Assistant Director, Educational Services

Overview

Assistant Director, Educational Services — University Relations, USC School for Early Childhood Education. Location: Los Angeles, California. Direct reports include Regional Education Managers and Mental Health and Disability Staff. The organization serves Head Start and Early Head Start centers in the South Los Angeles area, with a focus on school readiness, health/nutrition, mental wellness, and family engagement.

Job Location: Los Angeles. Reports to: Executive Director, School of Early Childhood Education. Division/Department: University Relations/School for Early Childhood Education. Job Title: Assistant Director, Educational Services.

Responsibilities and Duties

• Develop and implement USC SECE's education component. Plan and organize SECE program services; monitor data; ensure compliance with program performance standards and regulations (state, federal, Community Care Licensing).
• Provide strategic leadership, oversight, and accountability for the educational components of the Head Start and CA State Preschool Program (CSPP) to ensure teaching and learning practices meet or exceed requirements.
• Maintain readiness for federal and state reviews, audits, and monitoring visits through proactive compliance oversight.
• Collaborate with Service Area leaders to implement high-quality, research-based curriculum that promotes school readiness, supports individualized learning, and reflects developmentally appropriate practices.
• Support and implement SECE's vision and program goals. Confer with stakeholders to review achievements and discuss changes to goals, objectives, or program emphasis.
• Analyze data to inform operational decisions and ensure high-quality delivery of services.
• Review activity and cost analyses; forecast data to track progress toward goals and objectives.
• Assist in preparing grant proposals and in the regular review and annual update of the agency's strategic plan.
• Facilitate and design training and professional development for staff.
• Oversee collection, analysis, and interpretation of child assessment and outcome data; use data to inform instructional practices and program modifications.
• Ensure full compliance with federal, state, and local regulations; develop internal policies and procedures; foster a holistic, collaborative approach across departments.
• Maintain CLASS certification and implement CLASS observations across classrooms.
• Supervise and guide Family Advocates, Home Base Educators and team, State Preschool Staff, and administrative staff to recruit and enroll children, engage parents, support parent–child relationships, and implement engagement strategies.
• Collaborate with other managers to develop and implement staff and parent training plans to meet family needs.
• Ensure all Program Information Reporting (PIR) is accounted for across service areas; tailor work plans and program delivery to community needs.
• Foster a workplace culture where employees are valued and can contribute ideas in accordance with the USC Code of Ethics.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Schedule/Hours Requirements

The position requires flexible hours, including weekend and evening work and some travel.

Minimum Qualifications

• Master's degree in Early Childhood Development, Education, Psychology, or a related field.
• 5 years of progressive leadership experience with demonstrated experience in early childhood education, including 3 years in a leadership or administrative capacity.
• Demonstrated experience with Head Start and California Department of Education (CDE) regulations, and Community Care Licensing.
• Experience in early childhood education within a large-scale childcare facility.
• California Commission on Teacher Credentialing Child Development, Program Director's Permit.

Preferred Qualifications

• PhD in Early Childhood Development, Education, Psychology, or related field.
• 7 years of progressive leadership experience.
• Ability to manage multiple tasks and collaborate with outside agencies.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills; ability to work effectively in a team.
• Ability to represent Head Start/Early Head Start positively to the community and families.
• Knowledge of Head Start and Early Head Start Performance Standards.
• Bilingual: English/Spanish preferred.

Physical Requirements

Must be able to climb stairs, reach, bend, lift 20–30 pounds, crawl, kneel, stoop, twist, grasp with hands, and use arms/legs. Must be able to perform typical physical requirements including lifting, carrying, pushing, pulling, and significant bending and kneeling.

Pre-Employment Requirements

• Physical exam
• TB test
• Background/fingerprint clearance
• MMR and Tdap vaccinations
• CPR
• Child Abuse Mandated Reporter Training

Salary: $95,000 – $115,000. USC considers multiple factors in offer decisions, including position scope, experience, education, skills, equity, laws, grants, and market considerations.