The Director of Early Childhood Learning is responsible for the overall leadership, administration, compliance, and daily operations of O.C.E.A.N., Inc.’s Head Start and Early Head Start programs. This position provides direct oversight of four center based Head Start locations and the Home Based Early Head Start program to ensure high quality, comprehensive services for children, pregnant women, families, and the community. The Director ensures that program operations are implemented in accordance with the Head Start Act, Head Start Program Performance Standards, federal and state licensing requirements, grant requirements, agency policies, and best practices in early childhood education and family support services. Essential Duties and Responsibilities Program Leadership and Administration Provide leadership, direction, and oversight for all Head Start and Early Head Start operations, including four center-based programs and the Home-Based Early Head Start model. Ensure full compliance with Head Start Program Performance Standards, the Head Start Act, federal grant requirements, state licensing requirements, local health and safety codes, and O.C.E.A.N., Inc. policies. Develop, implement, and monitor program goals, school readiness goals, service delivery plans, policies, procedures, and continuous quality improvement efforts. Supervise program management staff, including education, family services, health, nutrition, disabilities, mental health, ERSEA, home based services, facilities, transportation, and data management staff. Prepare reports, updates, and recommendations for the President and CEO, governing body, Policy Council, federal reviewers, auditors, and funding agencies as required. Compliance and Performance Standards Oversight Ensure that the program maintains effective management systems for program governance, planning, communication, recordkeeping, reporting, ongoing monitoring, and continuous improvement. Lead preparation for federal monitoring reviews, Focus Area reviews, CLASS reviews, fiscal reviews, licensing inspections, and other program assessments. Ensure timely correction of deficiencies, areas of noncompliance, licensing concerns, audit findings, or monitoring concerns. Monitor implementation of Head Start Performance Standards across all program service areas. Maintain documentation to demonstrate compliance with applicable federal, state, and agency requirements. Center Based Head Start Oversight Provide direct oversight of four Head Start centers to ensure safe, developmentally appropriate, inclusive, and high-quality learning environments. Ensure classrooms implement approved curricula, child assessment systems, individualized instruction, and school readiness goals. Monitor classroom quality, teacher child interactions, child outcomes, attendance, staffing patterns, ratios, supervision, and licensing compliance. Ensure coordination among education, family services, health, mental health, nutrition, disabilities, and transportation teams. Support center leadership in maintaining a safe, welcoming, inclusive, and well managed environment for children, families, and staff. Home Based Early Head Start Oversight Provide leadership and oversight for Home Based Early Head Start services, including home visits, group socializations, family engagement, child development services, and service coordination. Ensure home based services comply with Head Start requirements, including caseload expectations, weekly home visits, service duration, and required group socializations. Ensure home visitors partner with families to support parent child relationships, child development, family well being, health, nutrition, mental health, disabilities services, and school readiness. Monitor home visitor caseloads, documentation, visit completion, family goal progress, referrals, and follow up services. Ensure group socializations are planned with families and include both child and parent participation in appropriate settings. ERSEA and Enrollment Ensure effective implementation of Eligibility, Recruitment, Selection, Enrollment, and Attendance systems. Monitor enrollment, waitlists, attendance, recruitment strategies, and vacancy timelines to ensure funded enrollment is achieved and maintained. Ensure children and families are selected and enrolled in accordance with federal eligibility requirements and agency approved selection criteria. Work with community partners, school districts, childcare providers, health providers, and social service agencies to support recruitment and referrals. Monitor enrollment trends, community needs, and barriers to participation, and recommend strategies to improve enrollment and attendance. Fiscal and Grant Management Work collaboratively with the fiscal department to develop, monitor, and manage Head Start and Early Head Start budgets. Ensure program expenditures are allowable, reasonable, allocable, documented, and aligned with approved grant budgets. Monitor staffing, supplies, contracts, training, travel, facilities, transportation, and other program expenses. Support grant applications, continuation applications, budget narratives, refunding applications, and required federal reports. Participate in budget planning, cost allocation discussions, nonfederal share tracking, and fiscal monitoring. Supervision and Staff Development Supervise, coach, evaluate, and support management staff and assigned program leadership. Ensure staff receive orientation, ongoing training, professional development, supervision, and performance feedback. Support recruitment, onboarding, retention, corrective action, performance improvement plans, and succession planning for Head Start and Early Head Start staff. Ensure education managers, family services managers, health managers, disabilities managers, teachers, home visitors, and other staff meet applicable Head Start qualification requirements. Promote a culture of professionalism, accountability, teamwork, compliance, safety, and continuous improvement. Child and Family Services Ensure comprehensive services are provided to enrolled children, pregnant women, and families, including education, health, oral health, mental health, nutrition, disabilities, family