Senior Director of Strategic Operations Projects, DECE - 27014

New York City’s Division of Early Childhood Education (DECE) supports the operational and programmatic functions of early childhood education programs for children birth to five in elementary schools, Pre-K Centers, NYC Public Schools (NYCPS) contracted settings (Community Based Organizations and Family Childcare programs), and other diverse settings. DECE ensures families have access to high-quality, inclusive early childhood programs that nurture children’s growth and development through partnership with families and programs.

About the Role

The Senior Director of Strategic Operations Projects leads and directs the strategic planning, implementation, reporting, and evaluation of special DECE operations projects. These projects may include data and analytics, systems integration, portfolio planning, eligibility and enrollment, childcare subsidy administration, and overall program planning. This role ensures equitable, community-responsive service models using data-informed practices, quantitative and qualitative analyses, and cross-functional collaboration. The Senior Director oversees the development of reports and Key Performance Indicators (KPIs), ensuring alignment with citywide priorities, compliance with Chancellor’s regulations, and state and federal requirements. This position collaborates with senior NYCPS leadership, external agencies, and community partners to drive initiatives that deliver measurable, equitable outcomes for children and families.

Reports to: Chief of Systems Planning

Responsibilities

• Strategic Leadership & Executive Planning
  • Provide executive oversight of DECE’s strategic operations portfolio, ensuring alignment with the Deputy Chancellor’s vision and citywide early childhood priorities.
  • Lead long-range strategic planning efforts, including forecasting, scenario modeling, and resource allocation to support equitable early childhood access.
  • Oversee the development and implementation of multi-year operational strategies that integrate data, policy, and programmatic needs.
  • Direct high-impact special projects requiring cross-division coordination, executive decision-making, and stakeholder alignment.
  • Serve as a senior advisor to DECE leadership on operational policy, systems design, and organizational effectiveness.
  • Establish governance structures, project management frameworks, and accountability mechanisms for division-wide initiatives.
• Analytics & Reporting
  • Direct the creation of dashboards, KPIs, and executive-level reporting tools that inform policy decisions and operational improvements.
  • Ensure compliance with internal, city, state, and federal reporting requirements.
  • Lead data-driven evaluations of program performance, enrollment trends, and service delivery outcomes.
  • Champion data-informed decision-making across DECE, building staff capacity to use analytics effectively.
• Systems Integration & Operational Excellence
  • Lead cross-functional efforts to streamline and integrate systems supporting enrollment, contracting, portfolio planning, and subsidy administration.
  • Identify and implement opportunities to improve operational efficiency, reduce redundancies, and enhance user experience for families and providers.
  • Oversee the design and execution of operational pilots, system enhancements, and process reengineering initiatives.
  • Ensure operational systems support equitable access and are responsive to community needs.
• Stakeholder Engagement & Cross-Agency Collaboration
  • Build and maintain strategic partnerships with city agencies, advocacy groups, community organizations, and external stakeholders.
  • Represent DECE in high-level interagency working groups, policy discussions, and strategic planning sessions.
  • Facilitate alignment across internal teams to ensure cohesive implementation of operational priorities.
  • Communicate complex operational issues and recommendations to senior leadership, policymakers, and external partners.
• Quality Assurance, Equity & Continuous Improvement
  • Lead division-wide efforts to evaluate and strengthen operational practices through quantitative and qualitative analysis.
  • Develop and implement equitable service models that prioritize accessibility, inclusivity, and community responsiveness.
  • Establish continuous improvement cycles, including performance monitoring, root cause analysis, and corrective action planning.
  • Ensure all operational strategies reflect DECE’s commitment to equity and high-quality early childhood education.
• Supervisory & Team Leadership
  • Direct and mentor a team of directors, managers, analysts, and project staff, fostering a culture of excellence, collaboration, and accountability.
  • Oversee staffing, performance management, professional development, and succession planning for the Strategic Operations Projects team.
  • Provide executive-level guidance to cross-functional project teams, ensuring clarity of roles, timelines, and deliverables.
  • Build team capacity in project management, data analysis, systems thinking, and stakeholder engagement.
  • Lead recruitment efforts to attract and retain diverse, high-performing talent.

Requirements

• Minimum Qualifications
  • A master's degree from an accredited college in economics, finance, accounting, business or public administration, public health, human resources management, management science, operations research, organizational behavior, industrial psychology, statistics, personnel administration, labor relations, psychology, sociology, human resources development, political science, urban studies, or a Juris Doctor degree from an accredited law school, and two years of satisfactory full-time professional experience in one or a combination of the following:
    • Working with the budget of a large public or private concern in budget administration, accounting, economic or financial administration, or fiscal or economic research; or
    • Management or methods analysis, operations research, organizational research, or program evaluation; or
    • Personnel or public administration, recruitment, position classification, personnel relations, labor relations, employee benefits, staff development, employment program planning/administration, labor market research, economic planning, social services program planning/evaluation, or fiscal management.
  • Eighteen (18) months of this experience must have been in an executive, managerial, administrative, or supervisory capacity, including supervising staff performing professional work in the areas described above.
• Alternative Qualifications
  • A baccalaureate degree from an accredited college and four years of professional experience in the areas described above, including the 18 months of executive, managerial, administrative, or supervisory experience; or
  • An associate degree or completion of 60 semester credits from an accredited college and six years of full-time satisfactory professional experience as described above, including the 18 months of executive, managerial, administrative, or supervisory experience; or
  • A four-year high school diploma or its educational equivalent and eight years of full-time satisfactory professional experience as described above, including the 18 months of executive, managerial, administrative, or supervisory experience; or
  • A combination of education and/or experience equivalent to the above. College education may be substituted for professional experience at the rate of 30 semester credits for one year of experience. However, all candidates must have a high school diploma and at least two years of experience as described above, including the 18 months of executive, managerial, administrative, or supervisory experience.

Preferred Qualifications

• Demonstrated expertise in data systems integration and analytics for decision-making.
• Experience managing complex projects with multiple priorities and stakeholders.
• Familiarity with contracts, purchasing processes, and program financing within a government or educational context.
• Knowledge of Chancellor’s Regulations, state and federal policies, and early childhood education best practices.
• Strong project management, communication, and leadership skills.

Pay

$159,660 - $175,626 (Internal candidates who are selected for this position and who currently hold comparable or less senior positions within the DOE will not earn less than their current salary.)