Senior Manager, CREATE - ELC

About Us

Since 1972, Metropolitan Ministries has been providing life-changing solutions for those who are homeless and at risk of becoming homeless in Tampa Bay. We are a grassroots, donor, and volunteer-fueled community nonprofit serving families in Hillsborough, Pinellas, Pasco, Polk, and Hernando counties with compassion, practical help, and a commitment to making a significant difference.

About the Role

Lead the CREATE Early Childhood program, including day-to-day operations, staff supervision, and coordination with Head Start. This position focuses on supporting parents, teachers, and staff by providing training and tools to enhance the learning and development of all children.

Responsibilities

• Oversee the early childhood program, developing and implementing improvements as needed.
• Assess program quality, parent involvement, staff development, education components, and performance guidelines.
• Coordinate in-service training, facilitate team meetings, and ensure team attendance at assigned meetings.
• Conduct or delegate inspections of classrooms, work areas, grounds, playgrounds, and transportation to ensure safety, sanitation, and cleanliness; perform staff and child file audits.
• Coordinate, track, and report data for grant compliance, Early Learning Coalition requirements, and parent volunteer hours.
• Guide the team in training, program implementation, documentation, and outcomes reporting.
• Manage the School Readiness voucher process, including assessing scholarship needs, collecting payments, tracking attendance, and submitting reports.
• Lead quality improvement initiatives such as Quality Counts and the Accreditation Process.
• Ensure staff maintain yearly continuing education credits (CEUs) and that child and staff records are current and compliant.
• Provide direct supervision, coaching, and mentoring for CREATE–ELC teachers; coordinate teacher training to enhance program quality.
• Act as the liaison between CREATE – Early Learning and Head Start to foster a collaborative partnership.
• Meet personal, team, and organizational goals as outlined in KPIs and the annual plan.
• Attend required staff meetings and ongoing trainings.
• Complete other duties as assigned.

Requirements

• A minimum of an AA degree in education, health, or a social services-related field, or 10 years' experience in the childcare field.
• Director’s credentials required.
• Direct experience working with children and parents.

Skills

• Ability to work effectively with children and parents, communicating their status and progress to professionals within a network of school districts, service providers, and related medical/social service organizations.
• Strong interpersonal and supervisory skills; excellent oral and written communication.
• Dependability, maturity, and sensitivity to cultural and individual differences.
• Ability to handle job-related matters professionally, diplomatically, and confidentially.
• Ability to work with minimal supervision while accepting direction.
• Strong organizational skills and attention to detail.
• Computer literacy with knowledge of Microsoft Access, Word, and Excel.
• Comfort working with poor and homeless families; understanding of poverty and ability to work with diverse, low socio-economic populations facing crises.
• Knowledge of community resources available to the homeless population.
• Maturity and sensitivity to issues of faith, culture, and diversity.
• Ability to work as part of a multi-disciplinary team.

Physical Requirements

• Hearing and speaking ability for effective oral communication.
• Physical and emotional stamina to handle job-related stress.

Other Requirements

• Must pass applicable pre-employment screening and demonstrate legal authorization to work in the United States.
• Must be available to work during normal school hours and for evening meetings as required.
• Must pass required background pre-employment screening.
• Must have a valid driver’s license and be able to transport self and clients when necessary.

Benefits

• Salary: $55,000 - $60,000.
• Group health, vision, and dental coverage at affordable rates, with the option for family coverage.
• Preventative care is 100% covered (free) on all plans.
• PTO: 11 days of PTO and 10 paid holidays annually (for full-time and part-time employees).
• Option to participate in a 401K plan with employer match.
• $15,000 in employee Life Insurance paid for by Metropolitan Ministries.
• Employee Assistance Program.
• Option to participate in supplemental group insurance plans at affordable rates.
• Tuition reimbursement program.
• Training and career development opportunities.
• Discounted membership at the YMCA.