Education Manager, Early Childhood

Wu Yee Children's Services; San Francisco (CA); On-site; USD 78,000 - 122,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health benefits

403b retirement plan

Paid time off

Child care discount

Career growth opportunities

Professional training

Job summary

Wu Yee Children's Services seeks an Education Manager to provide strategic leadership across its Child Development programs, overseeing curriculum implementation, school readiness, and program quality. This role partners with multiple departments to ensure compliance with Head Start standards, CDE requirements, and licensing, while advancing equitable, developmentally appropriate learning environments.

Responsibilities include supervising mentors, coaching staff, and guiding professional

Qualifications

• Bachelor's Degree in Early Childhood Education required.
• Master's Degree in Early Childhood Education or related field preferred.
• Valid California Child Development Program Director Permit required.
• Minimum eight years in ECE settings and two years supervisory experience.
• Experience training staff and facilitating professional development.

Responsibilities

• Develop and implement educational systems, policies, and procedures.
• Lead curriculum implementation and school readiness initiatives.
• Chair School Readiness Committee and review goals quarterly.
• Aggregate and communicate DRDP data to leadership and funders.
• Monitor curriculum through observations and assessment tools.
• Collaborate with teaching staff to ensure developmentally appropriate practices.
• Supervise, coach, and mentor Mentor Coaches.
• Coordinate professional development in ECE topics.
• Ensure compliance with Head Start standards, CDE requirements, and licensing.

Skills

Strategic leadership

Coaching & mentorship

Data-informed decision making

Curriculum & school readiness

Communication & collaboration

Education data systems

Equity & inclusion

Microsoft Office & data tools

Education

Bachelor's Degree in ECE

Master's Degree preferred

California Director Permit

Tools

ChildPlus/CP.net

Microsoft Office Suite

Job description

The Education Manager provides strategic leadership for the planning, implementation, and continuous improvement of high-quality early childhood education services across Wu Yee Children's Services' Child Development programs. Reporting to the Director of Education and Workforce, this position leads curriculum implementation, school readiness initiatives, instructional coaching, education systems, and program quality efforts that promote positive child outcomes and family engagement.

The Education Manager partners with Child Development leadership, Family Services, Disabilities and Mental Health, and Center Management to ensure educational services comply with Head Start Performance Standards, California Department of Education (CDE) requirements, licensing regulations, and agency best practices. Through instructional leadership, data-informed decision making, and staff development, the Education Manager advances equitable, inclusive, and developmentally appropriate learning environments for all children.

Primary Responsibilities

Strategic Educational Leadership

• Develop and implement educational systems, policies, and procedures that reflect the agency's educational philosophy and best practices.
• Lead implementation and continuous improvement of curriculum across all Child Development program options.
• Establish service area plans that support the developmental needs of enrolled children and families.
• Review and update education systems annually to ensure alignment with organizational priorities and regulatory requirements.
• Promote innovative instructional practices that strengthen school readiness and child outcomes.

Curriculum, School Readiness & Program Quality

• Oversee implementation and evaluation of high-quality curriculum and instructional practices.
• Lead the implementation and ongoing evaluation of School Readiness Goals and educational outcomes.
• Chair the School Readiness Committee and facilitate quarterly review of school readiness goals.
• Aggregate, analyze, and communicate DRDP and School Readiness data to leadership, staff, families, and funders.
• Monitor curriculum implementation using classroom observations, assessment tools, and program monitoring systems.
• Collaborate with teaching staff to ensure consistent implementation of developmentally appropriate practices.

Leadership, Coaching & Professional Development

• Supervise, coach, mentor, and evaluate Mentor Coaches.
• Build staff capacity through ongoing coaching, reflective supervision, and professional learning.
• Coordinate and facilitate professional development related to:
• Early childhood curriculum; Child assessment systems: CLASS, Environmental Rating Scales (ERS), School Readiness, Parent, Family, and Community Engagement (PFCE); Adult learning principles
• Partner with Regional Managers to identify individualized coaching and training needs based on classroom observations and monitoring findings.

Collaboration & Family Partnership

• Collaborate with Family Services staff to integrate Parent, Family, and Community Engagement (PFCE) goals into educational programming.
• Partner with Family Services to support successful transitions to kindergarten.
• Collaborate with Disabilities and Mental Health staff to ensure implementation of Individualized Education Programs (IEPs) and Individualized Family Service Plans (IFSPs).
• Partner with Content Managers and Center Managers to ensure inclusive practices that meet the individualized needs of every child.
• Foster interdisciplinary collaboration that supports whole-child development and family engagement.

