Preschool & Early Learning Division Director

Director Of Preschool & Early Learning Division

Multnomah County voters chose to invest in high-quality, culturally responsive, joyous early learning opportunities for all 3- and 4-year-old children in Multnomah County. This investment has transformed and impacted educational experiences for young children and their families, and we want you to help this program continue to thrive! Apply today to lead a multicultural workforce and manage a multi-million dollar budget with projected growth to over 11,000 Preschool For All seats by 2030.

As the director of the Preschool & Early Learning Division (PELD), you will lead the countywide implementation of a universal preschool system, utilizing the community framework and vision for Preschool for All. You will be a visible and inspiring advocate for the importance of early learning, the value of early educators, and the need for high-quality, culturally specific and culturally responsive preschools. You will collaborate with both community partners and PELD's various teams to develop creative and bold solutions to the next phase of the Preschool For All expansion, including building strong relationships with new and existing preschool providers, increasing the number of early educators and early learning spaces.

Your dynamic and strategic leadership, experience with media and intergovernmental communication, demonstrated commitment to equity, including but not limited to racial equity, and expertise leading programs that benefit children and families will support a newer Division within the Department of County Human Services and guide the initiative to build a preschool system that provides universal preschool within Multnomah County by 2030 to all families who want to participate.

Primary responsibilities include :

• Workforce + Equity : Integrate equity principles as a key focus to all initiatives and activities with goals to influence a workplace where everyone can thrive and do their best. Hire, supervise, direct, and evaluate program staff while creating cohesive vision and collaborative teams that focus on eliminating oppression in the workplace. Implement, monitor, and evaluate division priorities, family experience, provider quality and satisfaction with a primary focus on reducing barriers for children, families and providers who are from Black, Indigenous and other communities of color. Foster a collaborative and inclusive work environment that promotes safety, belonging, and trust and one that adapts as the number of preschool providers and families increases.
• Partnerships : Collaborate with parents, preschool providers, state leadership, Board of County Commissioners, department leadership, and community stakeholders. Determine the development and ongoing work of a diverse preschool advisory group that provides oversight using short and long-term strategic goals and plans using the Equity and Empowerment Lens. Include preschool providers, community organizations, and families in the decision making process.
• Strategic Leadership + Framework : Develop an implementation plan by building on the existing framework for preschool in Multnomah County and maintaining alignment across systems. Build program foundation including structures, leadership, and policy direction for a newer, complex division. Direct division-wide priorities and initiatives. Lead the division's budget development and resource allocation. Determine priorities for contracted services and staffing. Create achievable solutions to the challenges of workforce and infrastructure shortages. Lead management team to identify improvement opportunities to reach efficiency, effectiveness, customer focus and data driven results. Promote management practices within the union contract, county personnel policies, and workforce equity goals. Establish and maintain effective working relationships with the union(s). Support and implement Workforce Equity Strategic Plan and department-wide strategic business plan.

The ideal candidate will demonstrate the following competencies :

Key Knowledge & Experience :

To qualify :

We will consider any combination of relevant work experience, volunteering, education, and transferable skills as qualifying unless an item or section is labeled required. Please be clear and specific about how your background is relevant.

Minimum Qualifications / Transferable Skills :

Screening and Evaluation :

Your completed application must include all of the following items :

Please note : Your application and / or resume and cover letter should demonstrate your work experience / skills and how it is related to those shown in the Overview and To Qualify sections of the job announcement. Please be thorough, as these materials may be scored and determine your eligibility for an interview. The quality of your responses may determine if you are moved on to the next review. Please be clear and specific in the applicable sections of the online application / resume about how your background is relevant. Information stated in your cover letter must be consistent with your application and / or resume (when applicable).

Internal candidates : After you have submitted your application, please check your Workday inbox and complete the Veterans' Preference Questionnaire prior to the application deadline.

The Selection Process : For details about how we typically screen applications, review our overview of the selection process page. We expect to evaluate candidates for this recruitment as follows :

Note : Application information may be used throughout the entire selection process. This process is subject to change without notice.