Director of Capacity Building, DECE - 25138

Position Summary: The Division of Early Childhood Education (DECE) supports the operational and programmatic functions of early childhood education programs for NYC children in elementary schools, Pre-K Centers, and New York City Public Schools (NYCPS) contracted settings included in Community Based Organizations (CBO) and through Family Child Care (FCC) programs. DECE provides families with access to high-quality early childhood options, for children birth to five, in rich diverse settings, supporting children’s growth and development. Working together with families and programs, DECE ensures that children are engaged, nurtured and supported.

The Director of Capacity Building will oversee the development and delivery of training, resources, and strategic initiatives to strengthen the operational and instructional capacity of early childhood education programs. This role will ensure continuous improvement across program settings by providing guidance, tools, and support to educators and administrators. Reporting to the Senior Director of Capacity Building and Family Engagement, the Director will play a pivotal role in enhancing program quality and effectiveness. Performs related work.

Reports to: Sr. Director of Capacity Building and Family Engagement

Direct Reports: Capacity Building Specialists, Trainers, and other staff as assigned

Key Relationships: Deputy Chancellor of Early Childhood Education, Early Childhood Chief Executives, and the DECE senior leadership team, while maintaining regular and ongoing collaboration with top executives across various offices and divisions of the NYCPS and with key external stakeholders

Responsibilities

Capacity Development

• Design and deliver professional development initiatives tailored to the needs of early childhood education programs. 
• Collaborate with program leaders to create resources and tools that support operational excellence and instructional innovation. 
• Identify and address gaps in professional competencies to ensure educators and administrators are equipped with the skills required to meet program goals.
  
  

Training and Implementation

• Lead interactive, research-based training sessions for program staff, ensuring alignment with DECE’s mission and compliance with regulatory requirements.
• Develop and disseminate comprehensive training modules that address common challenges and emerging trends in early childhood education settings. 
• Provide individualized coaching and mentorship to program leaders to enhance their capacity to implement best practices effectively.
  
  

Evaluation and Continuous Improvement

• Establish metrics and benchmarks to assess the effectiveness of capacity-building initiatives and program performance.
• Utilize data-driven methodologies to identify trends, address challenges, and ensure continuous improvement across program settings.
• Conduct regular site visits and audits to monitor the implementation of training and resources and provide actionable feedback.
  
  

Collaboration and Strategic Planning

• Work closely with DECE leadership to align capacity-building strategies with long-term organizational objectives and state or federal mandates.
• Partner with external stakeholders, researchers, and stakeholders to incorporate innovative practices and evidence-based approaches into training initiatives. 
  
  

Resource Development

• Oversee the creation and maintenance of accessible, culturally responsive instructional materials, toolkits, and guides.
• Collaborate with content specialists to ensure all resources reflect current research and industry standards.
• Establish a digital repository of training materials to facilitate widespread access and ongoing professional learning.
  
  

Leadership and Team Management

• Supervise and mentor Capacity Building Coordinator, trainers, and other team members to foster professional growth and enhance team performance.
• Develop workflows and processes to ensure the timely and effective execution of capacity-building initiatives.
• Act as a thought leader within DECE, advocating for innovative approaches to early childhood education and program support.
  
  

Qualification Requirements

Minimum

• A master’s degree from an accredited college or university in education, educational psychology, educational leadership, public administration, public policy, social work, or a closely related field, and two years of satisfactory, full-time progressively responsible professional experience in education administration, in such areas as: portfolio planning, educational grants/funding, student enrollment, assessment and accountability, youth development, special education, early childhood, program evaluation, policy research, college and career readiness, health and wellness, immunization, diagnostic and treatment services for parents and children, out of school programs, career and occupational education, curriculum development, evaluation and testing, educational planning, and educational statistics, or a related field, at least 18 months of this experience must have been in an executive, managerial, consultative, administrative or supervisory capacity in education administration; or
• A baccalaureate degree from an accredited college or university and four years of satisfactory, fulltime progressively responsible professional experience, in one or more of the areas as described in “1” above, at least 18 months of which must have been in an executive, managerial, consultative, administrative or supervisory capacity; or
• A four-year high school diploma or its educational equivalent and six years of satisfactory, full time professional experience, in one or more of the areas as described in “1” above, at least 18 months of which must have been in an executive, managerial, consultative, administrative or supervisory capacity; or
• Education and/or experience equivalent to “1”, “2”, or “3” above. Undergraduate education above the high school level may be substituted for professional experience, in the areas described in “1” above, at the rate of 30 semester credits from an accredited college or university for each year of experience, up to a maximum of 4 years. Graduate education in areas other than those mentioned above, may be substituted for the professional experience, at the rate of 15 graduate semester credits from an accredited college or university, for 6 months of experience, up to a maximum of 1 year of professional experience. However, all candidates must have a high school diploma or its educational equivalent and 18 months of experience in an executive, managerial, consultative, administrative or supervisory capacity in education administration as described above.
  
  

Preferred

• Extensive experience in professional development, training, or capacity building within education or related fields. 
• Strong organizational, analytical, and leadership skills. 
• Familiarity with early childhood education regulations and best practices. 
• Ability to design and implement effective training programs and resources. 
• Ability to lead organizational change in large, dynamic institutions.
• Superior analytical and project management skills for planning, designing, documenting, communication, and follow-up.
• Ability to lead in a fast-paced environment and to prioritize and drive results.
• Excellent and effective communications skills, including the ability to write well and make clear, concise presentations and written reports.
• Experienced leadership, teamwork, and influencing skills; experience in management project teams at all levels in a cross-functional and diverse environment.
• Strong strategic thinking, attention to detail, and the ability to proactively identify key issues and risks.
• Effective customer service and problem-solving approach.
• Strategic policy-level thinker with a strong grasp of operational needs.
• Broad-based strategic planning experience; conceptual understanding of relationships between data, instructional, and organizational content.
• A master's degree from an accredited college in education, business, or public administration.
• Established interpersonal and communication skills, with the ability to problem-solve with others.
• Ability to build strong working relationships with constituents and represent DECE internally and the NYCPS externally.
  
  

Salary: $126,054 - $138,659

(Internal candidates who are selected for this position and who currently hold comparable or less senior positions within the DOE will not earn less than their current salary.)

Please include a resume and cover letter with your application.

NOTE: The filling of all positions is subject to budget availability and/or grant funding.

• New York City Residency is NOT Required *
  
  

We encourage all applicants from the New York City tri-state area to apply.

AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER

DOE Non- Discrimination Policy

The Department of Education of the City of New York is an inclusive equal opportunity employer committed to recruiting and retaining a diverse workforce and providing a work environment that is free from discrimination and harassment upon any legally protected status or protected characteristic, including but not limited to an individual's actual or perceived sex, race, color, ethnicity, national origin, age, religion, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, veteran status, or pregnancy. For more information, please refer to the DOE Non-Discrimination Policy.

Public Service Loan Forgiveness As a prospective employee of the City of New York, you may be eligible for federal loan forgiveness programs and state repayment assistance programs. For more information, please visit the U.S. Department of Education's website at https://studentaid.gov/pslf/.