Head Start Family Engagement & Center Lead

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

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.