engagement, and transition services. Ensure children with suspected or identified disabilities receive timely referrals, evaluations, individualized supports, and coordinated services. Ensure health and developmental screenings, assessments, follow up, and referrals are completed within required timelines. Ensure family partnership agreements, goal setting, referrals, and follow up services are implemented consistently and documented appropriately. Support parent engagement, fatherhood engagement, Policy Council participation, parent committees, family events, and community partnerships. Data, Monitoring, and Continuous Quality Improvement Use program data to assess compliance, child outcomes, family outcomes, enrollment, attendance, staffing, fiscal performance, and service quality. Monitor data systems, including ChildPlus or other agency approved systems, to ensure accurate and timely documentation. Conduct regular file reviews, classroom observations, home visit reviews, center visits, and management team meetings. Use data to identify trends, risks, gaps, and corrective actions. Lead continuous quality improvement efforts and ensure program improvement plans are implemented and monitored. Governance and Community Partnerships Work collaboratively with the governing body, Policy Council, parent committees, and agency leadership to support shared governance. Ensure Policy Council receives appropriate training, reports, consultation, and opportunities for meaningful participation. Build and maintain partnerships with school districts, child care providers, health providers, mental health providers, social service agencies, housing providers, higher education institutions, and community organizations. Represent O.C.E.A.N., Inc. professionally at meetings, coalitions, public events, and partner discussions. Support transition planning for children entering Head Start, moving from Early Head Start to Head Start, and transitioning from Head Start to kindergarten. Required Qualifications Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university in Early Childhood Education, Child Development, Human Services, Public Administration, Education Administration, Social Work, Nonprofit Management, or a closely related field. Minimum of five years of progressively responsible leadership experience in Head Start, Early Head Start, early childhood education, human services, or a related federally funded program. Minimum of three years of supervisory experience, including supervision of managers, coordinators, center leadership, or multidisciplinary teams. Demonstrated experience with staff supervision, fiscal management, and administration as required by 45 CFR §1302.91(b). Strong knowledge of Head Start Program Performance Standards, Head Start Act, ERSEA, child development, school readiness, family engagement, health and safety requirements, and comprehensive service delivery. Experience overseeing center based early childhood programs. Experience with or strong working knowledge of Home Based Early Head Start services. Demonstrated ability to lead multiple sites, manage competing priorities, analyze data, implement corrective action, and ensure compliance. Strong written and verbal communication skills. Ability to work effectively with children, families, staff, governing bodies, Policy Council, community partners, funders, and regulatory agencies. Preferred Qualifications Master’s degree in Early Childhood Education, Educational Leadership, Human Services, Public Administration, Social Work, Nonprofit Management, or a related field. Direct experience serving as a Head Start Director, Early Head Start Director, Education Director, Program Director, or senior manager in a Head Start or Early Head Start program. Knowledge of New Jersey childcare licensing requirements. Experience with ChildPlus, Teaching Strategies GOLD, ASQ, ASQ SE, CLASS, ERSEA systems, and federal monitoring reviews. Bilingual ability is preferred. Experience leading programs through federal monitoring, designation renewal, grant competition, corrective action, or quality improvement processes. Required Skills and Competencies Leadership and staff supervision Fiscal and grant management Head Start compliance and monitoring Early childhood education and child development Home Based Early Head Start service delivery ERSEA and enrollment management Family engagement and community partnerships Data analysis and continuous quality improvement Written communication and report preparation Conflict resolution and problem solving Cultural responsiveness and trauma informed leadership Policy implementation and accountability Staff coaching, development, and performance management Physical and Work Requirements Ability to travel between four Head Start centers, home based service locations, administrative offices, community partner sites, and meetings. Ability to sit, stand, walk, bend, and move throughout early childhood centers and office settings. Ability to occasionally lift or carry program materials. Ability to work a flexible schedule when needed for evening meetings, parent events, Policy Council meetings, board meetings, monitoring visits, or community events. Must complete required background checks, health screenings, child abuse registry checks, and other employment clearances as required by federal, state, and agency policy. Performance Expectations Compliance with Head Start Program Performance Standards and state licensing requirements. Maintenance of full enrollment and effective attendance follow up. Quality of center based and home based services. Timely completion of screenings, assessments, referrals, and child outcome reporting. Effective supervision and development of staff. Fiscal responsibility and budget compliance. Successful monitoring outcomes and timely correction of findings. Parent, family, and community engagement. Accurate data management and reporting. Progress toward school readiness goals, program goals, and continuous improvement priorities. Eligible for FT paid time off, paid holidays and fringe benefits such as health, life, dental and 403b plan. Requires Fingerprint and CARI Clearances per New Jersey Office of Licensing.

