Associate Director of Learning & Impact

Socket.dev; Washington (District of Columbia); On-site; USD 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

Bright Beginnings, Inc. is seeking an Associate Director of Learning and Impact to lead infant and toddler teaching practices across Head Start sites.

You will coach staff, promote developmentally appropriate, culturally responsive instruction, and supervise instructional coaches to advance the organization0career ladder. The role emphasizes fidelity to Head Start Performance Standards, data-informed practice using COR/CLASS/ASQ, and the design of professional development.

Qualifications

• BA in Early Childhood Education or higher with early education teaching experience.
• Two years of experience implementing practice-based coaching in an ECE setting.
• Excellent organizational, time management, and communication skills.
• Strong computer skills including Microsoft Office; experience with ChildPlus preferred.
• Mission alignment and flexibility in work settings.
• Ability to maintain cooperative, diplomatic relationships with coworkers, supervisors, families and the community.
• Ability to work in a fast-paced environment.

Responsibilities

• Provide instructional leadership and coaching across Head Start/EHS sites.
• Design and implement coaching cycles to build teacher capacity.
• Develop data-driven professional development plans.
• Conduct classroom observations and provide reflective feedback.
• Support licensing visits and accreditation readiness.
• Lead data analyses and dashboards to inform practice and outcomes.
• Collaborate with site leaders and executive team to ensure consistency and equity.

Skills

Instructional leadership

Coaching strategy

Data-driven practice

Stakeholder collaboration

Education

Bachelor9s degree in Early Childhood Education

Tools

Microsoft Office

ChildPlus

Job description

Bright Beginnings, Inc. is a non-profit organization that operates early childhood and family learning centers for families experiencing housing instability. Bright Beginnings implements a two-generational approach to:

• Ensure every child experiencing housing instability is healthy, safe, engaged, supported, and challenged.
• Develop school-ready and kindergarten-prepared children.
• Support families in breaking the cycle of intergenerational poverty; and
• Partner intentionally to eradicate disparities and remove obstacles to economic mobility.

Summary: The Associate Director of Learning and Impact supports the DLI through the support and development of high-quality infant and toddler teaching practices across multiple Head Start and Early Head Start (EHS) sites. This position provides instructional leadership, coaching, and technical assistance to HSP and EHS classroom staff to ensure developmentally appropriate, culturally responsive, and evidence-based practices are implemented consistently. This position also directly manages instructional coaches and implements programs that support BBI’s career ladder. The role plays a vital role in curriculum fidelity, professional development, and school readiness outcomes aligned with Head Start Program Performance Standards (HSPPS).

Essential Duties:

Instructional Leadership:

• Provide visionary leadership and hands-on support to teaching teams to ensure consistent use of developmentally appropriate, culturally responsive, and evidence-based instructional practices.
• Implement the organization’s coaching strategy, developing systems for ongoing, individualized, and group coaching cycles that strengthen teacher capacity and improve child outcomes.
• Partner with educators to create data-driven professional development plans that build core competencies in early learning, responsive caregiving, and inclusive practices.
• Conduct in-person and virtual classroom observations to assess instructional quality, model evidence-based best practices, and provide reflective, strengths-based feedback that promotes professional growth and ensures curriculum implementation with fidelity.

Compliance and Quality Assurance:

• Ensure fidelity to HSPPS, ELOF, and BrightBeginnings’policies and procedures across all classrooms.
• Collaborate with leaders on internal monitoring processes and quality assurance reviews, using findings to drive improvements in curriculum delivery, child engagement, and instructional quality.
• Support classroom teams in preparing for licensing visits and national accreditation reviews.

Training and Professional Development:

• Design, coordinate, and deliver engaging professional development sessions that address early childhood best practices, including infant-toddler development, trauma-informed care, and classroom management.

• Provide post-training follow-up and coaching to ensure translation of knowledge into daily practice.
• Support the onboarding and orientation process for new teaching and coaching staff, cultivating a culture of excellence from day one.
• Develop and implement the professional learning opportunities under BBI’s career ladder, ensuring BBI remains in compliance with grant implementation.

Data-Informed Practice:

• Leverage child outcome data (COR), classroom quality measures (e.g., CLASS scores), LENA language environment data, and developmental screening results (e.g., ASQ) to identify trends, close learning gaps, and inform instructional strategies.
• Lead data deep-dives with teaching teams and site supervisors to interpret assessment results, identify areas for growth, and co-create action plans that improve child and classroom performance metrics.
• Use real-time data to assess the effectiveness of coaching and professional development interventions, modifying strategies as needed to ensure continuous improvement.
• Develop data dashboards or visual summaries that provide clear insights into classroom quality, school readiness benchmarks, and teacher progress toward professional goals.
• Support the development of site-level and program-wide goals tied to measurable school readiness outcomes, teacher effectiveness, and family engagement.

Collaboration and Communication:

• Serve as a key liaison between education staff, site leaders, and the executive team, ensuring clarity, cohesion, and shared accountability across all sites.
• Participate in interdisciplinary case reviews and team meetings to support children with developmental delays or IFSPs.
• Engage families and community partners in supporting children’s educational experiences and transitions.

Other Professional Duties

• Contribute to annual self-assessment, program planning, and continuous improvement initiatives, using monitoring data and stakeholder feedback to inform decisions.
• Prepare accurate and timely reports for internal and external stakeholders, including the Education Director and federal/District funders.
• Uphold confidentiality and compliance with child protection standards and organizational policies at all times.
• Commitment to Bright Beginnings’ mission of advancing equity and opportunity for vulnerable children and families.

• Follow all applicable BBI policies and procedures, including the Standards of Conduct, to safeguard children from abuse, neglect, or exploitation while in the care of the Center.
• Other duties as assigned.

Qualifications:

• BA degree in Early Childhood Education orBachelor’s Degreeor advanced degree and equivalent coursework in early childhood education with early education teaching experience
• Two years of experience implementing practice-based coaching in an ECE setting
• Excellent organizational, time management, and communication skills
• Strong computer skills with expertise in Windows-based programs, such as the Microsoft Office Suite; experience with ChildPlus preferred
• Mission and culture alignment
• Must demonstrate flexibility in work settings, maturity of judgment, and ability to work collegially
• Must have the ability to maintain a cooperative, diplomatic working relationship with co- workers, supervisors, families. and the community
• Ability to work in a fast-paced environment

Physical Demands:

• Be able to lift 25-50 lbs.
• Be able to walk, squat/kneel, sit on the floor, see, hear, and speak.
• Be able to raise objects from a lower to a higher location or move objectshorizontally from one location to another.