Compliance, Monitoring & Continuous Improvement

• Monitor educational services to ensure compliance with Head Start Performance Standards, CDE requirements, licensing regulations, and agency policies.
• Conduct program monitoring using ChildPlus/CP.net and established quality assurance systems.
• Evaluate educational program effectiveness using monitoring results, assessment data, and performance indicators.
• Implement recommendations from Office of Head Start (OHS), California Department of Education (CDE), and other monitoring agencies.
• Participate in proposal development, grant writing, and continuous quality improvement initiatives.

Organizational Leadership

• Represent Wu Yee Children's Services through participation in professional organizations, conferences, community partnerships, Board meetings, and Policy Council meetings.
• Collaborate with organizational leadership to strengthen educational systems and organizational priorities.
• Participate in agency strategic planning and cross-functional initiatives.
• Perform additional duties as assigned.

Education

• Bachelor's Degree in Early Childhood Education required.
• Master's Degree in Early Childhood Education or a related field preferred.
• Valid California Child Development Program Director Permit required.

Experience

• Minimum eight (8) years of professional experience in an early childhood education or child development setting.
• Minimum two (2) years of supervisory experience.
• Experience training staff and facilitating professional development.
• Experience implementing curriculum, assessment systems, and school readiness initiatives.
• Experience using data to guide instructional improvement and organizational decision-making.

Knowledge & Skills

• Extensive knowledge of: Early childhood curriculum; Child assessment systems: CLASS, Environmental Rating Scales (ERS), School Readiness, Parent, Family, and Community Engagement (PFCE); Adult learning principles; Head Start Performance Standards
• Strong instructional coaching, facilitation, and leadership skills.
• Excellent written, verbal, presentation, and interpersonal communication skills.
• Ability to analyze data, identify trends, and implement system improvements.
• Strong organizational, strategic planning, and project management skills.
• Experience working effectively with culturally and linguistically diverse children, families, and staff.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite, ChildPlus/CP.net, and data management systems.

Core Competencies

• Strategic Educational Leadership: Provides leadership that advances educational excellence through curriculum development, instructional systems, school readiness planning, and continuous improvement.
• Instructional Leadership: Builds educator capacity through coaching, professional development, reflective practice, and evidence-based instructional support that improves child outcomes.
• People Leadership: Develops high-performing teams through coaching, mentoring, accountability, collaboration, and professional growth.
• Program Quality & Compliance:Ensures educational services consistently meet Head Start Performance Standards, CDE requirements, licensing regulations, and organizational quality expectations.
• Data-Informed Decision Making: Uses assessment results, DRDP outcomes, school readiness data, classroom observations, and monitoring findings to evaluate effectiveness and strengthen educational practices.
• Collaboration & Family Partnership: Builds collaborative partnerships with educators, families, interdisciplinary teams, and community partners to promote inclusive, family-centered educational services.
• Equity & Cultural Responsiveness: Champions culturally responsive, inclusive, and strengths-based educational practices that support equitable learning opportunities and positive outcomes for all children.

Physical and Cognitive Demands

Note on Essential Functions: Wu Yee Children’s Services is committed to diversity and inclusion; reasonable accommodations will be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform these essential functions. The physical and cognitive demands described below are representative of those required to successfully perform the essential functions of this position.

• Regular travel between child development centers, administrative offices, training locations, and community meetings throughout San Francisco.
• Ability to work effectively in classrooms, professional office settings, and community-based environments.
• Frequently use computers and technology systems for extended periods.
• Occasionally observe classrooms while standing, walking, bending, and interacting with children and staff.
• Occasionally lift and transport training materials and equipment weighing up to 50 pounds.
• Strong analytical thinking, instructional planning, organizational, and problem-solving skills.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities, regulatory timelines, coaching activities, and organizational initiatives simultaneously.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills for coaching, facilitation, presentations, meetings, and executive reporting.

Compensation and Benefits

• The pay range for this position is $78,000 - $121,990 A new hire generally starts between $78,000 and $100,340. The final salary offer will be determined after reviewing relevant factors, including but not limited to skill sets, relevant experience, internal equity, and other business and organizational needs.
• Fully paid employee health, dental, and vision.
• 403b with matching contribution after 1 year.
• 14 holidays, 15 days vacation, and paid sick leave.
• Employee child care slots at reduced tuition on an as-available basis.
• Lots of opportunities for advancement across the organization.
• Extensive paid training and professional development.

Wu Yee Children’s Services conforms to all the laws, statutes, and regulations concerning Equal Employment Opportunities and affirmative action. We promote diversity and urge women, minorities, individuals with disabilities and veterans to apply to all of our job openings. Pursuant to the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, we will consider for employment qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records to apply for any open position in which they feel qualified. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, national origin, disability status, genetic information and testing, family and medical leave, sexual orientation and gender identity or expression, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law. Wu Yee Children’s Services is an equal opportunity employer.