Therapeutic Early Learning Capacity Building Program Director

Auburn, Burien, Renton, Seattle, and Skyway, WA

About Childhaven

Childhaven is a leader in serving children, families, and communities that have experienced trauma and adversity and is building a continuum of care that is growing to respond to the changing needs of families by combining our legacy of healing-centered care with the expertise of community partners. Going forward, we are embarking on a new and very ambitious strategic impact plan to strengthen programs, expand impact, and embrace innovation through strategies at multiple levels of the child and family ecosystem: direct service, workforce and community, and child and family-serving systems. At this exciting, unique period of growth and evolution, Childhaven seeks a Therapeutic Early Learning Capacity Building Program Director to help fulfill this vision.

Childhaven is led by the following mission, vision, and values:

Mission

We partner with parents and community to strengthen families, prevent childhood trauma and its damaging effects, and prepare children for a lifetime of well-being.

Vision

All children are safe and healthy; flourishing physically, socially, emotionally, and educationally; well-nurtured by family and community.

Values

The Position

The Therapeutic Early Learning Capacity Building program (TEL-Cap) provides intensive infant & early childhood mental health-aligned therapeutic supports to young children, caregivers, and centers within early care and education settings. In this program, specialists work with parents & caregivers, teachers, and center leaders & administrators to support children who have experienced trauma to be successful in community-based early learning environments. Reporting to the Chief Program Officer, the Program Director provides leadership, oversight, and vision for this vital service area. And as this new program is growing and evolving, the Program Director will hold key program and partnership development responsibilities, working with the program team to develop, refine, and adapt new service delivery elements. Specifically, the Program Director will have the following opportunities for impact:

Although no two days will be alike, the Program Director should expect to devote their time to the following areas:

People & Operational Leadership

• Supervise TEL-Cap staff including recruitment, hiring, onboarding, ongoing performance management and facilitating regular team meetings.
• Provide at least two hours of individual reflective supervision monthly to each direct report.
• Ensure staff maintain accurate, up-to-date participant records, service documentation, and data collection.
• Develop and maintain internal reporting plan with the support of the Chief Program Officer to support model compliance, leadership reporting, and staff supervision.

Program Leadership

• Work with Chief Program Officer to ensure continuous improvement in data driven performance.
• Develop policies, procedures, and staff training methods for new program components.
• Screen new referrals to ensure the program is appropriate for their needs and provide timely follow-up with referring agencies.

External Relations

• Represent Therapeutic Early Learning Capacity Building with external stakeholders and lead partnership development with early care and education partners.

What You Bring

Candidates will be evaluated on the full range of their lived and learned experience, professional background, volunteer experience, and direct and transferable skills. Childhaven is seeking candidates with a compelling combination of demonstrated experience and skills in some, or all, of the following areas:

• Experience serving as a Program Director or similar role(s), preferably as a staff member of an organization, division, or department of comparable size.
• Master’s degree in social work, psychology, counseling, or a related field.
• Ability to secure Washington Licensed Mental Health Professional (e.g., LMHC, LICSW, LMFT, Licensed Psychologist).
• Specialized clinical training in infant/early childhood mental health principles and strategies.
• Experience working in early care and education environment (either in a staff or consulting/coaching role).
• Experience working in at least two core early childhood systems of care (home visiting, early care and education, pediatrics, mental health, etc.).
• Specialized certification as an Infant/Early Childhood Mental Health Specialist and/or endorsement as an Infant Mental Health Specialist or Infant Mental Health Mentor through a state Association of Infant Mental Health’s Endorsement for Culturally Sensitive, Relationship-focused Practice Promoting Infant Mental Health (IMH-E®) system (or comparable IECMH credential).
• Training in trauma-informed and anti-racism practices, and experience with related early childhood workforce development strategies.
• High emotional and social intelligence coupled with the ability to build and cultivate internal and external relationships to increase organizational capacity, capabilities, reach, and positive impact.
• A deep commitment to antiracism, racial, social, and gender justice in the broader community and a track record of implementing policies and practices to achieve greater equity.
• Constructive dissatisfaction with the status quo and an appetite for big, bold ideas and innovation.
• An outlook centered on valuing differences and embracing opportunities to learn about and respect different generational, cultural, and socio-economic backgrounds. 
• Experience fostering an open, innovative, evolving, committed culture that values honesty, integrity, and reliability.

 Total Compensation & Benefits

The annual salary range for this position is $76,900 - $101,200. 

SIGN-ON BONUS: $9000 (terms and conditions apply).

• 1/3 paid on hire; 2/3 paid after one (1) year.

Childhaven is committed to supporting all employees through competitive salary and benefits, a commitment to equity and inclusion, and training and professional development opportunities.

The comprehensive benefits package includes:

• Medical, dental, and vision insurance
• 403(b) savings program with employer
• Flexible spending account
• Healthcare reimbursement account
• Paid holidays
• Generous paid time off policy for personal and sick leave
• Dependent medical, dental, and vision benefits offered at employee cost

 To Be Considered

The position is open until filled and initial interviews will begin by late-May, although we highly encourage applying as soon as possible. Please submit a resume and cover letter as a single WORD or PDF document addressed to Jon Botten, CEO at: https://valtasgroup.hire.trakstar.com/jobs/fk02mqq/.

You may direct questions to Ed Rogan at ed@valtasgroup.com - 206.697.8428, Chris Cannon at chris@valtasgroup.com - 206.899.7289, or Emily Lee at emily@valtasgroup.com - 206.409.2215.

Childhaven is an equal opportunity employer committed to diversity, inclusion, and equity. We are upholding this by recruiting candidates of every race, creed, color, religion, national or ethnic origin, gender of gender identity, age, veteran status, sexual orientation, marital status, disability, and all other historically marginalized and excluded communities and other protected status as provided by law. Qualified individuals who bring diverse perspectives to the workplace are highly encouraged to apply!