Head Start Collaboration Office Director

Head Start Collaboration Office Director

The Utah Department of Workforce Services (DWS) is looking for a skilled and motivated individual to fill the Head Start Collaboration Office Director position in the Office of Child Care (OCC) Division.

The Utah Head Start Collaboration Office Director facilitates collaboration and coordination among Head Start agencies and other state and local entities that carry out activities designed to benefit low-income children from birth to school entry, and their families. This position works to align Head Start programs with other state early care and education services, creating a more cohesive and effective system.

This position may be eligible for a hybrid in-office and telework schedule after training and clear demonstration of meeting professional and performance expectations for the role. This position may require some in-state and out-of-state travel for meetings and coordination with state and federal partners.

Principal Job Duties :

• Assists in building early childhood systems by collaborating with entities involved in state and local planning processes to better meet the needs of low-income children and their families.
• Facilitates the involvement of Head Start in state policies, plans, processes and decisions affecting target populations and low-income families.
• Conducts periodic needs assessments of Head Start agencies and relevant partners to identify gaps and determine needs with respect to collaboration, coordination and alignment of services, curricula, and assessments.
• Develops a strategic plan based on needs assessments in order to enhance and improve collaboration of Head Start agencies with other entities providing early childhood services.
• Promotes partnerships between Head Start agencies, state and local government agencies, and the private sector to ensure children from low-income families are receiving comprehensive services to prepare children for elementary school.
• Consults with the State Board of Education, local education agencies and providers of early childhood education and development, at both the State and local levels.
• Promotes partnerships between Head Start agencies, schools, law enforcement, relevant community-based organizations, and substance abuse and mental health treatment agencies to strengthen family and community environments and to reduce the impact on child development of substance abuse, child abuse, domestic violence, and other high-risk behaviors that compromise healthy development.
• Promotes partnerships between Head Start and other relevant organizations in order to enhance Head Start program quality.
• Coordinates with Head Start agencies and other relevant entities to align curricula and assessments, access professional development opportunities and conduct better outreach to eligible families.
• Serves as a representative on the Early Childhood Utah State Advisory Council to assist with the efforts of Head Start agencies to engage in effective statewide coordination and collaboration.
• Drafts, submits and tracks grant-related documents, including applications, budgets and reports, to ensure compliance and timely submission.
• Sets goals, establishes priorities, manages resources, develops concepts and approaches, and reviews project progress and results.
• Ensures compliance with applicable federal and / or state laws, regulations, and / or agency rules, standards and guidelines.

Required Qualification :

The Ideal Applicant :

Preference :

Why You Should Join Our Team :

In addition to having a rewarding and fulfilling job you will also receive great health and retirement benefits. To view a summary of the benefits we offer, click here .

We also provide generous paid time off so you can spend more time with your family and have a positive work-life balance.

The mission of Workforce Services is to strengthen Utah's communities by connecting the workforce to new opportunities and providing services to individuals and families in need. Today, more than 2,200 Workforce Services employees assist individuals in preparing for and finding jobs, meeting workforce needs of Utah businesses, administering temporary assistance, and providing economic data and analysis. Through a collaborative approach, the department has served millions of Utahns and has become a leader on several statewide initiatives. These include intergenerational poverty, homelessness, affordable housing, supporting refugees, helping rural communities, serving veterans and individuals with disabilities, and getting Utahns trained and back to work.