Program Manager, Early Childhood Education Academic Initiatives

General Description of the Position

Delaware State University's Early Childhood Education programming is expanding with new academic programs as well as the opening of the Early Childhood Innovation Center. The Program Manager for Early Childhood Education Academic Initiatives will oversee updates to the early childhood degree programs' curriculum (associate and bachelor) collaborating with faculty, the Director of the Lab School and Academic Programming, and contractors to support the program quality.

DSU's Education Department is seeking a highly motivated leader to drive innovation within our early childhood programs through developing and executing strategies, developing and distributing marketing and promotional materials, the active recruitment of students, and other efforts. The candidate must demonstrate interest in the areas of early childhood education, strengthening the ECE workforces, grant writing, research, and other scholarly activities. Delaware State University is a public, comprehensive, 1890 land grant institution that offers access and opportunity to diverse populations from Delaware, the nation, and the world. With a total enrollment of over 5,000 students, DSU has been recently ranked among the top Historically Black Colleges and Universities in the nation. The main campuses are located in Dover, Delaware, with branches in Wilmington, and Georgetown, and in close proximity to the artistic and cultural opportunities of Philadelphia, Baltimore, New York City, and Washington D.C.

Essential Functions & Required Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

• Provide the vision and leadership necessary to support the strategy and mission of early childhood education initiatives to increase enrollment, retention, and graduation degree programs.

• Collaborate with teachers of Early Childhood Education Pathways in Delaware schools to develop ways to promote DSU programming to students.

• Develop a support network amongst early childhood providers, community agencies, high school students, and DSU candidates and graduates.

• Work with the Office of Clinical and Field Experiences to promote placement of male teachers of color (with a deliberate focus in elementary schools) for practical experience and mentoring opportunities.

• Represent the Department in University recruitment events in partnership with Admissions/Enrollment team, as well as participate in Early Childhood Innovation Center (ECIC) recruitment and promotional events as well as campus events such as Hornet Days, Orientations, and Open Houses.

• Pursue grant writing opportunities to support ECE program innovations and scaling of initiatives for continued program growth.

• Represent the Education Department in state meetings focused on early childhood education.

• Market the Associates and Bachelor degree programs to attract both traditional students and practitioners in the workforce; work with Recruitment and Retention office to promote the ECE programs.

• Attend all University, College and Departmental Faculty Meetings, Convocations, Commencements, and official functions of the University and establish a regular meeting attendance cadence with the ECIC team.

• Ensure quality and relevance of ECE programming and curriculum with a routine review and revision cycle and timely and quality submission of accreditation related program reporting.

• Develop a system for and evaluate students' prior learning assessment submissions.

• Advise degree seeking ECE students by establishing office hours that make support accessible for traditional and working professionals. Assign visiting students to the appropriate class for field experience.

• Serve as liaison between the University, the community, and state agencies.

• Teach 2 ECE associate and/or bachelor's degree courses/semester and work with chair to coordinate assignment of ECE courses with faculty and adjunct faculty.

• Perform other tasks that may be assigned by the Department Chair.

• Be familiar with the mission of DSU as a Historically Black College and University (HBCU).

Required Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

The candidate must possess the following skills and abilities to perform essential functions with or without reasonable accommodations:

• Serve as a resource and problem-solver for the Education Department and deal with a variety of variables in situations where limited standardization exists with adaptive thinking.

• Knowledge of developmentally appropriate early childhood teaching practice and experience in implementing such practices in an educational setting.

• Exceptionally strong written and oral (public speaking) communication, organizational, and analytical/ skills.

• Develop systems to monitor students' progress and manage data; learn and use new technologies.

• Interact effectively, confidently, and professionally with others and exemplify professional courtesy in all interactions and while representing DSU.

• Remain current on research, policy and practice related to early childhood education.

• Capacity to plan, establish priorities, and handle multiple tasks and projects within a set timeframe.

• Engage in ongoing training related to job functions.

Qualification Standards

• Education: Minimum Ph.D/Ed.D. One or more degrees must be in education.

• Ability to engage in scholarly activities in early childhood education, the ECE workforce, and related topics.

• Experience using Blackboard or another learning management system as well as the ability to develop an on-line or hybrid collaboration platform is highly desirable.

• Willingness to travel to conferences and schools, ECE center in Delaware as permitted and necessary.

• Demonstrated commitment to community service, social justice, diversity in the workplace, asset thinking related to supporting children and families in poverty, research-based practices, etc.

• Experience in leadership roles serving diverse, historically marginalized groups is preferred.

Performance Standards & EEO Statement

The criteria for evaluation in this position include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Demonstrated knowledge of the DSU core values.

• Demonstrated ability to provide timely and individualized support to students grounded in best practice.

• Demonstrated documentation of progress/completion rates for students in students and establishing systems to ensure students navigate program transition points in an orderly manner.

EEO Statement

Delaware State University is an equal opportunity employer committed to fostering a diverse and inclusive academic global community. The University is dedicated to enhancing diversity and inclusion in all aspects of recruitment and employment. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, national origin, ancestry, citizenship status, physical disability, mental disability, medical condition, military and veteran status, marital status, pregnancy, genetic information, or any other characteristic protected by state or federal law. The University is committed to achieving a diverse faculty and staff and encourages members of underrepresented groups to apply.

Equal opportunity employer/program'' and "auxiliary aids and services are available upon request to individuals with disabilities''.

We offer a complete benefits package to full-time employees including health care, dental, vision, retirement, deferred compensation plans, flexible spending accounts, life insurance, long-term disability, holidays, vacation, and sick leave.

To learn more details, visit the Delaware State University Benefits Page and the State of Delaware benefits page.

Agency Delaware State University

Address 1200 N. Dupont HWY

Dover, Delaware, 19901

Phone (302) 857-6261

Website https://www.desu.edu/about/administration/human-resources