Program: Head Start/ECE
Location: 400 West Ave
Position : Operations Manager
Hours: 37.5 hrs / 52 wk
Salary Range: $71,139 -$92,481
Salary Grade: 5
Summary of Responsibilities:
Under the direction of the Vice President for Early Childhood Services, the Operations Manager for Early Childhood Services aids in coordinating internal and external Head Start program/agency-related affairs. This position is responsible for assisting the V.P. in the administration and management of program operations in accordance with the Agency Policies and Procedures, Head Start (H.S.) ACT, H.S. Performance Standards, and the Office of Children and Family Services (OCFS). The Assistant supports the V.P. in ensuring the program delivers high-quality Head Start & Early Head Start Early Childhood Services to all children and their families, including the partner sites.
Qualifications/Education and Experience:
Education: Bachelor's degree required (master's preferred) in Public Administration, Business Administration, Educational Administration, or a closely related field.
Experience: Minimum of three (3) years of progressive leadership or supervisory experience in program or educational administration, preferably within Head Start, early childhood education, or community-based settings.
Demonstrated ability to manage teams, uphold confidentiality and ethical standards, and recruit and supervise staff and volunteers effectively.
Proven experience developing, implementing, and evaluating program policies, procedures, and compliance systems.
Skilled in process improvement, data-driven decision-making, and balancing regulatory standards with fiscal constraints.
Strong analytical, problem-solving, negotiation, and organizational skills, with the ability to manage multiple priorities and meet deadlines under pressure.
Knowledge of strategic planning, program evaluation, organizational development, and change management practices.
Familiarity with community resources and a history of building and maintaining effective partnerships to support program goals.
Excellent written, verbal, and interpersonal communication skills; ability to engage respectfully and effectively with individuals from all populations and socioeconomic backgrounds.
Public speaking, training design, and facilitation experience required; knowledge of marketing, public/media relations, and social media engagement is a plus.
Demonstrated ability to work independently and collaboratively within a team-driven environment.
Experience collaborating with governance or advisory bodies, such as Policy Councils, Boards, or committees.
Proven ability to coordinate events and initiatives, identify funding opportunities, and assist with grant development or resource acquisition.
Proficient in Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, Outlook) and experienced with data management and program design systems.
Bilingual proficiency in English and Spanish preferred.
Must maintain full clearance from the Office of Children and Family Services, NYS Central Registry (SCR), and the NYS Justice Center, both prior to and throughout employment, permitting unsupervised contact with children.
Must possess and maintain a valid New York State driver's license, reliable transportation, and willingness to travel between program sites as needed.
Flexible availability to attend evening meetings, training courses, and special events as required.
Must be physically capable of performing job duties within office, classroom, and program environments.
Requires a valid NYS Driver's License and access to reliable transportation.
Job Duties
Collaborate with the Vice President to design, implement, and monitor HS/EHS programs, ensuring systems, structures, and policies support high-quality, compliant services aligned with Head Start Performance Standards and agency expectations.
Research, interpret, and communicate federal, state, and local compliance requirements; recommend policy and procedural enhancements to promote program excellence and continuous improvement.
Maintain systems and processes to ensure compliance with Head Start Performance Standards, state licensing, health and safety rules, and local regulations.
Prepare for and assist with quality assurance reviews, site visits, audits, and other program evaluations.
Contribute to achieving program goals, strategic plans, and measurable outcomes (e.g., PIR objectives, quality improvement targets).
Ensure smooth, efficient daily operations across centers and sites, including schedules, staffing support, logistics, and supplies.
Oversee center operations such as opening/closing procedures, safety routines, and emergency readiness.
Coordinate facilities maintenance, repairs, inspections, and building systems (HVAC, security, cleaning) to maintain safe, healthy environments.
Support or oversee transportation operations (routes, vehicle maintenance, driver compliance) when transportation is part of the program.
Help manage or monitor budgets related to centers, facilities, and operations.
Uphold safety and housekeeping standards, take immediate action on safety issues, and promote a culture of workplace safety and responsibility.
Oversee and support Center Directors, custodial/maintenance staff, volunteer participation, and other staff as identified by the supervisor.
Support leadership development of Center Directors by fostering a culture of accountability, collaboration, and growth.
Supervise and guide assigned staff through regular meetings, goal setting, and performance management; ensure timely submission of required documentation and reports.
Oversee staff onboarding, training, and professional development to promote retention and engagement.
Develop and facilitate training, workshops, and meetings for staff, families, volunteers, and governing bodies.
Conduct internal investigations into policy violations or complaints, prepare reports, and recommend appropriate follow-up actions.
Track and report operational data and prepare required reports for leadership and funders.
Analyze program data to identify trends and root causes, produce narrative and statistical reports, and make data-informed recommendations for service enhancement.
Develop surveys, instruments, and evaluations to assess program impact and event outcomes.
Maintain accurate, current written plans, procedures, and documentation related to program design and service delivery, ensuring consistency across all Head Start components.
Strengthen interagency collaboration by fostering communication, coordination, and partnership development with local school districts, agencies, and community organizations.
Serve as liaison for HS/EHS, supporting interagency agreements, contracts, and program development as assigned.
Represent the HS/EHS program in internal and external meetings, strategic planning efforts, and community engagement activities.
Assist with labor relationships, including contract interpretation, dispute resolution, and staff communication.
Support annual budget preparation, monitoring, and analysis; identify funding resources and conduct cost and non-federal share analyses.
Lead or participate in major agency activities, including Self-Assessment, Pre-Service, In-Service, KID Team, and Staff Recognition events.
Serve on internal and external committees, task forces, and planning teams; contribute to facility planning and other agency-wide initiatives.
Support marketing and community outreach efforts by contributing to annual reports, newsletters, brochures, and promotional materials.
Perform other related duties as assigned to support the mission and goals of the Head Start division and the agency.
Physical Demands:
The physical demands described here represent those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this position. This role requires good physical health and the ability to work effectively in an office setting, as well as frequent travel to various Agency, Head Start/Early Childhood Services (HS/ECS), and community sites to conduct meetings, training, monitoring, and events.
Employees in this position must be capable of performing moderate physical activity, including occasional stooping, crouching, bending, kneeling, or crawling (e.g., during classroom observations or site visits). Work may also involve extended periods of sitting (such as report writing or meetings) and frequent standing or walking for extended durations (such as during presentations, recruitment events, or training sessions).
This position may occasionally require lifting, carrying, pushing, or pulling heavy objects or materials. The employee must be able to lift and move items weighing up to 50 pounds (e.g., supplies, equipment, or program materials).
Specific vision abilities required include close vision, distance vision, peripheral vision, color vision, and the ability to adjust focus. The employee must also possess sufficient hearing and speech capacity to receive, understand, and communicate verbal and written instructions effectively in a variety of work environments.
Occasional evening or weekend work may be required in response to emergencies, accidents, inspections, or essential program needs. Management or staff may be called upon to assist with urgent matters, perform follow-up actions, or complete required reports and documentation outside of regular working hours.
All employees of ABC's Head Start/Early Childhood Services Dept. must receive and maintain a full clearance from the Office of Children and Family Services and Justice Center of New York that confirms any prospective applicant or current employee has no pending criminal cases or prior convictions for sexual assault, domestic violence; has no indication of child abuse maltreatment or neglect; or who cannot be left unsupervised with children. Applicants or employees will not be hired or retained .
Please Forward Resumes/Applications to:
Human Resources Department
Action for a Better Community, Inc.
400 West Ave
Rochester, New York 14611
(585) 325-5116
HRDept@abcinfo.org
Deadline for Resumes/Applications: Open Until Filled
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