Candidate will develop and implement programs and strategies to support preschool students' academic, social, and emotional development. This role involves working closely with Early Head Start and Head Start teachers, parents, and staff to create a nurturing and supportive environment that fosters the success and well-being of our young learners. Exempt / salaried position. Executes the Student Success Protocol and works with a multi-disciplinary team and supervises one staff. This is a program year position. · Candidate must have MSW or related field and LSW with behavioral health experience · Will Consider license with Special Needs and experience · Proficient in all Microsoft applications and adapt quickly to agency software used. · Effective and relatable communication with clients and staff of diverse backgrounds. · Prefer candidate to speak, read and write Spanish in addition to English to meet caseload need. · Valid Driver's License and transportation. Must be able to lift at least 45 pounds. Eligible for FT paid time off, paid holidays and fringe benefits such as health, life, dental and 403b plan. Requires Fingerprint and CARI Clearances per New Jersey Office of Licensing.

The Support Coordinator is responsible for coordinating transportation services for income-eligible individuals, including Veterans, Seniors age 62 and older, and other approved program participants. The Support Coordinator provides client support and resource coordination for individuals and families seeking information, referrals, and assistance within the Direct Services program area. This position serves as a key point of contact for clients seeking information about agency programs, housing assistance, transportation services, and community resources. Transportation Coordination Coordinate transportation services for income-eligible individuals, including Veterans, Seniors age 62 and older, and other approved program participants. Work collaboratively with third-party transportation providers, community partners, veterans’ service organizations, senior service providers, and internal departments to ensure transportation services are efficient, accessible, cost-effective, and responsive to client needs. Client Support and Resource Coordination Answer incoming phone calls and respond to email, web, and walk-in inquiries regarding housing assistance, transportation services, and community resources by providing accurate information and directing clients to appropriate staff members. Serve as a backup receptionist for walk-in clients, delivering an overview of agency programs and services and collecting client information for assignment to a case manager or housing counselor by the Director. Assist clients by identifying service needs and facilitating referrals to relevant internal staff and community resources. The Support Coordinator is also responsible for determining program eligibility, maintaining accurate records, coordinating ride schedules, troubleshooting transportation issues, conducting outreach, and connecting clients to additional community-based resources that support independence, access to care, social connection, and overall well-being. Qualifications High school diploma or equivalent required with related experience; Associate’s or Bachelor’s degree in Human Services, Social Services, Business Administration, or a related field preferred. Minimum of three years of experience in client support, intake, resource coordination, transportation coordination, social services, community programs, or a related nonprofit setting preferred. Valid Driver’s License required. Work a flexible schedule, including some evenings and/or weekends as needed. Work effectively with minimal daily guidance with strong organizational skills and attention to detail. Knowledge of community resources, transportation services, veterans’ services, senior services, social service programs, and public benefits preferred. Experience working with veterans, senior (ages 62+), individuals with disabilities, low-income households, or vulnerable populations preferred. Adept at analyzing client needs and creating transportation plans that optimize customer satisfaction and program performance. Adept in researching and locating information using online systems and other sources. Adept in operating a computer and using Microsoft Office applications and agency assigned software. Experience with transportation scheduling software and/or transportation related devices preferred. Deals effectively and respectfully with the public, vendors, staff, clients, caregivers, and community partners. Required to speak, read, and write English.

Head Start program year position requires minimum of an Associates or in higher degree in Early Childhood Education or related field (18 credits or more in ECE) with pre-school Teaching experience. BA and P-3 or Nursery certifications preferred. · Educates children aged 3 – 5 years old. Delivers program services regarding child development and education through individual classroom management and parent involvement. Actively supervises children by leading gross motor activities and participating in walking field trips to surrounding neighborhoods, parks, local library, etc. Stands and walks about observing and interacting with children at play, facilitating learning and ensuring the safety of children in care. Stoops, crawls, kneels, and bends in order to speak to children at their eye level, to play with them, to pick up toys and equipment on the floor. Implements health policies by observing children on a daily basis for health concerns, washing hands, brushing teeth, intervening with toileting accidents, disinfecting materials and equipment, and keeping classroom clean and orderly. Eligible for FT paid time off, paid holidays and fringe benefits such as health, life, dental and 403b plans. · Valid Driver's License, be insurable, and access to transportation. · Must be able to lift at least 45 pounds. · Requires Fingerprint and CARI Clearances as well.

Program year position assists Teacher in delivery of Head Start services regarding child development and education for center-based children ages 3 – 5 years old. Stands and walks about observing and interacting with children at play, facilitating learning and ensuring the safety of children in care. Stoops, crawls, kneels, and bends in order to speak to children at their eye level, to play with them, to pick up toys and equipment. Candidate must have minimal of a high school diploma or equivalent. CDA is a plus. Eligible for FT paid time off, paid holidays and fringe benefits such as health, life, dental and 403b plans. · Valid Driver's License, be insurable, and access to transportation. · Must be able to lift at least 45 pounds. · Requires Fingerprint and CARI Clearances as well.

