Director of Child Care Initiatives

Position Summary

The Director of Child Care Initiatives leads Cora's Kids Family Child Care Network's programs, budget, staff, and external relationships. This role combines real fluency in Connecticut's early childhood system — OEC regulations, funding, and licensing — with hands-on budget and project management, and a working understanding of educational coaching practice deep enough to supervise and mentor the coaching team directly. The Director is the network's primary point of contact with funders, partner organizations, coalitions, and the state, and is accountable for the program's financial health, staff development, and day-to-day execution alike.

Key Responsibilities

Budget & Financial Management

• Own the program's operating budget — planning, tracking, and reporting against it across all funding sources

• Manage grant-funded budgets with full compliance accountability, from award through final reporting

• Work with the Finance Team to review budgets and assess financial data

Project & Program Management

• Plan and sequence the network's initiatives across the fiscal year, coordinating timelines across funders, partners, and internal staff

• Track deliverables against deadlines and adjust plans proactively when a timeline is at risk, rather than after it's missed

• Oversee the network's tiered service model end to end — licensing support, group learning, and individualized accreditation coaching — ensuring each piece runs on schedule and within budget

Staff Supervision & Mentorship

• Hire and manage program staff, and create a collaborative team culture consistent with the organization's mission and values

• Set performance benchmarks and accountability structures for program outcomes

• Observe team members in the field and provide reflective, observation-based mentorship of their practice

• Work with team members to set clearly defined goals for provider growth and give strategic direction on how to reach them

• Support staff professional development in child development, leadership, and adult learning

Program Evaluation & Continuous Learning

• Assess family child care program quality using research-based observational tools; track changes in educator skills, knowledge, and attitudes over time

• Analyze and use data to assess program implementation, and report outcomes to organizational leadership

Data Management & Reporting

• Own the network's relationship with its data platform, ensuring it's configured and actively used to support real program decisions and compliance reporting alike

• Ensure the outcomes framework (income, satisfaction, support, quality/accreditation, child outcomes) is tracked consistently and reported accurately

• Oversee the provider data-consent process — what's collected, how it's used, and ensure it's communicated to providers in plain language

• Collect, share, and use data to meet funder accountability requirements and report community-wide data on young children

• Use program data to drive sequencing and resource-allocation decisions throughout the year

Education & Coaching Knowledge

• Bring real knowledge of early childhood education and coaching practice, sufficient to meaningfully supervise and support an Educational Coach

• Understand what quality coaching and accreditation support looks like in a family child care setting, and use that knowledge to guide program design decisions

• Bring substantive, specific knowledge of family child care / home-based care — the licensing pathway, the business realities, and the day-to-day operating context

External Stakeholder Relationships

• Own and grow relationships with external stakeholders

• Cultivate relationships with local and state-level partners, attending key meetings at the local, regional, and state level

• Represent the organization at community coalitions, councils, and events, including public speaking as needed

Experience and Education

Required

• Bachelor's degree

• Deep, working knowledge of Connecticut's early childhood system — OEC regulations, funding streams, and licensing specifically

• Demonstrated budget management experience, including multi-source or grant-funded budgets

• Demonstrated project management experience — planning, sequencing, and delivering against timelines across multiple workstreams

• Substantive knowledge of family child care / home-based care specifically

• Strong, proven external stakeholder relationship management across funders, partner organizations, and providers

• Strong written and oral communication skills; comfortable with public speaking

• Computer skills including Microsoft Word, Outlook, and Excel

• Ability to work effectively with people from a wide variety of backgrounds

Preferred

• Bilingual (English/Spanish)

• Background in early childhood education or coaching, in addition to administrative/leadership experience

• Prior nonprofit program leadership or director-level experience

• Familiarity with the CDA and NAFCC accreditation pathways

Statements in this Job Description are intended to describe the general nature of work being performed. They are not intended to be a complete list of all responsibilities, duties and skills required for the position.

Salary Range: $75,000 to $85,000

United Way of Coastal and Western Connecticut includes an excellent benefits package and flexible working arrangements:

1. Paid Time Off – vacation, sick time, 11 paid holidays including 1 floating holiday

2. CT Paid Leave

3. Health Insurance – medical, dental, and vision

4. Life Insurance, short-term disability, long-term disability, and related coverage

5. Hybrid work arrangements

United Way is an equal-opportunity employer and seeks to hire staff members who reflect the diversity of the communities we serve. All positions are filled without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, disability, employment status, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law. If much of this job describes you, please apply. Research shows that women and people from underrepresented groups often apply to jobs only if they meet all qualifications. We recognize this and encourage those with relevant skills and experience to apply.