JOB TITLE: DIRECTOR, BUREAU OF EARLY LEARNING POLICY AND PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT

JOB CODE: 41312

DEFINITION: This is responsible professional and administrative work directing and planning the activities of the Bureau of Early Learning Policy and Professional Development, Office of Child Development and Early Learning (OCDEL) in the Department of Human Services (DHS).

The employee in this job is responsible for directing and managing quality support services and early care education and development programs. Work involves developing and implementing policies and standards for early learning programs and professionals to improve the quality of early learning for young children statewide; developing procedures to measure, monitor, and evaluate service delivery of private and public early care and education providers; and directing the implementation of quality improvement activities. Work includes directing the development of federal and state funding allocation plans and block grants to ensure access to quality early care and education; developing contract provisions to ensure federal and state program mandates are met; providing technical assistance to early learning professionals; and integrating the Department of Human Services’ child development initiatives with the Department of Education’s pre-kindergarten and kindergarten initiatives. Supervision is exercised over administrative, technical, and professional staff. Work is performed under the general direction of the Deputy Secretary for Child Development and Early Learning and is reviewed through reports and conferences.

EXAMPLES OF WORK: (NOTE: The examples of work are representative of the work, but every position classified to this job may not perform all examples of work listed. Conversely, this is not an all-inclusive list of work examples.):

• Directs the development of policies, processes, regulations for statewide regulated early care and education quality initiatives, subsidized early care and education, and state funded pre-kindergarten programs to improve service delivery standards and program effectiveness.

• Directs the development of contract provisions and monitoring policies and procedures to ensure contract and grant compliance.

• Ensures programmatic policies align to improve cross-systems efficiencies.

• Determines new program needs for the delivery of early care and education operations and programs.

• Directs the development and implementation of a quality measurement and assessment program and standards for service delivery for early care and education program operations, including childcare centers, group homes, and family homes.

• Ensures quality monitoring and assessment program is in compliance with applicable state and federal legislative requirements.

• Monitors and evaluates Department initiatives, such as the Keystone STARS program, for public and private early care and education providers.

• Coordinates with the Department of Education, and other state, federal, and local departments to coordinate and develop a unified approach to early learning and support services.

• Manages the development of federal and state funding allocation plans and block grants to ensure family access to quality early care and education.

• Responds to provider, legislative, consumer, and press inquiries on quality measurement and performance standards, ratings, and early learning policies and processes.

• Reports to the Deputy Secretary for Child Development and Early Learning on the Keystone STARS program, Pennsylvania Pre-K Counts program services, and program issues.

• Performs the full range of supervisory duties.

• The employee in this job may participate in the performance of subordinates’ work consistent with operational or organizational requirements.

• Performs related work as required.

ENTRY LEVEL KNOWLEDGES, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES:

• Knowledge of the principles and practices of human services program planning and evaluation.

• Knowledge of human services programs, policies, and procedures.

• Knowledge of the principles and practices of policy planning, development, and implementation.

• Knowledge of the principles, dynamics, and structure of community organizations, and public and private agencies and available resources.

• Knowledge of the principles and practices of employee supervision.

• Ability to speak effectively before large groups.

• Ability to read, analyze, and interpret policies, procedures, and regulations.

• Ability to communicate effectively orally.

• Ability to communicate effectively in writing.

• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships.

MINIMUM EXPERIENCE AND TRAINING: (NOTE: Based on the Entry Level Knowledges, Skills, and Abilities):

• Six years of professional human services or social services program development and evaluation experience, including three years of supervisory experience, and a bachelor’s degree;

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• An equivalent combination of experience and training which includes three years of supervisory experience in human services or social services program development and evaluation.