JOB SUMMARY/ACCOUNTABILITY:
The Assistant Manager of Operations is responsible for supporting the center manager and ensuring compliance with the Head Start Performance Standards and Health and Safety Standards. This role also includes firmly committing to Head Start’s mission of ensuring all children, families, and staff are in a safe, nurturing, welcoming environment. The role supervises center managers in conjunction with the senior operation manager. This requires the incumbent to be a self-motivated professional, capable of managing their workload and prioritizing tasks in a fast-paced environment.
POSITION QUALIFICATIONS:
- Bachelor’s or Advanced degree in early childhood education or child development
- Must meet other grantee and licensing requirements
- Two years of related work experience.
- Knowledge of Head Start Program Performance Standards, State of Michigan Childcare Licensing Regulations, and state and federal regulations on child abuse and neglect
- Ability to respond to and remain calm in an emergency or a crisis
- Excellent computer skills, including proficiency with Microsoft Office and the ability to become familiar with agency-specific programs and software.
- Organized self-starter, demonstrated ability to initiate, prioritize, and complete a daily workload.
- Must meet deadlines in a fast-paced, quickly changing environment.
- A proactive approach to problem-solving with strong decision-making skills.
- Professional verbal and written communication skills.
- Effective in an environment of cultural diversity; comfortable in a collaborative, team-based work setting
- Reliable transportation is required.
GENERAL RESPONSIBILITIES:
- Assist with weekly center visits to support center managers and conduct checklist observations for health and safety, record keeping, and monitoring plans
- Develop and maintain positive, supportive relationships with center managers
- Works collaboratively with the senior operations manager to contribute to the overall success of the team and program
- Develop a positive workplace culture by treating co-workers with respect and dignity while supporting team decisions even when they may disagree
- Communicates clearly and appropriately with staff and parents, listens, and allows others to share ideas and opinions without interruption
- Support the centers in the absence of the center managers
- Assist the senior operations manager with the yearly center manager performance evaluations to provide feedback
- Attend regular weekly check-ins and monthly center manager meeting
- Assist with coordinating training with assigned T/TA Specialist
- Assist senior operation manager with monitoring attendance
- Work with the senior operation manager on teacher placement and opening of the classrooms
- Assist in interviewing center manager applicants
- Meet regularly with the senior operations manager
- Assist senior operations manager with notification of center closures, classrooms, staffing, etc.
- Participate in program-sponsored activities and community events, including recruitment.
- Ensure compliance with all performance standards and regulations.
- Maintain adequate safeguards for the privacy and confidentiality of information.
- Complete the required documentation of relevant activities and submit records and reports promptly and accurately.
- Stay abreast of current issues and trends by participating in grantee-sponsored training, center pre-service and in-service training, and other continuing education, career, and professional development opportunities; read and review regulations and other resources.
- Perform other duties as assigned
WORKING AND ENVIRONMENTAL CONDITIONS:
Works in a typical office environment with the usual pressures of managing personnel and dealing with time constraints. Because of multiple sites within the department and the need to meet with others within the community, it is common to drive to several locations, sometimes in inclement weather.
CONTINUOUS QUALITY IMPROVEMENT AND ETHICAL CONDUCT:
- All staff will use data to help achieve program goals; apply techniques and strategies that promote a culture of learning; identify and address gaps that continuously improve our programs
- All personnel of Matrix must adhere to the NASW Code of Ethics and incorporate Continuous Quality Improvement efforts into their everyday performance
- All Head Start employees must adhere to the federal regulations and requirements for Head Start operations including the Program Performance Standards, licensing regulations, and the NAEYC Code of Conduct
- Demonstrate and actively promote an understanding and commitment to the mission and values of Matrix Human Services
Matrix Human Services is an Equal Opportunity employer committed to diversity in the workplace. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, age, national origin, disability, protected veteran status, gender identity or any other factor protected by applicable federal, state, or local laws.
Matrix Human Services is committed to working with and providing reasonable accommodations to individuals with disabilities. If you need a reasonable accommodation because of a disability for any part of the employment process, please send an e-mail to recruiting@matrixhs.org. Michigan law requires that a person with a disability or handicap requiring accommodation to perform the essential duties of the job must notify the employer in writing within 182 days of the date that the need is known or should have been known.
