Position Title: Senior Managing Director/ Deputy Executive Director, Head Start
Corporate Title: Managing Director II, Program Management
Job Level: M4
Employee Type: ☒Full-time regular ☐Part-time regular ☐Temporary
Supervisor Title: Executive Director, Head Start
Dept & Division: Head Start Programs
Child Safety: ☐Level 1- No Contact ☒Level 2- Limited Contact ☐Level 3- Contact
(Click here for more information on Child Safeguarding Levels)
Save the Children
For over 100 years, Save the Children has been fighting for the rights of children. The right to a healthy start in life. To have access to education. To be in a safe environment, protected from harm. We work in some of the world’s hardest-to-reach places – over 100 countries, including the U.S. No matter what your role is, when you join Save the Children, you’re creating positive, irreversible change for children, and the future we all share.
The Role
As the Senior Managing Director, Head Start Program, you’ll be integral to our work in helping vulnerable children achieve a brighter future. You will serve as the executive leader responsible for the multi‑state strategy, performance, and delivery of Save the Children’s Head Start and Early Head Start programs. Acting as a key partner to the Executive Director, this role functions as the primary integrator between divisional strategy and local program execution, ensuring scalable, high‑quality implementation aligned with Head Start Performance Standards, organizational priorities, and best‑in‑class operating models.
As a member of the Head Start Leadership Team, the Senior Managing Director provides enterprise oversight of State Program Directors, establishes portfolio‑level delivery standards, and holds leaders accountable for consistent performance and results across states. In close collaboration with the Executive Director and Director of Quality and Compliance, the Senior Managing Director translates strategic objectives into executable plans, aligns resources to priorities, and evaluates progress through data‑informed performance management.
Through disciplined leadership, cross‑functional collaboration, and a strong commitment to equity and excellence, the Senior Managing Director advances department‑wide strategies, promotes a positive and accountable workplace culture, and ensures Save the Children’s Head Start portfolio delivers measurable impact for children, families, and communities across all states of operation.
Location:
Hybrid – Washington DC, Fairfield, CT or Lexington, KY office locations
On site - Washington DC, Fairfield, CT or Lexington, KY office locations
Remote – United States (only open to specific USP/SCAN roles)
What You’ll Be Doing (Essential Duties)
Program Implementation and Performance (60%)
- Oversee the translation of program design into scalable, high quality delivery frameworks and lead the implementation strategy of Head Start and Early Head Start programs across assigned states.
- Ensure programs consistently meet or exceed Head Start quality, compliance, and performance standards by driving cross-functional collaboration with Quality & Compliance, Monitoring & Evaluation, program development, and shared services to address trends, improve efficiency, align resources, and enhance program outcomes at scale.
- Provide executive oversight and leadership to State Program Directors, strengthening leadership capability, accountability, and consistent execution through coaching, performance management, and clear performance expectations.
- Lead cross‑state operational readiness and start‑up efforts, ensuring new or expanding programs are implemented on time, within scope, and aligned to Head Start standards and delivery expectations.
- Integrate best practices and emerging research in early childhood education, applying insights to strengthen program design, implementation, and impact in targeted Head Start and Early Head Start communities.
Program Growth and Visibility (15%)
- Serve as a technical lead for resource development efforts in order to strengthen the diversity and sustainability of Head Start program funding; support the development of donor proposals and reports and cultivate donor relationships through in-person meetings, site visits and other engagement events.
- Build and maintain relationships between SCUS and other relevant organizations, including government entities and community organizations, to support Head Start and Early Head Start programs effectiveness and alignment.
- Provide technical guidance and programmatic expertise in advocacy and policy engagement efforts as needed, contributing to development of policy agendas and participate in meetings with local, state and federal officials as needed.
- Contribute to activities that increase brand visibility and program awareness, share knowledge products and results, represent Save the Children to the local press as needed, and identify other media-worthy moments that highlight our work.
Leadership, Strategy & Resource Management (25%):
- Actively contribute as a member of the Head Start Leadership Team and Extended Senior Management, helping set direction and ensure alignment between strategy, execution, and outcomes.
- Review and authorize program plans, budgets, and amendments, ensuring alignment between funding, geographic strategy, and implementation capacity.
