Head Start Program Director Jobs in Washington (NOW HIRING)

Peers and Partners, Inc. (Peers) is building a talent pool of experienced project management, consulting, and senior analytical professionals to support anticipated opportunities with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), Administration for Children and Families (ACF), Office of Head Start (OHS).Anticipated work may support national Head Start and Early Head Start initiatives, federal program operations, project and contract management, quality assurance, strategic initiatives, process improvement, program analysis, stakeholder coordination, and development of high-quality reports, briefings, presentations, and other deliverables.Peers is seeking professionals who can work effectively in a complex federal environment, manage competing priorities, collaborate with Government stakeholders and multidisciplinary teams, and translate project or program requirements into effective action.

Important Information About This Talent Pool

This posting is intended to identify qualified candidates for anticipated ACF/OHS opportunities.

Submission of an application does not guarantee employment or placement into a specific position. Qualified candidates may be contacted for additional screening as staffing needs, labor categories, work arrangements, and project requirements are finalized.

Candidates should select the role that most closely matches their professional background and experience.

Direct Head Start/Early Head Start or OHS experience is highly valued, particularly for consulting and analytical assignments requiring knowledge of Head Start programs, policies, operations, or federal grants. For selected project management and analytical roles, candidates with substantial experience supporting other federal agencies, federal programs, or federally funded initiatives may also be considered.

Positions We Are Recruiting For

Candidates may be considered for one or more of the following roles based on their experience and qualifications:

• Project Manager / Program Manager
• Senior Consultant
• Senior Project Analyst

Project Manager / Program Manager

The Project Manager / Program Manager may provide overall leadership, contract and project management, Government liaison, staff oversight, quality assurance, and coordination of complex project activities.

Potential responsibilities may include:

• Provide overall project and contract management, direction, administration, and leadership.
• Serve as a primary liaison among Peers, Government stakeholders, project staff, subcontractors, and other partners.
• Manage project priorities, schedules, staffing, deliverables, milestones, risks, and performance.
• Establish and maintain effective project management processes and procedures.
• Oversee quality assurance and quality control activities.
• Monitor project performance and identify issues requiring corrective action or escalation.
• Ensure assigned activities and deliverables are completed accurately and on time.
• Coordinate meetings, communications, reporting, and issue resolution.
• Support implementation of Government requirements, policies, and procedures.
• Review, aggregate, and present information and data from multiple sources.
• Develop and deliver high-quality written products, presentations, reports, memoranda, and correspondence.
• Support team performance through coaching, guidance, and problem resolution.
• Work collaboratively with Government leadership to respond to evolving priorities and project needs.

Competitive candidates will typically have:

• A bachelor's degree in business, public administration, management, or a related field; master's degree preferred.
• Significant progressive professional experience managing complex projects, programs, or client-service initiatives.
• Experience managing projects of comparable size, scope, and complexity in a federal, public-sector, or similarly regulated environment.
• Demonstrated supervisory or team leadership experience.
• Experience developing, implementing, or improving quality assurance processes.
• Demonstrated ability to manage multiple workstreams, deliverables, deadlines, and stakeholders.
• Strong written and oral communication skills.
• Demonstrated ability to analyze information and present findings to leadership.
• Experience resolving project, team, or client issues effectively.
• Project Management Professional (PMP) certification or equivalent certification preferred.
• Experience supporting HHS, ACF, OHS, Head Start/Early Head Start, federal grants, or other federal human-services programs highly desirable.

Senior Consultant

Senior Consultants may provide high-level programmatic, operational, technical, organizational, or subject-matter expertise in support of OHS priorities and special initiatives.

Potential responsibilities may include:

• Provide senior-level consulting, technical advice, assistance, and guidance.
• Advise project and Government stakeholders on program operations, implementation, organizational priorities, and process improvement.
• Support strategic planning, program improvement, and complex mission-oriented initiatives.
• Conduct reviews, assessments, studies, evaluations, or analyses.
• Develop recommendations to improve program operations, processes, systems, or service delivery.
• Support policy, procedure, or implementation initiatives.
• Prepare reports, analyses, briefings, presentations, recommendations, and other executive-level deliverables.
• Facilitate meetings, workgroups, planning sessions, or stakeholder discussions.
• Provide specialized expertise related to Head Start, early childhood, grants management, organizational operations, or other identified project needs.
• Support emerging, time-sensitive, or special initiatives as requested.

