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Description

Center Director

Job Description

EXEMPT: No  SALARY LEVEL: $24.50 - $29.75 DOE per hour

DEPARTMENT: Early Childhood Education LOCATION: Sonoma County Head Start Centers

REPORTS TO: Area Supervisor HOURS:  FT M-F 40 hours per week 11or 12 months per year

DATE: April 2025 APPROVED BY: Human Resources Director 

AGENCY BACKGROUND:  The objective of Sonoma Community Action Network (Sonoma CAN) is to partner with low-income families and individuals to help them achieve economic and social empowerment, build community, and advocate for social and economic justice.  Sonoma CAN operates a wide variety of programs benefiting low-income Sonoma County residents.

Our Mission: Sonoma CAN is a catalyst for equitable transformation, aligning partners and resources to implement values-based, data-driven, community-led solutions that help families reach their full potential.

Our Vision: We see our Sonoma County transformed into an empowered community of thriving families where every child is raised with joy, justice, and connection.

Our Promise: Sonoma CAN changes people's lives, embodies the spirit of hope, improves communities, and makes America a better place to live. We care about the entire community, and we are dedicated to helping people help themselves and each other.

Working at SonomaCAN

At Sonoma Community Action Network (SonomaCAN), we believe that a variety of backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives strengthen our team and help us better serve our community. We are committed to fair hiring practices and a workplace where employees are treated with respect and have the opportunity to grow professionally.

We make employment decisions based on qualifications, merit, and organizational needs. Our hiring process complies with all federal, state, and local laws related to equal employment opportunity and nondiscrimination. We welcome applicants from all backgrounds and encourage individuals who meet the qualifications to apply.

TOTAL COMPENSATION PACKAGE: The pay for this position ranges from $24.50 - $29.75 per hour, depending on experience. Sonoma CAN offers a generous benefits package available on the first day of the month after your date of hire that includes: 

• Medical insurance through Kaiser or Sutter is 80-95% paid by the employer for employee premiums, plus 50% paid by the employer for dependent coverage
• Elective dental, vision insurance, FSA, and Accident insurance.
• Employer-paid $10k of life insurance with expandable options
• Employer-paid Long-term Disability Insurance
• 401(K) plan with a 2% contribution and an additional 1% matched contribution after one year of service
• Employee assistance program, CalPerks
• 3 weeks paid time off (winter and spring breaks)
• 96 hours of sick time per year (4 hours accrued per pay period) based on full-time work
• 1 floating personal day
• 16 paid holidays

SUMMARY OF POSITION: 

Under the direction of the Area Supervisor, the Center Director will administer a Head Start center operation guided by Head Start Performance Standards, Procedures, and Policies, and California State Community Care Licensing regulations.  Supervises the following staff: Teacher 1 and Site Assistant.  This position is responsible for the daily operations and oversight of the center to which they are assigned. Carry out supervisory responsibilities in accordance with the Agency's policies and applicable federal and state laws. 

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

Duties include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Coordinates and monitors the work of center staff, volunteers, consultants, and parents
• Actively participate in the distance learning model of instruction when required
• Responsibilities include planning, assigning, and directing work; appraising performance; rewarding and disciplining employees; addressing complaints and resolving problems
• Communicate with the supervisor and other classroom staff to develop a plan for coverage when staff are out
• Assists in the fulfillment of administrative requirements and functions as a link between the Head Start Administrative Team and the center
• Adheres to Child Assessment/Observation System & Family Partnership System Timeline
• Ensures ongoing implementation and completion of the Child Observation Assessment System
• Encourages language development in children in the primary and secondary languages
• Has meaningful, respectful conversations with children throughout the day
• Ensures prompt and accurate completion of required paperwork related to center operation
• In partnership with the Family Services staff, assists parents in conducting their business meetings and provides them with information relevant to the Head Start Program
• Work in partnership with service area managers and center staff to better assess the needs of the children and families to ensure quality services to children and families
• Ensures and participates in at least two parent home visits and two conferences.  The first home visit is done in partnership with the Family Outreach Worker 
• Assists center staff in coordinating services for children and families
• Follows program supervision plans and ensures that all classroom staff are in compliance with the same
• Provides on-the-job training and support, assessing skill levels with employees, and developing a plan for individual growth
• Teaches a Head Start class, ensuring that a developmentally appropriate, integrated curriculum is in place
• Coordinates and cooperates with consultants and specialists on items relevant to the center and children, ensuring maximum use of services and resources
• Uses Creative Curriculum to develop, plan, and lead classroom activities, ensuring completion by due dates 
• Uses Creative Curriculum, assessment data (DECA, ASQ, IEPs, etc.), and School Readiness Goals to individualize for all children and use when developing curriculum
• Ensure confidentiality of client information and records
• Maintains warm, friendly, and professional working relationships with children, parents, and coworkers/
• This may include collaboration/coordination of program services with other community entities, i.e., school districts, those serving children with diagnosed disabilities, and State childcare programs
• Participates in necessary training, workshops, and meetings as scheduled
• Participates in the team-building process within the program by using established communication channels in a constructive and productive manner that enhances the team effort 
• The health, safety, and supervision of children in the program are essential; therefore, every employee is responsible for the care and supervision of children while they are present at the center
• Responsible for approving staff time cards and time off requests
• Understand and implement Head Start Procedures and Head Start Performance Standards
• Perform other duties as assigned

