Hawkeye Area Community Action Program, Inc. (HACAP) is a diverse, community-focused nonprofit dedicated to empowering and improving the lives of families living with the everyday barriers of poverty.

What we are proud to offer you:

• Health and Dental Insurance
• Retirement Savings (IPERS and/or 403(b))
• Paid time off and 9 company paid holidays
• Short-Term Disability after 1 year of employment
• Basic Life and AD&D coverage
• Employee Assistance Program
• Optional benefits: Flexible Spending, Long Term Disability, Voluntary Life and Voluntary Accident

POSITION GOAL

This position has oversight of Head Start/Early Head Start educational services at multiple HACAP locations.  This position is responsible for supporting staff, team leadership, project development and fostering relationships with community partners.  This position is a member of the Head Start/Early Head Start Management Team and will provide support and leadership to program staff in the areas of child development and early childhood education.  Project management skills, writing skills and familiarity with computer systems are important in this role.

Schedule

This position starts on January 1, 2019. The schedule will be Monday-Friday 8 am - 5 pm. 

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

1. Ensure compliance, program records, and documentation required for HACAP programs, child-care licensing regulations, CACFP, Head Start Performance Standards, Head Start Act and funding requirements.
2. Provide guidance and training of program staff members on Head Start/Early Head Start Education and Early Childhood Development requirements, processes, and procedures.
3. Monitor centers to ensure compliance with all Educational and Head Start requirements.
4. Oversee and monitor program child assessment program requirement.
5. Oversee the development and implementation of individual child development plans in the Head Start Program, providing guidance to staff.
6. Assist in analysis and planning of Head Start program child outcomes and school readiness goals.
7. Assist with planning and participate in the annual center review process to ensure quality services to children and families.
8. Function as a member of the Head Start management team in activities assuring that federally mandated child outcomes are completed and reviewed for areas of strength and growth.
9. Provides child ratio coverage in a classroom on an emergency basis to meet state licensing and/or federal compliance regulations.
10. Perform other duties as directed by the Head Start/Early Head Start Director.

EXPECTATIONS

1. Support the organization's mission, goals, guiding principles, policy and procedure by exhibiting the following behaviors: excellence and competence, collaboration, innovation, respect, personalization, commitment to our community, accountability, and ownership.
2. Consistently work in a positive and cooperative manner with fellow Team Members.
3. Consistently demonstrate an ability to respond to changing situations in a flexible manner in order to meet current needs, such as reprioritizing work as necessary.
4. Maintain consistent work attendance.
5. Maintain appropriate attire and good grooming habits to support HACAP’s desire for safe and efficient operations, providing greater service and better customer relations.
6. Ensure the confidentiality of any information concerning an employee, client, or family.
7. Ensure that personal health information is protected during its collection, use, disclosure, storage and destruction within HACAP as required by HIPAA.

QUALIFICATIONS

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily.  The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required.  Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Education and/or Experience

1. A baccalaureate or advanced degree in early childhood education; or

A baccalaureate or advanced degree in any subject and coursework equivalent to a major relating to early childhood education with experience teaching preschool-age children.

2. Three (3) years of supervisory experience.
3. Experience communicating in large groups or public settings
4. Two (2) years professional/managerial experience with a Head Start/Early Head Start program is preferred.

Skills

1. Ability to read, comprehend and implement procedures.
2. Ability to use good judgment
3. Ability to work independently as well as part of a team
4. Ability to work with a diverse population
5. Ability to relate to low-income people
6. Strong organizational skills
7. Ability to work effectively with age-appropriate activities in the classroom and relate with children in a positive way
8. Detail orientated

PHYSICAL DEMANDS 

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to use hands to finger, handle, feel, and grasp; reach with hands and arms; and talk or hear. The employee must occasionally use repetitive wrist, hand, and finger movements to operate a computer keyboard. The employee frequently is required to stand, walk, stoop, bend, kneel, squat, twist, crouch, or crawl. The employee must occasionally climb stairs or steps. The employee is occasionally required to sit and taste or smell. The employee must be able to work/play with children on their level, specifically on the floor level. The employee must regularly lift, move, push, or pull up to 10 pounds; frequently lift, move, push, or pull up to 25 pounds; and occasionally lift, move, push or pull up to 50 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and ability to adjust focus.

 WORK ENVIRONMENT 

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

 The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.

CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT

1. Receive clearance by the Iowa Department of Human Services on child abuse and criminal checks prior hire and resubmit every two (2) years.
2. Receive clearance thru National FBI fingerprint checks.  Fingerprints must be submitted for national check no later than 30 days from the date of hire or start date at the center.  Resubmit every four (4) years.
3. Pass a pre-employment health examination and subsequent health examinations every two (2) years thereafter.
4. Provide TB screening clearance upon hire and every two (2) years thereafter.
5. Complete Bloodborne Pathogen (Universal Precautions) within ten (10) days of employment and update annually.
6. Complete Child Abuse Mandatory Reporting Training within three (3) months of employment and update every two (2) years.
7. Obtain first aid training within three (3) months of employment and update every two (2) years.
8. Obtain CPR training within three (3) months of employment and update every two (2) years.
9. Complete CCDBG Essentials training within ninety (90) days of employment and update every five (5) years.
10. Attend a minimum of fifteen (15) hours of in-service training annually.
11. Training activities must be accomplished within work hours scheduled or training hours approved by HACAP.
12. Reliable transportation for use on the job.
13. Valid driver’s license and valid car insurance.
14. Paid time and mileage calculated from the nearest HACAP service site to the population cluster to be served by the employee or from the employee’s residence whichever is nearer.

15. Valid driver’s license
16. Valid car insurance