Head Start Center Director

Salary $63,828.00 - $91,944.00 Annually Location Boulder County, CO Job Type Full-time Job Number 6901(HS7) Department Community Services Division CSD HeadStart Opening Date 10/01/2026 Closing Date 10/15/2026 11:59 PM Mountain FLSA Exempt DescriptionBenefitsQuestions Description Boulder County Head Start is seeking to hire a Head Start Center Director. The Head Start Center Director is responsible for overseeing the daily operations of the Head Start early childhood education center and is required to be on-site each day. This role ensures compliance with federal, state, and local regulations, and promotes a safe, nurturing, and developmentally appropriate environment for children and families. The Director leads, coaches, and supports a team of educators and staff, manages budgets and resources, coordinates with community partners, and ensures that all program goals related to child development, family engagement, and health services are met. Proficiency in technology and Microsoft platforms is essential for data management, communication, reporting, and administrative tasks. Oversight And Management Of Cross Cutting Approaches - culture and language diversity, program professional development, and school readiness Education and Development - child screening and assessments, disability services, curriculum, curriculum, learning environments, teaching practices, and transitions Family & Community – family engagement, community engagement, family support & wellbeing Health – mental health, oral health, physical health, nutrition, safety practices Program Management – recruitment, registration, facilities, fiscal management, human resources, organizational leadership, program planning, transportation Federal Administrative Procedures – federal monitoring, grant application, designation renewal system This is a full-time, grant funded, benefited position that will work 7:45am to 4:15pm, Monday - Friday in Boulder, CO. Under Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) guidelines, this position is exempt. Hiring Salary Range: $63,828.00 - $77,886.00 Annually Tentative Hiring Timeline Phone Screening: Week of October 19thFirst Round Interviews: Week of October 19thSecond Round Interviews: Week of October 26thReference Check: Week of October 26th Examples of Duties Demonstrates sound ethical judgment and professional decision-makingCommunicates clearly and professionally, both verbally and in writing, with diverse audiencesProficient in aggregating and analyzing data, and using data-driven insights to inform program planning, decision-making, and continuous improvement initiativesEffectively utilizes agency resources, and state and federal guidelines to provide accurate information and support to staff and familiesCapable of designing and delivering engaging training sessions and presentations to both large and small audiencesCollaborates effectively with community partners and possesses a strong understanding of local resources related to education and professional developmentWorks efficiently both independently and as part of a collaborative teamMonitor and supervise 2-4 classrooms to ensure effective curriculum implementation and compliance with Head Start Performance Standards and Head Start ActOversee implementation of Teaching Strategies GOLD child assessment systemMonitor and supervise teaching team's completion of anecdotal observations and Child Progress CheckpointsUse reporting functions to support effective curriculum implementation by teaching teamsMonitor and ensure teaching staff maintain developmentally appropriate learning environmentsConduct classroom observations and use assessments (such as CLASS, ECERS, ELLCO) to enhance teaching practices and develop goals with and for teaching teamsReview and engage in weekly classroom lesson planning and observe teacher practices to support teaching teams in carrying out curriculum and applying developmentally appropriate and effective teaching practices. Coach and mentor on-site staff, as neededCoordinate services for children with challenging behaviors (ISPs, parent meetings) and provide direct and/or emergent classroom support, as neededConducts performance appraisals, counsels employees concerning performance and recommends personnel actions in the areas of hiring, termination and disciplinePerforms related work, as requiredMay be reassigned during emergency situations Required Qualifications PLEASE NOTE: When completing your application describe all relevant education and experience, as applications are assessed based on the required qualifications listed. Resumes and other attachments are not accepted in lieu of completed applications and will not be reviewed in the initial screening process. Any personally identifiable information (PII) such as name and address will be redacted from applications that meet the minimum screening requirements and are forwarded to the hiring manager. If the hiring manager selects you to advance in the hiring process, your attachments will then be shared with the hiring team. Education & Experience Boulder County is looking for well qualified candidates to fill our positions. Any combination of relevant education and experience is encouraged. In this position, we are looking for a minimum of Three (3) years of lead teaching experience in a preschool setting. Two (2) years of supervisory experience. AND Bachelor’s degree in early childhood education/special education, family studies, or related field or a bachelor’s degree and 30 credits in early childhood education with early education teaching experience. Background Check & Fingerprinting Additional related education may count towards required experience. A