Seeking Executive Director

Seeking Executive Director

Head Start for Kent County, located in Grand Rapids, Michigan, is seeking an Executive Director. This is a full time, salaried-exempt position, reporting to the Board of Directors and the Parent Policy Council.

Head Start for Kent County is a non-profit organization and the grantee for the Head Start and Early Head Start programs. Our mission is to deliver comprehensive services to low income, multi-cultural children ages five and under and their families, promoting their well being and development. The Agency provides transportation, early childhood education, health, nutrition, mental health, speech and social services resources at our 7 sites located throughout Kent County. With an annual budget of over eleven million dollars, we serve over 1,500 children and their families and employ nearly 300 staff.

The Executive Director is responsible for directing the Agency in its efforts to provide leadership, resources and services that create, improve and promote bringing children and families to self-sufficiency. The Executive Director ensures that effective, high quality services are provided with leadership of staff and on-going fiscal management while providing support for the Board of Directors and collaboration with the Parent Policy Council and Community Organizations. The Executive Director is responsible for the development and planning of Agency programs and program improvements, representing the Agency in all dealings with the Community and chief responsibility for public accountability.

Qualifications:

· Must be an expert in the area of Early Childhood Education and an effective advocate for the Head Start and Early Head Start mission and values

· Demonstrated “forward thinking” ability to develop solutions in a rapidly changing environment that is influenced by changing government oversight, breakthroughs in early childhood education and a need for increased collaboration with community organizations and schools

· Bachelors degree required (Masters degree preferred) in Business Administration, Public Administration, Management, Family Services, Early Childhood Education or related degree

· Five to seven years successful experience in a management position, including experience administering a comprehensive early childhood/family services program involving general oversight, budgeting, facilities and staff management

· Three to five years successful experience in the supervision of management level staff and managing teams of at least ten people

· Must have experience with multi-cultural, ethnically diverse, at-risk, low-income population

· Must be an effective advocate for the Head Start and Early Head Start mission and values

· Intermediate level computer skills, knowledgeable of Microsoft Office

· Excellent verbal, written and interpersonal communication skills required working with diverse populations in the community and in the supervision of staff

· Excellent organizational, analytical and planning skills

· Grant writing experience preferred

· Bi-Lingual (Spanish speaking) preferred

· Willing to travel throughout designated service area on regular basis

Qualified candidates should send, before February 21st, a cover letter, resume, salary history and expectation to:

Head Start for Kent County

2626 Walker Ave, NW

Walker, MI 49544

Attn: R. Lee

(or)

Attn: R. Lee