Child Life Program Director jobs in Lowell, MA

Thom Anne Sullivan Center has a team of over 60 early childhood specialists and clinicians of multiple disciplines who provide Early Intervention services to over 600 children each year. In addition to Early Intervention services, Anne Sullivan Center has an Early Intervention Parenting Partnership Program, providing pre and postnatal home visits and a Welcome Family program, providing a one-time nurse visit to new moms. Children and families receive home visits and group services at our center and in the community.

POSITION REQUIREMENTS:

• Bachelor’s degree (master's preferred) in an Early Intervention (EI) Core Team discipline, Management or Business Administration.
• Five (5) years of experience in human services and/or management.
• Excellent working knowledge of service systems and resources in the communities served.
• Experience supervising clinical and support staff.
• Understanding/familiarity with Massachusetts Early Intervention philosophy and MA Department of Public Health EI Operational Standards.
• Experience working with infants, young children, and their families.
• Excellent communication, interpersonal, and organizational skills.
• Must be eligible for MA Early Intervention director and clinical certification and demonstrate an understanding of current EI financing modalities, regulations, and contractual obligations.

In addition, demonstration of the following skills and knowledge will be considered in evaluating this position:

• Proven leadership ability.
• Conceptual and practical understanding of EI financing.
• Knowledge and use of computer software (Microsoft Office, Teams, etc.).
• Knowledge of Early Intervention services in Massachusetts including service delivery, billing regulations, and IDEA Part C regulations.
• Ability to analyze and evaluate complex information and situations.
• Ability to supervise and give direction to others, including delegation and follow-up.
• Ability to handle conflict, mediate concerns, and facilitate mutually respectful exchange of ideas.
• Ability to work both independently and collaboratively.
• Ability to understand the varied needs of culturally and economically diverse urban and suburban communities and evaluate the quality of various supports/interventions.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

Build strong community relationships and collaborations.

• Engage in local community meetings, events, and conversations to facilitate meaningful collaborations and programming for children, families, and staff.
• Work collaboratively with early education and care and preschool providers.
• Establish relationships with community referral sources.
• Partner with community collaterals to identify and meet the needs of local families with young children.
• Engage with community partners to ensure initiatives are efficacious and meet intended outcomes.
• Participate in Massachusetts Early Intervention Consortium activities and initiatives.
• Collaborate with partners from the Massachusetts Department of Public Health to ensure responsive, high quality service delivery across all programs (Early Intervention, Early Intervention Parenting Partnership and Welcome Family)

Oversee daily operations of the EI program, Early Intervention Parenting Partnership program, and Welcome Family program and ensure high-quality service delivery.

• Oversee child find initiatives and incoming referrals for all programs from a wide variety of referral sources. Ensure appropriate and timely intake, evaluation, IFSP development, and service delivery.
• Monitor effective assessment scheduling and use of assessment hours.
• Develop an annual program calendar including training and outreach events.
• Involvement as necessary and appropriate in client/family concerns or issues.
• Schedule and facilitate staff meetings, training, and other program meetings as needed.
• Engage in ongoing evaluations of quality assurance regarding various aspects of service delivery and program operations. Partner with staff at the program and agency to ensure high-quality service delivery.

Program Leadership and Management

• Support the ongoing professional development of experienced, mid-career, and emerging leaders at all programs (EI, EIPP, WF).
• Ensure team leaders (TLs) and coordinators receive ongoing supervision and support.
• Provide necessary direction and oversight to assist team leaders and coordinators with an understanding of overall programmatic issues and systems.
• Work collaboratively with the program’s clinical coordinator and the agency’s director of clinical services to support high quality service delivery and ongoing staff support and development.
• Engage team leaders in ongoing assessment of staffing needs, staff hours, and productivity review; provide support as needed to ensure team members are successful.
• Work collaboratively with team leaders and coordinators to build and sustain cohesive teams, identify, and support program-wide initiatives, identify opportunities and risks to service delivery, family engagement, staff morale and other key areas.

Ensure ongoing program compliance with DPH EI standards and timely reporting requirements.

• Ensure adherence to Massachusetts Early Intervention Operational Standards.
• Participate in appropriate DPH and system-wide meetings/committees; as appropriate, engage in relevant workgroups and collaborations to support the statewide system.
• Respond to DPH information requests and audit requests.
• Implement and monitor the system, ThomConnect, for timely and accurate data entry ensuring DPH and Federal Indicator requirements and other reporting requirements.

The primary point of contact between the program and Thom Framingham administration and Board of Directors with respect to:

• Program management and financial oversight including tracking staff productivity, budget development, and projections.
• Marketing and program outreach activities including program evaluation and client/staff satisfaction surveys, needs assessments, brochures, and marketing material. Work in coordination with Thom’s director of development on branding and marketing initiatives.
• Attend monthly management meetings at Thom in Framingham to facilitate this partnership.

Manage personnel and benefits.

• Hiring and terminating employees, with responsibility for supervision, professional development, and annual employment review of program staff.
• Developing and updating job descriptions.
• Managing ongoing review of professional development opportunities for program staff.
• Supporting benefit management to ensure access and accurate record keeping.
• Oversee assembly, approval and submission of bi-weekly payroll and any applicable employee change sheets.

Provide financial management and oversight.

• Develop annual budget and projections with the Director of Program Services.
• Monitor monthly financial reports to ensure meeting budgeted projections.
• Monitor, with team leaders, staff productivity based on program budgeted productivity requirements via ThomConnect.
• Submit payroll information for hourly staff and accounts payable to the Director of Finance in Framingham.

Supervise administrative support activities, specifically billing.

• Implement and monitor systems for accuracy in billing from entry to staff sign-off and supporting documentation.
• Ensure efficient systems are utilized for the entry and confirmation of client insurance information.

Oversee use, management, and development of program space.

• Consult with team leaders and other program staff to ensure program space effectively meets the needs of staff, children, and families (clients).
• Review with the Director of Program Services lease agreements, terms, and renewals.