Early Head Start Director

Wisconsin Early Childhood Association is a statewide, nonprofit association serving as a professional association whose members care for and educate Wisconsin’s children, aged birth to eight. We are affiliated with the National Association for the Education of Young Children.

Wisconsin Early Childhood Association works to build a foundation for a lifetime of learning for Wisconsin’s young children by promoting excellence in early education programs, supporting professionalism in the early childhood workforce, and calling for greater investment in quality early child care. WECA’s mission is to meet the professional needs of adults who nurture and teach Wisconsin’s young children through a rich continuum of services.

WECA is looking for an Early Head Start Director to join our team. The Early Head Start Director oversees all program operations, ensuring alignment with federal and state guidelines, Head Start Performance Standards and organizational goals across all partnership sites. The Director brings extensive expertise in early childhood education, strategic planning, and compliance management to lead and strengthen a multi-site Early Head Start Child Care Partnership program while fostering strong relationships with community-based partners and agency staff.

Living in the state of Wisconsin in the Milwaukee area is required for this position.

Experience in the early childcare education field is required for this position.

Spanish/English bilingual candidates are encouraged to apply for this position.

By joining our amazing team, you help WECA carry out its important mission and in return, here is what we will do for you.

Benefits:

• 10 days of vacation – in your first year
• 12 Sick days- per year and can bank up to 240 hours
• 13 paid Holidays
• Life insurance, Short term & Long term Disability-all company paid
• Medical Insurance
• Dental Insurance- company paid
• Vision Insurance
• Accident Insurance
• Critical Illness Insurance
• Hospital Insurance
• Flex Spending/Dependent Care Account
• 401K- Company matches 100% up to 3% and 50% of the next 2%.
• WECA is closed the week between Christmas and New Year’s and all paid as holiday.

Duties & Responsibilities:

• Manage and provide overall leadership for the Early Head Start Child Care Partnership (CCP) program across multiple partnership sites, supervising the Education Manager, Monitoring & Compliance Manager, and Comprehensive Services Manager.
• Ensure full program compliance with federal and state regulations and Head Start Performance Standards.
• Lead strategic planning efforts to align program services with organizational goals.
• Develop and maintain strong community partnerships to enhance service delivery.
• Oversee staff development, including hiring, training and performance evaluations to support high quality program implementation.
• Monitor program performance through data analysis and ongoing assessments to ensure continuous improvement.
• Prepare for and lead federal and state program reviews, audits and compliance assessments.
• Manage program budgets in collaboration with the financial team, ensuring alignment with operational needs.
• Support cross-functional coordination between education, family services, health, inclusion, and compliance systems to ensure integrated service delivery.
• Provide leadership in conducting community needs assessments and integrating findings into program planning.

Education & Required Skills:

• Bachelor’s degree in Early Childhood Education, Child Development, or related field.
• At least 5 years of experience managing early childhood programs, including extensive knowledge of infant/toddler development.
• Demonstrate expertise in Head Start Program Performance Standards and regulatory compliance, along with a strong history of advancing fiscal oversight and strategic program planning.
• Strong leadership, communication, and organizational skills.

Wisconsin Early Childhood Association (WECA) does not discriminate in employment on the basis of age, race, religion, color, handicap, sex, physical condition, development disability, sexual orientation or national origin.

• 10 days of vacation – in your first year
• 12 Sick days- per year and can bank up to 240 hours
• 13 paid Holidays
• Life insurance, Short term & Long term Disability-all company paid
• Medical Insurance
• Dental Insurance- company paid
• Vision Insurance
• Accident Insurance
• Critical Illness Insurance
• Hospital Insurance
• Flex Spending/Dependent Care Account
• 401K- Company matches 100% up to 3% and 50% of the next 2%.
• WECA is closed the week between Christmas and New Year’s and all paid as holiday.