Child Development Manager (Head Start)

JOB TITLE: Child Development Manager

SUPERVISION: Director of Child Development

DEPARTMENT: Early Head Start/Head Start

JOB FUNCTION

The Child Development Manager is responsible for planning, coordinating, monitoring, and evaluating the delivery of comprehensive education services throughout the Early Head Start and Head Start program. The Child Development Manager provides leadership, practice-based coaching, mentoring, technical assistance, and professional development to Center Directors, teachers, assistant teachers, caregivers, and Home Visitors to ensure the delivery of high-quality early childhood education services.

The Child Development Manager promotes continuous quality improvement by supporting curriculum implementation, school readiness, classroom quality, individualized instruction, child assessment, and staff professional growth. Through classroom observations, reflective supervision, modeling, and coaching, the Child Development Manager ensures educational services comply with the Head Start Program Performance Standards, the Head Start Early Learning Outcomes Framework (ELOF), New Jersey Child Care Licensing Regulations, and agency policies.

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ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

Program Leadership

• Coordinate and monitor the implementation of education services throughout the Early Head Start and Head Start program.
• Supervise, coach, mentor, and evaluate assigned Center Directors, Home Visitors, teachers, assistant teachers, and other education staff.
• Ensure classrooms consistently implement developmentally appropriate practices that promote school readiness and positive child outcomes.
• Monitor curriculum implementation, lesson planning, classroom environments, instructional quality, and classroom schedules.
• Assist the Director of Child Development with planning, implementing, and evaluating educational initiatives, policies, and procedures.

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Practice-Based Coaching and Mentoring

• Provide ongoing Practice-Based Coaching (PBC) through classroom observations, reflective supervision, modeling, individualized coaching, and collaborative goal setting.
• Develop individualized coaching plans based on classroom observations, teacher performance, child outcome data, and professional development goals.
• Model effective teaching strategies, responsive caregiving techniques, classroom management, developmentally appropriate practices, and individualized instruction.
• Mentor teachers, assistant teachers, caregivers, and Home Visitors to improve instructional quality, classroom management, teacher-child interactions, and child engagement.
• Conduct reflective coaching sessions that promote continuous professional growth and instructional excellence.
• Mentor and support education staff throughout the Child Development Associate (CDA) credentialing process by guiding CDA competency standards, professional portfolios, observation preparation, verification visits, professional development planning, and credential renewal requirements.

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Professional Development

• Plan, coordinate, and facilitate individual and group professional development activities related to curriculum implementation, Creative Curriculum, ELOF, Practice-Based Coaching, CLASS,
• Pyramid Model, infant and toddler development, child assessment, inclusion, and school readiness.
• Coordinate orientation, onboarding, and ongoing training for newly hired education staff.
• Identify staff training needs, develop professional growth plans, and recommend continuing education opportunities that support career advancement.
• Encourage and support staff in obtaining higher education degrees, CDA credentials, and other professional certifications that strengthen program quality.

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Classroom Monitoring and Assessment

• Conduct regular classroom observations using CLASS, ITERS, ECERS, TPOT, and other approved classroom assessment tools.
• Monitor classroom environments to ensure curriculum fidelity, effective teacher-child interactions, licensing compliance, and implementation of developmentally appropriate practices.
• Review lesson plans, child assessments, developmental screenings, and individualized learning plans to ensure compliance with program requirements.
• Analyze classroom observation results and child outcome data to identify trends and implement continuous quality improvement strategies.
• Maintain accurate coaching logs, classroom observation reports, corrective action plans, monitoring documentation, and education records.

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School Readiness and Child Outcomes

• Support implementation of the Head Start Early Learning Outcomes Framework (ELOF) and the agency's School Readiness Goals.
• Monitor child assessment data and collaborate with education staff to improve developmental outcomes and kindergarten readiness.
• Ensure timely developmental screenings, ongoing child assessments, and individualized planning for all enrolled children.
• Support successful transitions into Early Head Start, Head Start, preschool, and kindergarten.

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Collaboration

• Collaborate with the Director of Child Development, Center Directors, Director of Mental Health & Disabilities Services, Director of Health Services, Family Partnership Manager, ERSEA Manager, and Continuous Quality Improvement Manager to ensure comprehensive, coordinated services for children and families.
• Participate in self-assessments, federal monitoring reviews, licensing inspections, classroom assessments, and continuous quality improvement initiatives.
• Assist with the implementation and monitoring of corrective action plans resulting from internal monitoring, audits, and federal reviews.
• Work collaboratively with multidisciplinary teams to support children with disabilities, behavioral concerns, health needs, and family engagement goals.

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Compliance and Administration

• Ensure compliance with the Head Start Program Performance Standards, Head Start Act, New Jersey Child Care Licensing Regulations, agency policies, and accreditation standards.
• Maintain accurate documentation within ChildPlus and other agency data systems.
• Prepare monthly reports regarding education services, classroom quality, child outcomes, coaching activities, professional development, and program performance.
• Assist with annual Program Information Report (PIR) data collection, strategic planning, and program self-assessment activities.

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Child Safety

Ensure the safety and well-being of all children by participating in classroom monitoring, implementing child safety procedures, reporting accidents and incidents, reporting suspected child abuse or neglect, following the agency's Standards of Conduct, and immediately reporting child health or safety concerns.

Maintain confidentiality of all child, family, personnel, and organizational information.

Attend leadership meetings, staff meetings, professional development activities, conferences, and trainings as assigned.

Perform other duties as assigned by the Director of Child Development.

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QUALIFICATIONS

• Bachelor's degree in Early Childhood Education, Child Development, Education, or a related field required. Master's degree preferred.
• Minimum of three years of progressively responsible experience in Early Head Start, Head Start, or an early childhood education program.
• Minimum of two years of supervisory, coaching, or leadership experience.
• Demonstrated knowledge of the Head Start Program Performance Standards, Head Start Early Learning Outcomes Framework (ELOF), Creative Curriculum, Practice-Based Coaching (PBC), CLASS, ITERS, ECERS, Pyramid Model, and developmentally appropriate practices.
• Experience providing coaching, mentoring, and professional development to early childhood educators.
• Knowledge of the Child Development Associate (CDA) credentialing process, CDA Competency Standards, Professional Development Specialist verification procedures, and staff career pathway development preferred.
• Strong leadership, coaching, facilitation, communication, organizational, problem-solving, and data analysis skills.
• Proficiency in ChildPlus, Microsoft Office Suite, child assessment systems, and education data management systems.
• Valid New Jersey driver's license with daily access to an insured vehicle.
• Bilingual (English/Spanish) preferred.

Join us to make a meaningful difference in the lives of children and families! This paid position offers an exciting opportunity to lead innovative programs that foster growth, learning, and community engagement through energetic leadership and dedicated service.

Pay: $60,000.00 - $67,000.00 per year

Benefits:

• 403(b)
• Dental insurance
• Employee assistance program
• Health insurance
• Life insurance
• Paid time off
• Professional development assistance
• Retirement plan
• Vision insurance

Application Question(s):

• Are you willing to undergo a background and drug screening?

Education:

• Bachelor's (Preferred)

Experience:

• EHS/HS or ECE: 3 years (Required)

Ability to Commute:

• Cumberland County, NJ (Preferred)

Willingness to travel:

• 50% (Preferred)

Work Location: In person