Director of Education

OVERVIEW AND ROLE DESCRIPTION

About The City of Cambridge:

The City of Cambridge is a diverse and vibrant community that people of different ethnic, racial, religious, national, and other backgrounds call home. We take pride in our city’s diversity and strive to create a workplace that is reflective of the community we serve. The city is also deeply committed to creating an environment in which all our employees are treated equitably and feel included. We seek to hire, develop, and advance individuals who value antiracism, diversity, equity, and inclusion (ADEI), and are committed to embedding ADEI best practices and tenets in all aspects of our work.

About The Department of Human Service Programs:

The Department of Human Service Programs (DHSP) creates and coordinates services that enhance the quality of life for Cambridge residents. Driven by the needs of residents, DHSP’s extensive services and programs touch almost every sector in the city: from newborns to senior citizens, from school-aged children to homeless families, from non-profit organizations to local employers.

About The Role:

 A collaboration between the City of Cambridge and Cambridge Public Schools, the mission of the Office of Early Childhood is to connect the Cambridge early childhood ecosystem, align early childhood services and information, and advocate for and advance the needs of all young children, their families, and the early childhood workforce. The vision for this work is that every child and family in Cambridge has access to high quality early care and education experiences. As a result, all children enter school ready to thrive academically, physically, socially, and emotionally and continue to do so through third grade and beyond. The Director of Education will lead the work of program quality, coaching and mentoring, program accreditation, and family childcare program support, and co-lead school readiness and evaluation efforts. This position reports to the Executive Director of the Office of Early Childhood.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

The Director of Education specific duties include, but are not limited, to the following:

• Serve as a leader and internal expert on early education and care related projects and initiatives.
• Oversee the team responsible for ensuring quality programming is occurring across the early city’s early childhood ecosystem, including Cambridge Preschool Program partners.
• Work alongside the OEC Executive Director on the setting and implementation of the office’s overall strategy.
• Act as the liaison between OEC and other offices and organizations such as Cambridge Public Schools, Head Start, community based early childhood programs, EYP, and EI, and others as appropriate.
• Support school readiness initiatives ensuring projects and products are developmentally appropriate.
• Support evaluation efforts of the office through the collaborative development of strategies and measures that ensure desired outcomes are achieved.
• Co-chair the Cambridge Early Childhood Council.
• Support the administrative functions of the Office of Early Childhood including contributing to the development and monitoring of budgets, accountability and monitoring systems, and internal assessment and external evaluation efforts.
• Actively engages in and supports the Department’s race and equity initiatives.
• Serve as a representative of the Office of Early Childhood to external stakeholders.

Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS:

• Master’s degree in early childhood education or a directly related field.
• Minimum of 5 years of experience in an early childhood, education, or non-profit leadership position, with responsibilities for managing complex projects, programs, or systems.
• Demonstrated commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion.
• Highly organized.
• Strong interpersonal skills.
• Excellent communication skills, both verbal and written.
• Strong technological skills.
• Experience working in an urban setting and with diverse groups.
• Ability to work some nights and weekends.
• Knowledge of Cambridge community is an asset.
• The City of Cambridge’s workforce, like the community it serves, is diverse. Applicants must have the ability to work and interact effectively with individuals and groups with a variety of identities, cultures, backgrounds, and ideologies.

WORK ENVIRONMENT:

Standard office environment. Fluorescent lighting and air conditioning. Some offices may be carpeted. Moderate noise level. This position may be eligible for hybrid work under the City’s new Telework Policy, depending on operational needs.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS:

Ability to access, input and retrieve information from a computer. Ability to answer phones and maintain multiple files and ability to lift a minimum of at least 10 pounds. Ability to travel throughout the City of Cambridge to various meetings, etc.

BENEFITS SUMMARY:

• Competitive health, dental, and vision insurance
• Vacation and Sick leave eligible
• Sick Incentive Pay Eligible
• 3 Personal days
• 14 Paid Holidays
• Management Allowance, $2,700/year 

REQUIRED DOCUMENTS: 

Please upload the below documents to complete your application:

• Resume
• Cover Letter

Salary : $2,700