Requirements

REQUIRED SKILLS/ABILITIES: 

• Minimum one year of paid supervisory experience
• Working knowledge of the principles and practices of child development and adult learning styles
• Understanding of the principles of bilingual and multicultural education
• Intermediate personal computer skills with word processing and email experience
• Strong oral and written communication skills
• Bilingual, Spanish/English preferred
• Knowledge of culturally diverse groups and persons from low-income families
• Intermediate skills in reading, analyzing, and interpreting procedures and governmental regulations 
• Intermediate ability to write reports and correspondence.  Intermediate ability to effectively present information and respond to questions from groups of parents, children, and staff
• Intermediate ability to add, subtract, multiply, and divide in all units of measure, using whole numbers,           
• Common fractions and decimals
• Intermediate ability to solve practical problems and deal with a variety of situations with good judgment
• Intermediate ability to interpret a variety of instructions furnished in written, oral, diagram, or schedule form

REQUIRED EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE

1. BA in Early Childhood Education/Child Development or a related field 
2. OR AA with 24 ECE/CD units (incl. core units) and the willingness to complete a BA and be enrolled within 6 months of the start of employment
3. 3 units of Adult Supervision
4. Teacher Permit within 6 months of hire
5. 3 units or 16 hours  of  Health and Safety Training
6. A minimum of 12 months of teaching experience with 6 months of supervision experience

In addition to the above: 

• Six months of teaching experience in a preschool/infant-toddler classroom
• High School diploma or GED or equivalent 
• Before beginning work, one must be able to pass the Community Care Licensing criminal record clearance, must be up to date on immunizations, and have a current (within one year) TB clearance and Health Screening Report.
• Current Pediatric First Aid, CPR, and Health and Safety Course.
• Bilingual in Spanish & English preferred. If the bilingual assessment is passed, you would qualify for additional bilingual pay.

PERSONAL CHARACTERISTICS:

• Highly dependable, takes initiative, has good judgment, and is able to function with minimal supervision
• A sincere interest in the development of all children and in building partnerships with families
• Works effectively in a team environment and actively participates in joint problem-solving; willingly cooperates with co-workers

WORK ENVIRONMENT: 

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. While performing the duties of this job, the employee works in outside weather conditions for a minimum of 45 minutes a day.  The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate and sometimes noisy.

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. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to talk or hear. The employee occasionally is required to sit at a desk and sometimes use a computer. The employee is frequently required to stand, walk, use hands to finger, handle, or feel objects, tools, or controls; reach with hands and arms; climb or balance; stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl; and taste or smell. The employee must frequently lift and/or move up to 20 pounds and occasionally lift and/or move up to 50 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and the ability to adjust focus.  The employee drives, approximately 10% of the time, to meetings, training, and home visits as scheduled throughout the year. The employee spends approximately 25% of the time writing and/or keyboarding.  

Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions.

OTHER DUTIES:

Please note this job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of

activities, duties, or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this job. Duties,

responsibilities, and activities may change at any time, with or without notice.