Candidate processes applications regularly. High interaction with the public and staff, so must effectively communicate with diverse backgrounds. Candidate must be detailed orientated, data entry, create and maintain client files. Requires High School Diploma or equivalent, typing proficiency to 45 wpm and experience with data entry. Regularly use Microsoft Office Suite, Internet and Grant database. Prefer candidate that is Bilingual (English / Spanish) to meet clientele need. Minimum one (1) year experience in high volume customer service. Valid Driver's License, be insurable, and access to transportation. High School diploma or equivalent required. Must be able to lift at least 45 pounds regularly with bending, stooping, and lifting for filing. Eligible for FT paid time off, paid holidays and fringe benefits such as health, life, dental and 403b plan.

Grant funded program year position assists in implementing the program(s) provision of nutrition services by preparing meals and maintaining a safe and sanitary kitchen environment. Additional duties may include making purchases, picking up / delivering locally purchased items, and assisting other sites based on program needs. O Candidate must have a minimum of a high school diploma or equivalent. O Serve Safe Certification is a preferred. O Valid Driver's License, be insurable, and access to transportation. O Schedule is Monday - Friday 7:00am - 2:30pm FT eligible paid time off, paid holidays, and fringe benefits such as health, life, dental and 401k / 403b plans. Must be able to lift at least 45 pounds regularly with bending, stooping and lifting. Requires Fingerprint, CARI, and driver Clearances as well.

The agency is seeking a candidate to provide clerical, financial, and tenant-related support to the property manager. Duties include and not limited to data entry, processing rent payments, maintaining tenant files, and tracking maintenance work orders to ensure smooth daily operations. Previous experience is required. Valid Driver's License, be insurable, and access to transportation. Must be able to lift at least 45 pounds regularly with bending, stooping and lifting. Eligible for FT paid time off, paid holidays and fringe benefits such as health, life, dental and 403b plan.

EARLY HEAD START TEAM The Early Head Start Home Visitor will provide early, continuous, intensive and comprehensive child development and family support services to eligible pregnant women, infants, toddlers and their families through a series of weekly home visits (90 minutes) and scheduled socializations activities. The EHS home visitor will design, plan and carry out developmentally appropriate experiences that meet all component areas of Head Start, the school readiness goals established by the program and the individual needs of the child. Each Home Visitor will maintain a maximum caseload of 10-12 infants, toddlers and/or pregnant women. •Candidate must have CDA Infant Toddler or Home Visitor. •Prefer college degree (Associates or higher) in early childhood education or related field with 18 college credits in ECE and preschool teaching experience. •Requires bilingual; speak, read and write English & Spanish to meet caseload need. •Agency vehicle provided for home visits and agency use. •Flexibility in schedule to meet agency need. Eligible for paid time off, paid holidays and fringe benefits such as health, life, dental and 403b plan. Requires Valid Driver's License, be insurable, and access to transportation, must be insurable to utilize agency provided vehicles to and from visits. Must be able to lift 45 pounds regularly with bending, stooping, kneeling, etc. Requires Fingerprint and CARI Clearances per New Jersey Office of Licensing and grant requirements.

EARLY HEAD START TEAM The Early Head Start/Head Start Site Manager oversees the overall management of the Early Childhood Education homebased program that services Ocean County, including supervising Home Visitors (refer to openings below) and overseeing site. Program assists enrolled pregnant women and children ages birth to 3 years old. The EHS Manager trains, supervises and evaluates staff and ensures client needs / goals are on track. Refer to Home Visitor posting for more program information. •Bachelors or advanced degree in Early Childhood Education or in a related field with preschool teaching experience. A degree in a related field means a college degree (Bachelors or higher) with a program of study which included 6 (18 credits) or more courses in early childhood education and / or child development. •Preschool experience means completion of supervised teaching experience as a preschool teacher in a licensed program or employment as a public preschool teacher. •Experience in supervising education staff required. •Proficient in all Microsoft applications and adapt quickly to agency software used. •Effective and relatable communication with vendors, clients and staff of diverse backgrounds. •Prefer candidate to speak, read and write Spanish in addition to English to meet caseload need. •Valid Driver's License, be insurable, and access to transportation Eligible for FT paid time off, paid holidays and fringe benefits such as health, life, dental and 401k plan. Must be able to lift at least 45 pounds regularly with bending, stooping and lifting. Requires Fingerprint and CARI Clearances per New Jersey Office of Licensing.