyze and act on quantitative and qualitative information from multiple sources. Demonstrated ability to build and sustain diverse, high-performing teams in complex environments. Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including public speaking and executive-level presentation. Ability to interact effectively with people from diverse cultural, linguistic, and professional backgrounds. Demonstrated computer literacy, including Google Suite, spreadsheets, Salesforce or equivalent CRM, and data visualization tools. Must be honest, dependable, and able to manage competing priorities and meet deadlines in a fast-paced environment. Self-motivated and able to work independently while fostering strong team collaboration. When/Where/How Much When: Summer 2026 Where: Philadelphia, PA How Much: $108,000 - $115,000 per year + comprehensive benefits package Application closing date : June 22nd, 2026 Why You’ll Love Working with Us A meaningful mission that drives real change in the lives of children and families A collaborative, inclusive team that values your growth and well-being Opportunities for professional growth, coaching, and leadership development Robust Benefits That Support Your Wellbeing Medical, Dental, and Vision Insurance Health Savings Account (HSA) with company contributions Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA) 401(k) Retirement Plan with company match Short-Term and Long-Term Disability Insurance Life Insurance Professional Development Reimbursements Employee Assistance Program (EAP) Wellness Programs and Employee Perks If you’re ready to take on a challenge that matters and join a company where purpose and values drive every decision, apply now to join us as our next Project Director. Together, we can help every child thrive. We are an equal opportunity employer, committed to creating a diverse and healthy workplace. Shine Early Learning is committed to proving that every child can succeed at the highest levels – and demonstrating that high-impact, evidence-based approaches can help early childhood programs truly make the difference in a child's life. Shine Early Learning offers dedicated resources and an integrated programmatic approach to help Head Start and early education programs reach their own ambitious goals. The Shine Early Learning approach is developed, implemented, and continuously refined at Acelero Learning, a high-performing Head Start and Early Head Start program serving more than 5,000 children across the nation. Acelero Learning was named an Exemplar Head Start provider by Bellwether Education Partners, a leading education research and consulting firm. Through the implementation of an integrated programmatic approach, Acelero Learning has produced some of the largest child outcome gains ever recorded at an individual Head Start program. Acelero Learning's evaluation study conducted by NIEER show children served for two years make twice the gain of average Head Start participants, as compared to the 2009 FACES data.