The Sr. Manager, Regional Field Specialists provides management and leadership to the team of Regional Fields Specialists (RFS) located around the country. With input and guidance from the Director of Coordination and Collaboration, this position will supervise, guide and oversee the work of the RFS team to ensure effective functioning of the individual roles and the team, as well as effective integration of RFS work in the regional offices into the overall work of the national center.
Essential Duties and Responsibilities
Oversee and manage the work of 12 Regional Field Specialists, located in Head Start regional offices around the country, including duties such as:
Work with ZTT Human Resources and regional office leadership to recruit, hire, and onboard new RFS staff
Establish regular, timely, and appropriate systems of communication with regional office leadership to track, review and assess the progress of RFS work
Ensure with Director of Coordination and Collaboration, that communications with regional office leadership is inline with OHS central office messaging
Establish communication systems within DTL to ensure RFS staff are integrated into the overall work of the center
Ensure bi-directional communications so that RFS staff have the information and resources from DTL and other national centers necessary to effectively carry out their work, and so that information gained by RFS’s via the Head Start regional offices is shared with DTL staff to contribute to the effective functioning of the center.
Coordinate the work of the RFSs in sharing information on the latest resources and materials available through the National Centers so that they, in turn, can assist regional staff in bringing resource to grantees.
Provide regular individual supervision for RFS, to assess and track status of the RFS work, including supports to individualize training and technical assistance for regional office staff on topics related to early childhood development, teaching and learning.
Support RFSs’ efforts to connect content related to school readiness and positive child outcomes to Program Specialists’ work with Head Start/Early Head Start, AIAN, and Migrant and Seasonal Head Start grantees.
Coordinate regular meetings with RFS Team and sub-teams, in addition to meetings with NCECDTL staff and committees (e.g., data, disabilities, etc.)
Collect and analyze RFS data and generate weekly and periodic reports for OHS on RFS work.
Identify and support ongoing Professional Development needs for RFSs.
Identify and pursue opportunities for intentional integration of RFS work into the overall work of the center
Support the RFSs in building capacity to infuse OHS and national center messages and resources into their work with Regional Office staff.
Ensure healthy and effective functioning of the RFS team, and establish team norms, rules and operations for successful outcomes
Represent NCECDTL at meetings and events in the ACF regions.
Performs other duties as assigned to ensure the efficient and effective functioning of the project.
Skills and Experience
Strong knowledge of Head Start program development, the Head Start Program Performance Standards, Head Start Early Learning Outcomes Framework, and HS technical assistance resources;
Solid understanding of Federal Staff’s work in Regional Offices (e.g., Five-year grant cycle and Federal Oversight) to support planning and continuous improvement processes related to school readiness and grantee development.
Excellent written and oral communication skills.
Excellent interpersonal and relationship skills;
Extensive experience with supervising teams.
Extensive experience with managing complex projects.
Strong knowledge of early childhood development birth to five;
Strong knowledge of CLASS Pre-K observation tool and other program, teacher and child-level assessment tools commonly used in early childhood preschool programs;
Knowledge of CCDF and Public Pre-K programming trends and regulations in states and territories;
Solid understanding of adult learning principles and strategies for coaching/supporting adult learning (e.g., practice consultation),
Experience with organizing, developing and providing technical assistance resources to a variety of audiences;
Ability to work with a team as well as independently;
Ability to read, analyze and interpret complex documents; and
Ability to collect, organize, analyze and display various types of data.
Essential Qualities
Systems oriented
Organized
Adaptive
Encourages and practices critical thinking
Is self-reflective and empathic
Recognizes the influence of workplace relationships on outcomes and results
Maintains a respectful and accepting approach to others
Awareness of the influence of the larger context on individual behavior
Collaboratively and creatively supports the work efforts of colleagues at all levels and in all areas of the organization
Education Master’s degree in Early Childhood or related field.
Physical Requirements
While performing the responsibilities of the job, the employee is constantly required to use finger dexterity as well as sufficient hand dexterity to use a computer keyboard and be capable of reading a computer screen. Also may need to remain seated for long periods of time, have the ability to perform repetitive motions and reach for objects. Employee is frequently required to hold a writing instrument, communicate verbally, and hear well enough to detect nuances and receive detailed information. The may be required to grasp objects, push and pull objects, bend, stand, walk, squat or kneel. Vision abilities required by this job include close vision for data preparation or analysis, and expansive reading.
Working Conditions
The work conditions described here is representative of those an employee encounters while performing this job. Depending on work location, the incumbent will typically work indoors in a heated and air-conditioned office, with a mixture of natural, incandescent and fluorescent light with low to moderate noise levels or be subject to working conditions conducive to a home office. When travel is expected the incumbent will be exposed to outside environmental conditions during those times.
ZERO TO THREE: National Center for Infants, Toddlers, and Families is proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer of Minorities, Females, Protected Veterans, and Individual with Disabilities