Director, Early Childhood Education Systems and Strategy

ABOUT US
United Way of San Antonio and Bexar County unites the community to identify and solve our most critical issues. We are dedicated to improving people's lives and creating community-level change. Our work includes leading cross-sector collaborations, advocating for public policy changes and investing in programs that prevent problems from happening in the first place for those in need. Our strategy for improving quality of life and advancing the greater good involves focusing in four impact areas: 1.) Ready Children - preparing children for kindergarten; 2.) Successful Students - empowering students to graduate and reach their full potential; 3.) Strong Individuals and Families - helping individuals and families become self-sufficient 4.) Safety Net - addressing urgent and essential needs for those in crisis.

JOB SUMMARY
UWSA seeks a Director, Early Childhood Education Systems and Strategy to lead the implementation, alignment and continuous improvement of early childhood education systems strategies in Bexar County, with primary responsibility for the Alamo Quality Pathway, Early Childhood Education coaching team, Directors of Excellence program, Providers Council, and related Ready Children indicators. This role works closely with local partners, providers, parents, community stakeholders and the Ready Children Impact Council to increase access to high-quality early childhood education and advance kindergarten readiness outcomes across San Antonio and Bexar County. The Director, Early Childhood Education Systems and Strategy works collaboratively with United Way of San Antonio Ready Children Impact Council to ensure all children are happy, healthy and ready to enter kindergarten.

The ideal candidate will have experience leading collaborative, cross-sector nonprofit partnerships and be familiar with Results-Based Accountability. This person will have the ability to work and communicate with a diverse set of stakeholders in a professional manner. The successful candidate will be flexible, self-motivated and able to work both independently and collaboratively.

PRIMARY DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITES
• Lead the implementation, coordination, and continuous improvement of the Alamo Quality Pathway, ensuring alignment across UWSA, partner organizations, providers, coaches and community stakeholders.
• Serve as the lead convener with Alamo Quality Pathway partner organizations to promote an aligned approach to increasing access to high-quality early childhood education programs in Bexar County.
• Oversee implementation of the Alamo Quality Pathway model, including provider identification and onboarding, coaching plan development, coordination with Texas Rising Star mentors, provider progress monitoring and post-certification support to sustain and improve quality.
• Lead, supervise and support the Early Childhood Education coaching team, ensuring appropriate caseload distribution, clear performance expectations, timely completion of provider visit documentation, consistent follow-up and responsive support aligned to provider needs and Alamo Quality Pathway goals.
• Monitor provider progress through the Alamo Quality Pathway, using coaching documentation, provider feedback, Texas Rising Star readiness milestones and quality improvement data to identify barriers, escalate needs and ensure timely support.
• Oversee the planning, implementation, and continuous improvement of the Directors of Excellence program and Providers Council, including meeting design, participant engagement, professional learning opportunities, peer connection, follow-up on action items and alignment with Alamo Quality Pathway and Ready Children priorities.
• Collaborate with the Ready Children Impact Council team to oversee the early childhood education indicator, including monitoring progress, identifying implementation challenges, supporting strategy alignment and preparing updates for internal and external stakeholders.
• Facilitate internal and external meetings related to early childhood education systems work, including developing agendas, slide decks, meeting materials, follow-up notes, decision logs and action-item trackers.
• Manage and maintain data and performance metrics, including qualitative and quantitative results, to assess provider progress, coaching effectiveness, quality improvement efforts and contribution to kindergarten readiness outcomes.
• Translate data, provider feedback, coaching observations and partner input into actionable recommendations that strengthen early childhood education systems, improve provider supports and advance Ready Children goals.
• Identify and strengthen partnerships among early childhood-focused entities in Bexar County to reduce duplication, streamline provider supports and strengthen the early childhood education system.
• Proactively identify opportunities and networks of opportunities – among and between UWSA Impact Areas and others’ efforts in the community to further UWSA, Impact Area, AQP, and ReadyKidSA Coalition strategies; and recommend strategic opportunities to accomplish plans.
• Work with United Way’s ReadyKidSA and Help Me Grow staff leads to support alignment with the RKSA Coalition and Help Me Grow initiative, enhancing communication among early childhood partners and building strategies for collaboration.
• Support the expansion and utilization of the Early Development Instrument across public schools and community partners to inform kindergarten readiness strategies across San Antonio and Bexar County.
• Engage higher education institutions, workforce partners and early childhood stakeholders to support a talent pipeline of quality early childhood educators.
• Assist in educating and mobilizing individuals, associations, agencies, and institutions to support UWSA’s impact agenda, including communication about the community impact work in campaign training, presentations, and marketing materials.
• Identify opportunities to share success stories and collaborate with Marketing to develop public-facing materials highlighting UWSA’s early childhood systems impact, provider progress, and community outcomes.

EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE
• Bachelor’s degree – required / master’s degree – preferred in Business, Education, Health & Human Services, Public Policy or other related field of study.
• Experience managing or supervising a team responsible for provider support, coaching, technical assistance, quality improvement, or community-based implementation.
• Experience managing complex projects or initiatives involving multiple partners, deliverables, timelines, and performance metrics.
• Experience using data, dashboards, documentation, or performance reports to monitor progress and improve implementation.
• Experience facilitating coalitions, councils, workgroups, provider networks, or cross-sector partner meetings.
• Knowledge of Texas Rising Star, child care quality systems, early childhood systems, or workforce/provider support models preferred.
• Five years or more experience in the human services field.
• Experience in program evaluation.
• Extensive knowledge of community issues.
• Strategic leadership of collective impact efforts.
• Strong relationships in the nonprofit, public and private sectors.
• Staff and volunteer management.
• Budget and fiscal management

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS & ABILITIES INFORMATION
• Knowledge of the nonprofit arena and the ability to develop and maintain strong relationships with clients, community partners, donors and volunteers.
• Ability to identify and build opportunities and assist in educating and mobilizing networks of individuals, associations, agencies and institutions to support UWSA’s impact agenda.
• Strong verbal and written communication skills including development of content relevant to the Impact Council for a wide variety of audiences and media.
• Professional demeanor, confident and goal oriented.
• Self-motivated and creative.
• Dynamic, authentic leadership and team building skills.
• Strong organizational skills
• Ability to manage multiple deadlines and priorities and problem-solve issues as they arise.
• Strategic thinking ability.
• Demonstrated independent decision-making and problem-solving ability.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• Facilitation and presentation skills and experience.
• Knowledge of Results-Based Accountability™, preferred.
• Data utilization expertise related to community issues.
• Budget management experience.
• Committee-level volunteer management.
• Relationship management with a broad array of individuals and organizations.
• Attention to detail in a multitasking environment.
• Proficient in Microsoft Office Suite.
• Competent with Adobe Products Suite, preferred.

UNITED WAY COMPETENCIES
Core Competencies (all United Way Professionals):
Mission Focused, Relationship Oriented, Collaborator, Results Driven, Brand Steward

Leadership Roles Competencies (building on Core Competencies): (check for People Leaders)
Talent Management & People Development, Business Acumen & Strategic Direction, Operational Planning & Execution, Outward Turning

BENEFITS
• Employer-subsidized healthcare plan with employer-funded HRA offered.
• Group dental, vision, life insurance and other insurance products available.
• Paid holidays, personal and sick leave time.
• 403(b) retirement plan with employer matching available.

WORK ENVIRONMENT
• Normal nonprofit office environment with little exposure to dust, noise and extreme temperatures.
• Extended work on personal computing equipment, telephone, multi-functioning printer and calculator.
• Reliable transportation required, with the ability to travel to and from meetings, training sessions or other business-related events locally, routinely and around the state and nationally, occasionally.
• Monday-Friday, 8:15 am to 4:45 pm work week with occasional evening and weekend hours.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS
• Sedentary work on a PC; sitting for extended periods of time, routinely.
• Movement within the office and during external meetings and events, regularly.
• Bends, stoops and twists, occasionally.
• Exerts up to 25 lbs. of force, occasionally.
• Facilitates, presents and collaboratively interacts with others, routinely.
• Perform repetitive tasks, i.e., typing and texting, routinely.

The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by associates assigned to this classification. They are not to be construed as an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties and skills required of personnel so classified. All personnel may be required to perform duties outside of their normal responsibilities from time to time, as needed. The contents of this job description may change as deemed necessary by United Way of San Antonio and Bexar County.

APPLY
To submit your application visit https://recruiting.paylocity.com/recruiting/jobs/All/c1a895ce-f28e-4dac-88db-d5fb796d20f5/UNITED-WAY-OF-SAN-ANTONIO-BEXAR-COUNTY.
• Applications WILL NOT be accepted via email.
• Contact uwjobs@unitedwaysatx.org should you experience problems submitting your application.

United Way of San Antonio and Bexar County is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, disability, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, veteran status, or genetic information.

United Way of San Antonio and Bexar County is committed to the full inclusion of all qualified individuals. As part of this commitment, UWSA will ensure that persons with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodations if reasonable accommodation is needed to participate in the job application, interview process, or to perform essential job functions, and/or to receive other benefits and privileges of employment.

United Way of San Antonio and Bexar County | 700 South Alamo St., San Antonio TX, 78205 | www.uwsastx.org