Head Start Data & Quality Lead

Paladin-Inc; Michigan City (IN); On-site; USD 60,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job summary

Paladin-Inc in Michigan City, IN seeks a program data systems lead for Head Start. The role manages ongoing monitoring, data quality, and regulatory compliance, driving improvements and ensuring data integrity across multiple systems.

The position requires knowledge of Head Start standards, strong data analysis skills, and experience with electronic data-management systems. Travel between sites may be required to support monitoring and drills.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in early childhood education, human services, public or business administration, quality management, data management, or a closely related field.
• Minimum of two years of professional experience in a Head Start or Early Head Start program.
• Demonstrated working knowledge of the Head Start Program Performance Standards and Indiana child care center licensing regulations.
• Demonstrated experience with ongoing monitoring, quality assurance, regulatory compliance, data validation, program evaluation, or continuous improvement.
• Proficiency with electronic data-management systems and Microsoft Office, particularly Excel; ChildPlus experience strongly preferred.
• Ability to work independently, exercise professional judgment, maintain confidentiality, and engage in ongoing self-directed learning.

Responsibilities

• Lead, implement, and maintain the program-wide ongoing monitoring and continuous improvement system.
• Coordinate the two-level monitoring structure: track first-level monitoring and independently complete second-level reviews; document findings and communicate results to managers and Head Start Director.
• Maintain the monitoring calendar and evidence of completion; analyze findings to identify strengths, risks, and opportunities for improvement.
• Coordinate corrective-action follow-up; track owners and due dates; verify timely correction; evaluate effectiveness; document closure; support recurrence prevention.
• Serve as Head Start administrator for ChildPlus and other program data systems; promote data availability, integrity, confidentiality, security, and sharing; manage user accounts and access changes.
• Conduct routine data-quality reviews; identify missing or incorrect data; provide technical assistance and verify corrections.
• Develop and distribute dashboards, data summaries, and analyses; explain trends and risks; support status reporting to governing bodies.
• Coordinate PIR data collection, reconciliation, validation, and timely submission with Director and content managers.
• Oversee development of Head Start Annual Report and Community Assessment; compile and validate information; ensure publication and dissemination.
• Coordinate and support self-assessment and review of program goals; analyze data and contribute to improvement plans.

Skills

Data analysis

Independent judgment

Team collaboration

Education

Bachelor's degree in early childhood education, human services, public or business administration, quality management, data management, or a closely related field

Tools

ChildPlus

Microsoft Office

Excel

Job description

Paladin-Inc in Michigan City, IN seeks a program data systems lead for Head Start. The role manages ongoing monitoring, data quality, and regulatory compliance, driving improvements and ensuring data integrity across multiple systems.

The position requires knowledge of Head Start standards, strong data analysis skills, and experience with electronic data-management systems. Travel between sites may be required to support monitoring and drills.