Early Head Start Coordinator

South Central Iowa Community Action Program, Inc.; Iowa, Northern (LA, KY); Hybrid; USD 25,000 - 44,000; Full time

Job summary

South Central Iowa Community Action Program, Inc. is seeking an experienced Early Head Start Coordinator/Family Resource Advocate in Chariton, IA.

This full-time, hourly role provides leadership over center-based and home-based EHS services for five counties and works to ensure high-quality services for infants and families. You will supervise staff, coach teachers, collaborate with families, and monitor program documentation while traveling within the service area.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Early Childhood Education or related field.
• Experience supervising staff and supporting home visitors.
• Experience with families and young children in EHS/Head Start.
• Familiarity with CLASS observations.

Responsibilities

• Provide leadership, supervision, and support to EHS staff to ensure high-quality services and compliance with Head Start standards.
• Supervise Early Head Start Home Visitors and the EHS Center-Based Teacher Director.
• Provide reflective supervision, coaching, feedback, and professional development support to EHS staff.
• Conduct regular staff observations and provide feedback to promote quality improvement.
• Monitor data in ChildPlus and ensure timely documentation and family-service records.
• Travel throughout the five-county service area for observations, meetings, and training.
• Support recruitment, enrollment, and family engagement activities.

Skills

Supervisory experience

Young children experience

Family engagement

CLASS observations

Early Head Start experience

Education

Bachelor's degree in Early Childhood Education or related field

Tools

ChildPlus

Job description

Location: Chariton, Iowa – Five-County Service Area
Position: Full-Time, Hourly
Schedule: Generally Monday-Friday 7:30 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.; flexibility as needed
Make a Difference in the Lives of Young Children and Families!
Are you passionate about early childhood education, family engagement, and helping children and families reach their full potential? SCICAP is looking for an experienced, compassionate, and organized Early Head Start Coordinator/Family Resource Advocate to provide leadership and support to our Early Head Start program serving families across our five-county service area.
This is a great opportunity for an early childhood professional who enjoys leading a team, supporting teachers and home visitors, partnering with families, and ensuring high-quality services for infants, toddlers, and their families.
The Early Head Start Coordinator provides leadership and oversight for both center-based and home-based Early Head Start services and works closely with staff, families, community partners, and the Early Head Start/Head Start Program Director.

What You’ll Do

As the Early Head Start Coordinator, you will:

• Provide leadership, supervision, and support to Early Head Start staff to ensure high-quality services and compliance with the Head Start Program Performance Standards.
• Supervise Early Head Start Home Visitors and the EHS Center-Based Teacher Director.
• Provide reflective supervision, coaching, feedback, and professional development support to EHS staff.
• Conduct regular staff observations and provide feedback to promote continuous quality improvement.
• Complete and support CLASS observations and help staff strengthen effective teacher-child interactions.
• Review EHS lesson plans and home visitor documentation and provide meaningful feedback.
• Monitor child and family data and ensure accurate, timely documentation in ChildPlus.
• Monitor Family Partnership Agreements, family goals, referrals, family outcomes, family engagement activities, and other required family-service documentation.
• Support families in identifying needs, accessing community resources, and following through with referrals.
• Support attendance efforts, including attendance contacts, family meetings, and attendance plans when needed.
• Work collaboratively with teachers, home visitors, health staff, and other program team members to ensure children and families receive comprehensive services.
• Support recruitment, enrollment, and family engagement activities.
• Participate in parent meetings, fatherhood activities, socializations, community meetings, and other program activities.
• Support staff pursuing their Child Development Associate (CDA) credential and monitor progress toward completion.
• Help ensure staff training plans and professional development requirements are completed.
• Support compliance with Iowa licensing requirements, Head Start Performance Standards, and SCICAP policies and procedures.
• Substitute in the classroom as needed.
• Travel throughout the five-county service area for observations, meetings, training, and other program responsibilities.
• Perform other duties as assigned by the Early Head Start/Head Start Program Director.

What We’re Looking For

Required Education:

• Bachelor’s degree in Early Childhood Education or a related field.

Required Experience:

• Supervisory experience working with staff.
• Experience working with young children.
• Experience working with families.
• Experience conducting or participating in CLASS observations.
• Experience working in an Early Head Start or early childhood setting is strongly preferred.

Knowledge & Skills

The ideal candidate will have:

• Strong organizational and time-management skills.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• Strong interpersonal and relationship-building skills.
• Ability to work effectively with families, staff, community partners, and individuals with varying levels of education and experience.
• Computer skills and the ability to maintain accurate electronic records.
• Knowledge of the Head Start Program Performance Standards and state licensing requirements.
• Experience with CLASS and teacher-child interaction quality.
• Ability to provide constructive feedback, coaching, and reflective supervision.
• Ability to maintain strict confidentiality regarding children, families, and staff.
• Ability to work independently while also being an effective member of a team.
• Flexibility and willingness to travel throughout the five-county service area.

Training & Certifications

Training and/or certification requirements include:

• CLASS training and annual CLASS reliability certification.
• PBIS training.
• Conscious Discipline training.
• CPR/First Aid certification.
• Mandatory Reporter training.
• Parents as Teachers (PAT) training.
• Additional Head Start and program-specific training as required.

Don’t have every certification yet? Training requirements may be completed as part of your employment, depending on program needs and applicable requirements.

Physical & Travel Requirements

This position involves a combination of center, office, and community-based work. The employee must be able to:

• Sit, stand, walk, talk, hear, and use hands and arms regularly.
• Frequently lift or move items weighing up to 25 pounds and occasionally up to 50 pounds.
• Travel to Early Head Start sites throughout the five-county service area.
• Travel for training, conferences, meetings, and CLASS observations.
• Maintain a valid driver’s license and current auto insurance.

Background & Employment Requirements

Employment is contingent upon completion of required background checks and other program requirements, including:

• Criminal records check/DCI clearance.
• Fingerprinting as required.
• Child abuse/neglect and sex abuse registry checks as applicable.
• Required physical examination.
• Compliance with all applicable Head Start, Iowa licensing, and SCICAP requirements.

Why Join SCICAP?

At SCICAP, you have the opportunity to do more than supervise a program—you can help build stronger families, support dedicated early childhood professionals, and make a lasting difference in the lives of young children.

If you are an early childhood professional who is ready to take the next step in your career and lead with compassion, accountability, collaboration, and a commitment to quality, we would love to hear from you!