- Partner with leadership to execute divisional and departmental priorities, including the development and scaling of Head Start Flagship programs.
- Directly supervise and develop a geographically dispersed team of 4–7 State Program Directors, fostering high performance, strong collaboration, and a positive workplace culture.
- Champion cross‑functional collaboration with shared services, operations, and quality teams to improve efficiency, consistency, and program impact.
Required Qualifications For The Role
- Minimum of a Bachelor Degree or equivalent experience, plus at least 10 years of relevant experience
- Thorough knowledge of, and experience working with, Head Start standards and regulations, business practices, and program development, implementation, and monitoring of services
- Experience providing ongoing technical assistance, training, and direction to diverse communities, individuals and groups, ensuring consistency with SCUS's mission and methodology
- Excellent verbal and written communication skills; engaging presenter capable of presenting to technical information to a non-technical audience
- Willingness and ability to travel up to 35%
- Professional proficiency in MS Office suite
- Professional proficiency in spoken and written English
- Demonstrated commitment to fostering and maintaining and environment of diversity, inclusion, and belonging.
This position may require the incumbent to operate a motor vehicle to fulfill certain essential functions of the job. The incumbent should maintain a valid driver’s license and remain in compliance with any Save the Children policies pertaining to the safe operation of motor vehicles.
Preferred Qualifications For The Role
- Master’s degree in Early Childhood Development, Human Services, or related field
- Experience managing a network of multiple Early/Head Start programs across multiple states (4 or more)
- A clear understanding of issues related to poverty in rural communities and the ability to convey that understanding in a clear and easily understood way
- Candidates living in Southeastern United States
Compensation
Save the Children Action Network is offering the following salary ranges for this position, dependent on candidate location:
- Geo 1 - NY Metro, DC, and other locations with labor costs significantly above national average: Target Salary for this position is $170,850 - $190,950 base salary
- Geo 2 - Locations around the US National Labor Cost Average: Target Salary for this position is $154,275 - $172,425 base salary
- Geo 3 - Locations significantly below the US National Labor Cost Average: Target Salary for this position is $138,975 - $155,325 base salary
The salary ranges listed above are for US based candidates. For candidates located outside of the US, salary ranges will be based on the salary scales of the local employer of record. Actual base salary may vary based on, but not limited to, relevant experience, base salary of internal peers, business sector, and geographic location (more information on job structure is available here).
About Us
We are looking to build an inclusive team at Save the Children. We offer a range of outstanding benefits to support this goal:
- Flexible schedules and time off: Flexible schedules, generous PTO, 11 paid holidays plus 2 floating holidays and hybrid working opportunities
- Health: Competitive health care, dental and vision coverage for you and your family
- Family: A variety of paid leaves: caregiver, parental/adoption, critical child illness and fertility benefits
- Employee Rewards Program: Annual merit increases and/or additional incentives for eligible employees
- Retirement: A retirement savings plan with employer contributions (after one year)
- Wellness: 15 safety and wellness days annually (if hired on or after July 1, safety and wellness days prorated to 8 days), mental health benefits and support through Calm and company-hosted events
- Employee Assistance Program: free and confidential assessments, short-term counseling, referrals, and follow-up services
- Learning & Growth: Access to internal and external learning & development opportunities and mentorships
Click here to learn more about how Save the Children US will invest in you.
Save the Children is committed to conducting its programs and operations in a manner that is safe for the children it serves and helping protect the children with whom we are in contact. All Save the Children representatives are explicitly prohibited from engaging in any activity that may result in any kind of child abuse.
Save the Children is committed to minimizing safety and security risks for our valued employees, ensuring all are given training, support and information to reduce their risk exposure while maximizing the impact of our programs for children and families. Our shared duty, both agency and individual, is to seek and maintain safe working conditions for all.
If you require disability assistance with the application or recruitment process, please submit a request to applicantsupport@savechildren.org.
This position was originally posted by Save the Children and has been curated by PurposePhil Career. To apply, please visit the original listing on the "apply" link on the side. We are not affiliated with the employer organization of this job ad or consultancy, and provide this curated listing as a service to our users.
