Early Childhood Education Program Lead

SCOPE OF WORK 
This position is responsible for oversight of the Early Childhood Education Associate Degree 
Program of Study. 

Primary duties for the Early Childhood Education Program Lead include the following: 

1. Program Development: The candidate will develop and grow this program with an Early Childhood Education lens. The candidate will need to understand the early childhood education field and understand what early childhood education is like in Tribal Nations and small communities, identifying Tribal needs in ECE and best practices for how NWIC can support Tribal ELP programs in partnership with all of our partner communities.  This position will collaborate with Early Learning programs at Lummi as well as our Extended Campus sites and other external Tribal ELPs. This role also includes the creation of partnerships and relationships that are tied to advancing the early childhood education department and increasing enrollment in the program as well as future planning toward a Bachelor’s Degree program.
2. Supervision: The ECED Program Lead will serve as the direct supervisor for faculty who teach in the ECED program, under the Associate Dean of Two-Year Programs. This includes duties such as scheduling and leading regular department meetings, observing faculty teaching and providing feedback, advising faculty within their respective roles, and providing the annual coursework schedule.
3. Curriculum and Assessment: The Program Lead will work to revise and develop curriculum on a scheduled basis within the ECED program. The Lead will collaborate with faculty in the program on quarterly course assessments and develop an annual program assessment report.
4. Scheduling and Teaching: The Program Lead will plan the annual coursework schedule for all courses in the ECED program. The schedule will be submitted to the Associate Dean of Two-Year Programs for implementation each year and adjusted quarterly based on student and partner needs. The Lead will also teach 1-2 courses each quarter in the ECED program.  
5. Advising: This role is expected to meet regularly with and provide academic advising to students in the ECED program of study. Advising duties include meeting regularly with students to develop and implement individual degree plans, registering students quarterly for their courses, as well as ongoing meetings and coordination with student services and other advisors.  
6. Grants and Budgeting: Seek future grant funding for the ECED program and serve as PI for future grants. Support existing grant work. Develop annual budget for the ECED program.
7. Committee work: The ECED Program Lead is responsible for contributing to the overall functioning of the college through participation on committees. This position will sit on the following committees as a minimum threshold:
   • NWIC Committees:  First Year Experience, Academic Leadership Team, FIGS, In Service/Pre-Service Work Groups
8. External partnerships: The Program Lead will be responsible for supporting Early Learning Partner organizations at each of the NWIC extended site communities, which will involve travel on a scheduled basis. Additionally, the Program Lead will be responsible for creating and growing partnerships with local organizations not limited to the following: 
   • External Partners-Tribal Early Childhood care and education programs (Head Start, Early Head Start, ECEAP, Child Care, etc.),  
   • Tribal Leaders Congress on Education,  
   • Whatcom County Early Learning Systems Network,  
   • Washington State Department of Children, Youth, and Families (DCYF),  
   • Washington Early Childhood Teacher Preparation Council (ECTPC)   
   • Baccalaureate institutions with whom we have articulation agreements in ECE (currently Salish Kootenai College). 

DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES 
• Support faculty as they lead students to retain or acquire employment as teachers and leaders in the field of early childhood education, transfer into specific four-year programs, and/or earn the equivalent of the Child Development Associate credential through NWIC’s stackable certificates / awards of completion. 
• Develop and grow academic programs within the area of early childhood care and education based on the needs of Tribal Early Learning Partnerships and transfer requirements to other institutions. 
• Honor and include the cultural perspectives of students in the ECED program. 
• Develop and/or support the revision of course syllabi, course outcomes, program outcomes, program mapping, and assessment strategies for individual courses and the overall program. 
• Submit necessary quarterly and annual reports for the ECED program. 
• Serve as faculty advisor and provide academic advisement to students in the ECED program. 
• Maintain professional competencies in the subject area and currency in instructional 
methodologies through professional associations and professional development. 
• Plan and organize syllabi, course work, study guides, and other support material for the classroom setting as well as distance education. Participate in curriculum development, implementation, and review in accordance with college concerns. 
• Participate in graduation and other official college functions.  
• Involvement in community activities and service. 
• Attend professional learning opportunities to remain abreast of promising practices in the early childhood education field and support faculty attendance. 
• Other duties as assigned. 

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES 
This job has oversight of faculty and academic staff under the Early Childhood Education department. Provides guidance in a collegial manner to ECED instructors at the sites and online. Responsibilities may include interviewing, hiring, and training employees; planning, assigning, and directing work; appraising performance; rewarding and disciplining employees; addressing complaints and resolving problems. 

QUALIFICATIONS REQUIRED to perform this position successfully: 
Minimum Qualifications: 
• Master's degree in Instructional Leadership, Education, Early Childhood Education, or other closely related field. 
• Background in working in Early Childhood Education, Early Learning for small children or similar. 
• Experience working in a tribal college setting. 
• Experience with and sensitivity to Native American people and cultural customs. 
• Experience working with adult learners and remote education is highly desired. 
• Background in developing programs, overseeing budgets, and writing grants. 
• Experience working with online education platforms like Zoom and Canvas. 
• Current driver’s license and ability to travel to extended site campuses and external partner organizations on a regular basis
Preferred Qualifications 
• Additional certifications in Early Childhood Education. 
• Experience with first-generation college students and an understanding of the Native American educational experience. 
• Experience working with Indigenous people of the Pacific Northwest. 
• Strong background in online and distance education.