Program Manager, Early Childhood Education

SUMMARY

Provides college-wide leadership for the organization, administration, and continuous improvement of all education programs, ensuring their overall quality and effectiveness. Oversees academic planning, including development and periodic review of curricula and the preparation of comprehensive course schedules. Ensures compliance with accreditation standards, conducts ongoing program assessment and manages key operational areas such as student recruitment and program marketing. Guides hiring decisions, orientation, development, and evaluation of adjunct faculty in collaborations with the Liberal Arts and Social Sciences leadership. Leads strategic school-community partnerships, early learning collaborations, and workforce initiatives that strengthen the educator pipeline. Serves as the primary liaison for the program to school districts, early learning agencies, state departments, community organizations, and higher education institutions to advance educational opportunities and support reginal workforce needs.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

• Advises, recruits, orients, and monitors program student success and completion.

• Develops, schedules, monitors, and evaluates student placement and works with faculty on identifying and evaluating practicum facilities and learning.

• Monitors course enrollments, builds course schedules and coordinates Education course offerings college-wide in collaboration with Liberal Arts and Social Sciences Associate Deans and Faculty Coordinators.

• Develops and manages partnerships with school districts, early childhood education centers, Head Start programs, childcare providers, community agencies, libraries, nonprofit organizations, and workforce development agencies.

• Establishes and sustains early learning/school-community partnerships that support field experiences, practicum placements, apprenticeships, workforce pathways, and community engagement initiatives.

• Coordinates student background check and preservice teacher permit processes which include meeting and advising students with convictions, discussing appeal options, and making referrals.

• Conducts program orientations via class visits to review program handbook, program requirements, professional ethics and expectations, BCI and FBI background checks, and field experience requirements with all students enrolled in ECED 1010 and EDUC1011 courses college-wide.

• Coordinates development and revision of curriculum in conjunction with program faculty.

• Coordinates Advisory Committee meetings and all program admission activities.

• Provides input for outcomes assessment and program objectives.

• Develops and maintains effective communication with prospective and enrolled students, alumni, faculty, practicum sites, and community.

• Collaborates with internal and external stakeholders to design innovative pathways that address teacher shortages, educational equity, workforce readiness, and access to high-quality early learning opportunities.

• Establishes, maintains, and facilitates partnership agreements; university transfer articulation agreements, and relations with local school districts and early childhood education centers.

• Serves as the College's liaison between Ohio Department of Higher Education and related agencies on matters related to early childhood and teacher preparation program(s).

• Informs, updates, and alerts deans and faculty on state licensing and accreditation policy changes that inform program instruction, training, course offerings and outreach such as Ohio Child Licensing and Quality System (OCLQS).

• May functionally supervise part-time support staff or student employees.

• Performs other duties as assigned.