Family & Center Specialist - ELC Mancelona

Northwest Michigan Community Action Agency, Inc.; Michigan; On-site; USD 40,000 - 56,000; Full time

Job summary

Northwest Michigan Community Action Agency, Inc. is seeking a Family & Center Specialist for the ELC Mancelona site.

The role oversees daily operations, manages staff, and ensures delivery of high-quality Head Start programs aligned with family engagement and learning standards. Responsibilities include enrollment management, health documentation, community partnerships, family home visits, and adherence to licensing requirements.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Early Childhood Education/Child Development preferred.
• Associate’s degree with 18 semester hours in ECE and 480 hours of experience.
• Experience coordinating family engagement and compliance with licensing standards.

Responsibilities

• Manage daily operations, addressing issues with parents, children, and staff.
• Develop, implement, and evaluate center policies and programs.
• Monitor staff performance, child assessments, classroom programs, and care.
• Build community partnerships, support families with resources and goal-setting.
• Engage parents in child development and offer parenting education.
• Ensure full enrollment and compliance with health documentation.
• Collaborate with recruitment to promote enrollment and manage waitlists.
• Provide orientation, inform families about attendance benefits, and address absenteeism.
• Ensure Creative Curriculum implementation, lesson plans, and Head Start standards.
• Promote positive behavior guidance, conduct screenings/assessments, and meet timelines.
• Substitute as needed and provide caregiving duties during staff absences.
• Maintain a safe and healthy environment, ensuring compliance with health and licensing standards.
• Promote family health education, assist with health requirements, and conduct screenings.
• Organize Family Engagement activities and workshops with education staff.
• Conduct home visits, develop Family Partnership Goals, and support family objectives.
• Link families with resources, promote Head Start programs, and maintain communication.
• Serve as the liaison for program transitions and support children with disabilities.
• Participate in hiring, staff training, and ensure performance evaluations.
• Complete professional development plans and provide staff coaching.
• Monitor staff training records and ensure 24 hours of annual training.
• Ensure accurate completion of employee files, training, and certifications.
• Use ChildPlus for program management and maintain confidentiality.
• Attend meetings and professional development sessions.
• Collaborate with Site Coordinator to address concerns and promote staff safety.
• Track classroom supplies, submit expense reports, and oversee in-kind collection.
• Follow payroll and fiscal documentation guidelines.
• Complete required paperwork and reports on time, including Family Engagement activities. Adhere to work schedule and adjust for evening/weekend hours as needed.
• Report any convictions to LARA as required by state licensing.

Skills

Staff supervision

Family engagement

Head Start knowledge

Education

Bachelor’s degree in ECE/Child Development

Associate’s degree with 18 sem hrs ECE + 480 hrs exp

Job description

Family & Center Specialist - ELC Mancelona

Job Summary

The Family & Center Specialist oversees the daily operations of the Early Head Start (EHS) center, managing staff, ensuring the implementation of educational and developmental programs, and fostering strong family partnerships to support child and family well-being. They are responsible for maintaining compliance with Head Start standards, coordinating family engagement activities, and ensuring the provision of quality services to enrolled children and families.

Duties/Responsibilities

• Manage daily operations, addressing issues with parents, children, and staff.
• Develop, implement, and evaluate center policies and programs.
• Monitor staff performance, child assessments, classroom programs, and care.
• Build community partnerships, support families with resources and goal-setting.
• Engage parents in child development and offer parenting education.
• Ensure full enrollment and compliance with health documentation.
• Collaborate with recruitment to promote enrollment and manage waitlists.
• Provide orientation, inform families about attendance benefits, and address absenteeism.
• Ensure Creative Curriculum implementation, lesson plans, and Head Start standards.
• Promote positive behavior guidance, conduct screenings/assessments, and meet timelines. Substitute as needed and provide caregiving duties during staff absences.
• Maintain a safe and healthy environment, ensuring compliance with health and licensing standards. Promote family health education, assist with health requirements, and conduct screenings. Ensure center cleanliness, safety protocols, and food service compliance.
• Organize Family Engagement activities and workshops with education staff.
• Conduct home visits, develop Family Partnership Goals, and support family objectives.
• Link families with resources, promote Head Start programs, and maintain communication.
• Serve as the liaison for program transitions and support children with disabilities.
• Participate in hiring, staff training, and ensure performance evaluations.
• Complete professional development plans and provide staff coaching.
• Monitor staff training records and ensure 24 hours of annual training.
• Ensure accurate completion of employee files, training, and certifications.
• Use ChildPlus for program management and maintain confidentiality.
• Attend meetings and professional development sessions.
• Collaborate with Site Coordinator to address concerns and promote staff safety.
• Track classroom supplies, submit expense reports, and oversee in-kind collection.
• Follow payroll and fiscal documentation guidelines.
• Complete required paperwork and reports on time, including Family Engagement activities. Adhere to work schedule and adjust for evening/weekend hours as needed.
• Report any convictions to LARA as required by state licensing.

Education and Experience

• Bachelor’s degree in Early Childhood Education/Child Development preferred.
• Associate’s degree in Early Childhood Education/Child Development or Bachelor’s degree in a related field, plus 18 semester hours in Early Childhood Education/Child Development and 480 hours of experience.