Start Early (formerly known as the Ounce) is an energized, future-focused organization devoted to providing quality early learning and care across the country.
Our desire to close the opportunity gap and build more equitable early learning experiences for our youngest learners guides everything we do. As a leader in early learning and care, we scale our deep expertise across program, policy and research through partnerships across the country.
We are recruiting individuals who want to join us in this mission and share a commitment to our core values of appreciation & respect, empowerment, diversity, excellence, learning and communication.
Become part of our rewarding, mission-driven culture! We want our employees to feel empowered, motivated, energized, and passionate about the work they do!
Start Early Consulting supports our partners to ensure that early childhood systems are high-quality and aligned, are resourced to be sustainable, and meet the needs of children and families of color from historically marginalized communities. As a leader in Start Early’s consulting practice, the Director leads and delivers consulting to a portfolio of engagements serving public sector leaders and advocates at the state and community-level to build high-quality, equitable prenatal to five systems. The Director builds relationships for systems change in the field, represents Start Early externally and the consulting team internally, and engages in business development to support the consulting practice to reach a wide range of partners and increase our impact in the field.

Reporting to the Vice President, Consulting, you will:

• Responsible for designing, delivering, and managing consulting services on early childhood policy, programs and funding on topics included but not limited to: Childcare, Head Start, Public Pre-K, Early Intervention & Special Education and Home Visiting. Consult to support clients on systems issues including quality improvement and systems implementation, advocacy strategy. Lead relationship management with the client, lead internal engagement teams, and coordinate with external contractors
• Lead and ensure success of a portfolio of consulting engagements; accountable for project scopes. Consult as a thought partner, share subject matter expertise, and act as a ‘pair of hands’ in pursuit of more equitable and higher quality early childhood systems. Deliver services including: advising, strategic planning, policy analysis, system assessment, advocacy strategy and development, and implementation support.
• Cultivate and maintain relationships with a wide range of early childhood systems leaders, advocates, and networks as a public ambassador for systems work and to learn from and center the voices of families and providers of color. Engage in business development with potential clients and funders to generate new business and renewals and communicate impact and learning. .
• Conceptualize and create tools, publications, presentations, and other public-facing materials to guide consulting, center equity, and improve early childhood systems and do so with greater reach and impact. Proactively identify and capture policy, program and research lessons learned and innovations from the field and consulting clients to apply to future work and broader dissemination.
• Lead key consulting team functions or initiatives, including supporting the practice in advancing its diversity, equity and inclusion and quality improvement aims. Engage in Advocacy & Policy Team leadership and collaborate with other organizational leaders to advance Start Early, Advocacy & Policy, and consulting team strategic goals.
• Actively contribute to management of team progress toward annual goals, and responsible for supervision of staff, peer-to-peer feedback, and other professional learning.

Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s required; Master’s degree preferred; in public policy, social work, education, child development, program management, or related field.
• Minimum 10 years of relevant work or lived experience in public policy, program development/implementation, early childhood systems, including management or leadership positions.
• Experience in early childhood policy, program(s) or systems building at the local, state or national level (government agency, advocacy organization, or program organization) strongly preferred.
• Knowledge of effective consulting methods, training, adult learning methods and prior experience in consulting or technical assistance.
• Commitment to racial equity, including an understanding of institutional and structural racism and bias and their impact on underserved and underrepresented communities
• Customer service orientation, with excellent interpersonal skills, ability to build and sustain relationships with clients, partners and funders.
• Excellent facilitation skills, knowledge of active listening, adult learning, and appreciative inquiry.
• Advanced knowledge of early childhood government systems and programs, including knowledge of the challenges and solutions facing policymakers, advocates and providers to create more diverse, equitable, and inclusive systems; thorough understanding of legislative, administrative, and other systems change methods.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills, with the ability to write, present, and engage in a manner that is inclusive and articulates complex ideas clearly.
• Advanced managerial, conceptual, and planning skills, and ability to manage multiple priorities and tasks with a high degree of independence.
• Ability to work individually and in teams with culturally diverse staff and populations, a variety of education stakeholders and audiences.
• Ability to thrive in a creative, evolving, and inclusive learning culture
• Ability to travel required for in-person consulting, Start Early meetings, and business development

We recognize that few candidates might meet every single piece of knowledge, experience, or education listed here. Research shows that women and people of color, among many other historically excluded groups, are less likely to apply to jobs unless they meet every single qualification. Start Early is dedicated to building a diverse, inclusive, and equitable workplace, so if you're excited about this role but your qualifications don’t perfectly align with everything in the job description, we still encourage you to apply!
REQUIRED: Please submit a cover letter along with your resume.
Salary: $112,000-$117,000
Our generous benefits plan includes:
Comprehensive Health Plans, Commitment to Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion, Holistic Wellness Program, Professional Development Program, 401k Contribution, Paid Volunteer Days, 6 months paid parental leave, and much more.
Start Early is an equal opportunity employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to our core values by creating an inclusive environment for all staff.

Job Type: Full-time

Pay: $112,000.00 - $117,000.00 per year

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