Competitive candidates will typically have:

• Significant senior-level professional experience in a relevant programmatic, operational, consulting, technical, or subject-matter area.
• Experience advising executives, Government leaders, or senior program stakeholders.
• Demonstrated experience conducting complex analysis and developing actionable recommendations.
• Strong facilitation, communication, presentation, and professional writing skills.
• Experience supporting strategic initiatives, organizational improvement, implementation, or change efforts.
• Ability to quickly understand complex issues and translate them into practical recommendations.
• Experience working effectively with multidisciplinary teams and diverse stakeholders.
• Direct Head Start/Early Head Start, OHS, ACF, federal early childhood, or federal human-services experience strongly preferred for programmatic consulting assignments.

Senior Project Analyst

Senior Project Analysts may provide advanced analytical, project coordination, performance monitoring, quality assurance, and management support.

Potential responsibilities may include:

• Conduct complex program, project, operational, administrative, or management analyses.
• Monitor project performance, milestones, deliverables, risks, issues, and dependencies.
• Analyze project or program information from multiple sources.
• Identify trends, risks, performance concerns, and opportunities for improvement.
• Develop recommendations to support project and program decision-making.
• Support quality assurance, process improvement, and performance management activities.
• Prepare reports, executive summaries, briefings, presentations, dashboards, and other analytical products.
• Coordinate activities across workstreams, project teams, and stakeholders.
• Support implementation and tracking of corrective actions or improvement initiatives.
• Assist project leadership with special assignments and leadership requests.
• Translate complex information into clear, actionable findings for program and leadership audiences.

Competitive candidates will typically have:

• Significant professional experience in project, program, management, policy, or operational analysis.
• Experience supporting complex projects or programs in a federal, public-sector, nonprofit, consulting, or similarly regulated environment.
• Strong analytical, research, problem-solving, and critical-thinking skills.
• Experience monitoring performance, milestones, deliverables, risks, or quality.
• Demonstrated ability to prepare clear, high-quality written and presentation products for leadership.
• Strong project coordination and organizational skills.
• Ability to work with quantitative and qualitative information from multiple sources.
• Experience supporting HHS, ACF, OHS, Head Start/Early Head Start, federal grants, or other federal programs preferred.

Core Qualifications

Qualifications will vary by position and level. Candidates should demonstrate an appropriate combination of:

• Experience managing or supporting complex programs, projects, consulting engagements, or federal initiatives.
• Strong organizational, analytical, problem-solving, and decision-making skills.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to develop high-quality reports, presentations, briefings, recommendations, and other professional products.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities and meet established deadlines.
• Experience working with Government stakeholders, clients, contractors, program staff, or other partners.
• Ability to work independently and collaboratively within multidisciplinary teams.
• Strong attention to detail and commitment to quality.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office and commonly used project management, collaboration, reporting, or information-management tools.
• Candidates must be legally authorized to work in the United States and must be able to satisfy applicable federal background, security, and system-access requirements.

Head Start and Federal Experience

Depending on the assignment, particularly competitive candidates may have experience with:

• Head Start and/or Early Head Start.
• Administration for Children and Families or Office of Head Start.
• Federal grants or grants-supported programs.
• Federal contracting or contractor support.
• Federal program operations.
• Program monitoring, compliance, or performance management.
• Quality assurance and continuous improvement.
• Strategic planning and implementation.
• Process improvement.
• Organizational or management consulting.
• Federal or public-sector stakeholder engagement.

Direct Head Start experience may be especially important for Senior Consultant and Senior Project Analyst assignments involving Head Start program operations, policy, grants, compliance, or program performance.

Work Arrangement

Work arrangements will be determined based on the requirements of individual assignments and may include remote, telework, travel, or on-site support. Candidates nationwide are encouraged to apply. Specific work-location requirements will be communicated as positions are finalized.