job offer is contingent on passing a background?investigation with fingerprinting Supplemental Information Preferred Qualificaitons Current CLASS Observer Certification or ability to obtain within 1 year of hireCurrent MyTeaching Strategies Inner-Rater Reliability for Preschool, including Dual Language Learners and Children with Disabilities or ability to obtain within 1 month of hireCurrent Directors License from the State of Colorado (Colorado Shines Level III) or ability to obtain within 1 month of hire KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES: Knowledge of Head Start regulations and best practices.Strong organizational, communication, and leadership skills.Ability to work in diverse, multidisciplinary teamsWorking knowledge of the professional practices and principles of the assigned service component areaSkill in communication and grant writing Boulder County is a workplace dedicated to supporting individuals and families of all types and to fostering a diverse, inclusive, and respectful environment for all employees. We prohibit unlawful discrimination against applicants and employees on the basis of race, color, religion, gender, gender identity, national origin, age, disability, socio-economic status, sexual orientation, genetic information, or any other status protected by applicable federal, state, or local law. Benefits As well as offering competitive pay and a caring work environment, Boulder County offers employees an array of benefits. For all FTE and Term employees, we provide: Outstanding options of comprehensive health plans that include vision and dental coverage. Information can be found HERE.Additional Benefits include (Download PDF reader)Family-forming benefits- infertility treatment, adoption and surrogacy reimbursements12 weeks Paid Caregiver leaveBreast feeding friendly-work environmentInfants-at-work policyAccess to LifeMart and Benefits Hub discount hub, including discounts on childcare centers, event tickets, travel and more!Access to a nationally-recognized wellness programEmployee Assistance ProgramPERA 401kSocial Security retirement plansAdditional Life and Disability InsuranceCritical Illness and Accidental InsuranceCounty-paid tuition assistanceEligible for PSLF- Public Service Loan Forgiveness Free EcoPassHospital IndemnityID Theft ProtectionPet Insurance8 Hours of Paid Public Service LeaveGenerous paid time offHolidaysNew Year's Day Martin Luther King's Birthday JanuaryPresidents' Day Memorial Day Juneteenth Independence Day Labor DayIndigenous People's DayGeneral Election Day November (first Tuesday after the first Monday, even years)Veterans' Day Thanksgiving Day NovemberFriday after Thanksgiving*Christmas Eve- ½ day (full day off depends on day of the week)Christmas Day New Year’s Eve- ½ day (full day off depends on day of the week)Vacation**80-hour bank of vacation at the time of hireEight hours of vacation per month for the first year of continuous service, then accrue twelve hours of vacation per month after the first year of continuous service.Medical**Eight hours of medical leave for each month employed.PERA- The County and all employees pay into both Social Security and PERAEmployer contribution to Social Security: 7.65% of salaryEmployer contribution to PERA (Local Government Division- most county employees: 15.80%The District Attorney’s Office observe Francis Xavier Cabrini Day on the first Monday in October and omit the Friday after ThanksgivingVacation and Medical leave are based off of full time FTE accruals. Part-time FTE/term employees accrue leave based on the percentage of time they work. 01 How do you meet the minimum qualifications of three (3) years of lead teaching experience in a preschool setting. Two (2) years of supervisory experience. and a bachelor’s degree in early childhood education/special education, family studies, or related field or a bachelor’s degree and 30 credits in early childhood education with early education teaching experience. 02 Please describe your education, training, and/or classroom experience working with young children (birth–5). 03 Head Start programs rely on strong teamwork. Describe a time you worked closely with teachers, colleagues, support staff, specialists, or families to support children’s learning or well-being. How did you communicate, problem-solve, or contribute to a positive team environment? 04 Head Start serves families from diverse backgrounds, including low-income, Hispanic/Latinx, and immigrant communities. Please share your experience working with culturally and linguistically diverse families and children. How do you build respectful relationships and support children and families in an inclusive and strengths-based way? 05 Can you share an experience where you utilized data to advocate for a specific change or improvement in your organization? How did you communicate these data insights to your team to ensure alignment and accountability? 06 Describe your experience managing program compliance and oversight with regulatory bodies (such as the Office of Head Start, state licensing agencies, or public school districts). How did you ensure your program was compliant, and how did you address any challenges or findings that arose? 07 One of our guiding values is around Inclusion We value, respect, and support all individuals by being an inclusive, culturally responsive county government. What do you perceive as a challenge when working with a diverse workforce? 08 What kinds of experiences have you had working with others with different backgrounds than your own? Required Question Employer Boulder County Address 2025 14th Street Boulder, Colorado, 80302 Phone 303-441-3525 Website http://www.bouldercounty.org