Program Manager - School Readiness

A positive future for every child

Southwest Human Development is Arizona’s largest nonprofit dedicated to early childhood development. The first five years of life are the most critical in a child’s development. At Southwest Human Development, our services improve lives and help families by supporting young children and their caregivers during this important time.

Your skills, experience, and passion are needed at one of the nation’s largest nonprofits dedicated to early childhood development. Join our team and experience a long-term career that brings joy and satisfaction in knowing you make a difference.  We offer over 40 programs and services to more than 140,000 children. 

Why choose us?

• You will be rewarded with benefits, including day one zero contribution health plan options, wellness programming, and generous paid time off.
• You will benefit from high-quality paid training to promote professional growth and development.
• You will enjoy a supportive and collaborative work environment.

Job title: School Readiness Program Manager

We are seeking a dedicated and experienced School Readiness Program Manager to oversee and enhance service delivery across our district sites. This role involves supervising Center Directors, ensuring compliance with safety standards, curriculum fidelity, and teaching quality, and proactively addressing concerns from staff, families, and children. The ideal candidate will possess strong leadership skills, a background in Early Childhood Education, and a commitment to continuous improvement.

In this role you will:

• Provide daily oversight of service delivery across district sites to ensure smooth, efficient, and high-quality operations.
• Supervise and coach Child Development Managers (CDMs) through consistent feedback, leadership development, and reflective supervision.
• Monitor and enforce safety compliance, curriculum fidelity, and teaching quality in alignment with program standards.
• Serve as a key problem-solver, addressing concerns promptly and professionally from staff, families, and children.
• Conduct weekly site visits and analyze operational data to identify service delivery trends and address systemic issues.
• Facilitate weekly one-on-one coaching sessions with CDMs to evaluate performance, discuss progress, and support growth.
• Lead monthly reviews of district-wide performance, operational data, and child development progress to identify areas for improvement.
• Organize and deliver professional development opportunities for CDMs based on monthly performance reviews and goals.
• Conduct comprehensive annual evaluations of service delivery, curriculum implementation, and CDM performance.
• Collaborate with leadership to develop long-term strategic plans, set organizational goals, and enhance communication across teams.

What It Takes:

• BA/BS or MA, is preferred, in Early Childhood Education (ECE), Social Work, Family Studies, or related field of Education with an emphasis in ECE.
• Minimum 2 years of supervisory experience in ECE programming.
• Knowledge of early childhood developmentally appropriate practice (DAP).
• The equivalent combination of education and experience may be accepted.
• Knowledge of Head Start Performance Standards.
• Ability to speak, write, and read Spanish preferred.
• Certification in First Aid/CPR, Food Handler’s Card, and Fingerprint Clearance Card required.
• Functional knowledge of Arizona Childcare Licensing Requirements.
• Ability to speak, write, and read Spanish preferred

Learn more!

Our core values embody Southwest Human Development’s commitment to services that uplift the lives of children, families, and other care providers, and the communities in which they live. These values are intended to guide the professional development, ethical conduct, and skilled practice of all our staff, whatever their specific role within the agency. All staff are valued as making essential contributions to strengthening the foundation that Arizona’s children need for a great start in life. Learn more about our values and benefits here.

Qualifications Education Required Bachelors or better. Preferred Masters or better. Experience Required Knowledge of Head Start Performance Standards Knowledge of early childhood developmentally appropriate practice Supervisory experience in early childcare education. Preferred Ability to speak, write, and read Spanish preferred Equal Opportunity Employer/Protected Veterans/Individuals with Disabilities
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