Assistant Director, Ofc School Readiness Division (child Care Program Admin I)

Job Announcement

Under supervision of the School Readiness Coordinator ( Program Administrator II), provides strategic leadership and direction to staff on early childhood initiatives that are designed to promote school readiness support for young children, their families and early childhood educators. As the Assistant Director of the Office for Children (OFC) School Readiness Division, the appointee provides direct supervision for staff in the division and oversees the development, implementation, and monitoring of budgets in each initiative. The School Readiness Division includes programs and initiatives such as Ready Regions, the Infant and Toddler Specialist Network, Institute for Early Learning, Virginia Preschool Initiative, Virginia Quality Birth to Five and others. Responsible for the daily management of initiatives, development and implementation of programs and services, including recruitment, selection, retention, budget development and monitoring, grant compliance and countywide liaison functions. The appointee will also provide strategic services, support and counsel to the School Readiness Coordinator.

Illustrative Duties

• Directs or assists with the development and implementation of policy and procedures within the division relating to child care facility standards, program registration, fee schedules, billing, training, and/or eligibility;
  
• Directs or assists with the hiring, staffing and supervision of all branches and programs within the division;
  
• Directs or assists with planning for children with special needs and program requirements;
  
• Develops and implements plans for program evaluation;
  
• Directs or assists with preparation of the division budget and monitors division expenditures;
  
• Conducts needs assessments to determine community needs for services;
  
• Coordinates within the Office for Children and with other county agencies and service providers to formulate strategies and long-range plans to provide services for children;
  
• Coordinates expansion plans with other involved county and community based organizations;
  
• Maintains cooperative relationships with other county agencies, service providers, and community based organizations;
  
• Attends meetings with subcommittees of the Child Care Advisory Council and other advisory groups/committees as appropriate;
  
• Provides a public relations liaison with local, state, and national child care groups.

Required Knowledge Skills and Abilities

• Extensive knowledge of day care administration and child/family development programs;
  
• Demonstrated skills in needs assessment and strategic planning;
  
• Excellent skills in oral and written communication;
  
• Demonstrated ability to train and monitor the activities of a large group of child care professionals;
  
• Ability to plan and implement program evaluation plans.

Employment Standards

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:
Any combination of education, experience, and training equivalent to the following:
(Click on the aforementioned link to learn how Fairfax County interprets equivalencies for “Any combination, experience, and training equivalent to”)
Graduation from an accredited four year college or university with a degree in early childhood education, psychology, social work, or a closely related field; plus four years of professional experience in child care administration, early childhood education, or related human service administration. A master's degree may be substituted for one year of the required experience.

NECESSARY SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS:
The appointee to this position will be required to complete a criminal background check and a Child Protective Services Registry check to the satisfaction of the employer.

Additional Work Schedule Requirements: For special assignments/deadlines, alternate/flex schedule or comp time may be an option.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:

• Master’s degree in early childhood education or a related human services degree.
• Four (4) years of professional early childhood or human services work with demonstrated knowledge of early childhood development and appropriate practices that support positive social, emotional and cognitive development.
• Demonstration of aptitude or potential for the performance of supervisory duties through favorable appraisal/evaluation by a supervisor indicating the possession of supervisory potential.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS:
Work is generally sedentary in nature. However, incumbent may be required to do some walking, standing, bending, and carrying of items up to 25 pounds. Ability to operate keyboard-driven equipment. Ability to communicate verbally and in writing. Sufficiently mobile to attend meetings at various locations and make presentations to county staff and community. All duties performed with or without reasonable accommodations.

SELECTION PROCEDURE:
Panel Interview and may include a practical exercise.

The population of Fairfax County is very diverse where 39.8% of residents speak a language other than English at home (Spanish, Asian/Pacific Islander, Indo-European, and others) and we encourage candidates bilingual in English and a foreign language to apply to this opportunity.

Fairfax County Government prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, pregnancy, childbirth or related medical conditions, age, marital status, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetics, political affiliation, or military status in the recruitment, selection, and hiring of its workforce.

Reasonable accommodations are available to persons with disabilities during application and/or interview processes per the Americans with Disabilities Act. Contact 703-324-4900 for assistance. TTY 703-222-7314. DHREmployment@fairfaxcounty.gov. EEO/AA/TTY.