Data and Continuous Quality Improvement Director

Start Early is an energized, future-focused organization devoted to providing quality early learning and care across the country.

Our desire to close the opportunity gap and build more inclusive early learning experiences for our youngest learners guides everything we do. As a leader in early learning and care, we scale our deep expertise across program, policy and research through partnerships across the country.

We are recruiting individuals who want to join us in this mission and share a commitment to our core values of appreciation & respect, empowerment, diversity, excellence, learning and communication.

Become part of our rewarding, mission-driven culture! We want our employees to feel empowered, motivated, energized, and passionate about the work they do!

In partnership with the Vice President, EHSN, the Data and Continuous Quality Improvement Director provides strategic leadership in the design, implementation, and continuous improvement of EHSN’s data infrastructure. This role is responsible for building and maintaining high-quality, user-centered data systems that support compliance, performance monitoring, and strategic decision-making across the network.

The Data and Continuous Quality Improvement Director co-leads research and evaluation partnerships, ensuring that data is translated into actionable insights and shared effectively with internal teams, external partners, and diverse audiences. They play a key role in advancing continuous quality improvement (CQI) practices, embedding a culture of data use and learning throughout the organization. Representing Start Early and EHSN in key cross-sector collaborations, the Data and Continuous Quality Improvement Director ensures data systems and insights inform and influence early childhood policy, funding, and practice at the local and state levels.

Reporting to the Vice President of Early Head Start Network:

MAJOR RESPONSIBILITIES:

Monitoring: Regularly monitor the collective metrics/results of programs, ensure the integrity of data in the internal tracking system, perform gap analysis, and recommend and/or implement re-alignment of program workflow.

Lead the strategy for monitoring and evaluating the effectiveness of our data collection systems, embracing equitable evaluation practices and a culture of continuous learning and improvement

Operations and Compliance: Provide leadership to all service areas to ensure compliance across regulations and support the team with high-quality and comprehensive services. Provide guidance to the team at integrating Head Start requirements and Data CQI.

Co-design, coordinate, and lead the execution of the network's research and evaluation agenda with the Vice President, Research & Evaluation – including Educare Chicago, Healthy Parents and Babies, and Lake County ECE research agenda. Provide content and methodological subject matter expertise and strategic direction.

Data Collection and Management: Oversee the Data Collection system and process to ensure data accuracy in a timely manner. Familiarity with Early Childhood education Databases such as: ChildPlus, Teaching Strategies Gold, Illinois State Board of Education (IWAS) and PowerBI

Partner with Early Head Start Network Assistant Directors and Data Team to document workflows,, assess opportunities for automation, develop and refine data dashboards

Process Improvement: Continue to uphold and champion a research-practice/policy partnership (RPP) approach to inspire innovation and support and advise Assistant directors, sub-recipients, and leadership. colleagues and evaluation partners in their RPP and data utilization for continuous quality improvement efforts.??

Collaboration and Communication: Lead, engage in, and collaborate with team members, other sub recipients, and external partners on efforts to communicate and amplify EHSN research and evaluation findings, data, and evidence-based implications/recommendations for policy, systems, and practice change. Amplification products should communicate complex findings in an easy-to-understand manner. Amplification strategies should be multi-modal (e.g., academic and informal written publications, in-person and virtual presentations or facilitated discussions, traditional and social media) and aim to reach a range of ECE audiences (e.g., policymakers and advocates, systems and program leaders, other ECE professionals, families, researchers, funders, general public).

Coaching and Supervision: As a member of the EHSN Team, co-manage division/team annual goals, work plans and budgets; promote team health, operations, and communication; provide reflective supervision and guide staff development for data CQI managers.

Lead capacity building for the EHSN Team and serve as a Coach for EHSN Assistant Directors on responsibilities related to data monitoring, evaluation, accountability, reporting, and learning.

Partnerships: Support positioning and partnerships for EHSN by serving one of Start Early’s key data CQI spokespersons with government partners, allied ECE organizations, fellow researchers and research and evaluation organizations (including the ELN local and national evaluation partner community of practice), and funders and prospects, including cultivating and maintaining research and funding relationships and representing the Network at local, state, and national conferences and meetings.

KNOWLEDGE, EXPERIENCE, AND EDUCATION:

• Doctorate degree in Child Development, Human Development and Family Studies, Education, Psychology, Early Childhood, or other related social science field
• 7-10 years of experience in building and/or designing and implementing data systems that ensure data integrity and quality is required.
• 5 years of supervisory experience in leading teams in data monitoring and analysis, project management, and clear communication of findings is required. The Data and Continuous Quality Improvement Director will combine leadership and analytical expertise to drive EHSN performance and promote data-driven decision-making.
• Demonstrated experience using data visualization tools and/or business intelligence platforms (e.g., Tableau, PowerBI, Google Data Studio, Smartsheet, etc. to drive data-informed decision-making across diverse stakeholders
• Demonstrated experience building and managing data systems within a Head Start or Early Head Start context, including overseeing a data team to support compliance, performance monitoring, and continuous improvement.
• Experience using Data Management Systems (ChildPlus) to manage and analyze Head Start program data, with a strong understanding of Office of Head Start (OHS) monitoring protocols and compliance requirements.
• Advanced knowledge of data concepts and applications demonstrates the ability to access and translate data into actionable knowledge, identifying, analyzing, and solving complex problems with data.
• Combines qualitative and quantitative data to grasp the complexity of an issue or problem from different angles and at micro and macro levels.
• Ability to take a leadership role in groups, coalitions, and teams, as well as in executing and completing projects?
• Develops and recommends performance indicators to measure the efficiency, efficacy, and impact of Information Management solutions.
• Uses end-user feedback to establish evolving requirements to adjust policies, programs, services, and more to meet users’ needs.
• Strong Microsoft Office skills with advanced Microsoft Excel skills, survey software, and proficiency with analytical software. (Experience with SharePoint preferred)

Base Annual Salary: $121,200.00-$130,000.00

Grade: 19

As of the time of this posting, this is the expected base annual salary range. The base annual salary will be based on a wide range of factors, including skills, qualifications, experience, as well as business needs and limitations.

Our generous benefits plan includes:

Comprehensive Health Plans, Commitment to Diversity, and Inclusion, Holistic Wellness Program, Professional Development Program, 401k Contribution, Paid Volunteer Days, 6 months paid parental leave, and much more.

Start Early is an equal opportunity employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to our core values by creating an inclusive environment for all staff.