Early Childhood Education Project Director

As the Quality Support Center Project Director (QSC Project Director) you will be responsible for the vision, strategy, and execution of all quality support services delivered by Shine Early Learning and its subcontractors as the SPARK Quality Support Center (SPARK QSC), powered by City of Philadelphia PHLpreK. The QSC Project Director leads a mission-driven team committed to increasing access to, and the quality of, early childhood education across Philadelphia's diverse neighborhoods and provider community.

Your Role: As the QSC Project Director you will be SPARK QSC's primary liaison to the City of Philadelphia’s Office of Children and Families (OCF), the PHLpreK Administrative Intermediary (PHMC), and all key early childhood ecosystem partners. This leader is accountable for contract performance, fiscal stewardship, staff development, data-driven continuous improvement, and the relationships that position SPARK QSC as a trusted and responsive presence across Philadelphia.

Your Responsibilities:

Strategic Leadership & Vision:

• Lead the overall vision, strategy, and continuous improvement of SPARK QSC’s service model to ensure alignment with PHLpreK program goals and City of Philadelphia priorities.
• Oversee the implementation of a tiered quality support system—Tier 1 (Universal: Knowledge Hub, Help Desk, and city-wide training), Tier 2 (Communities of Practice and Group Coaching), and Tier 3 (Intensive, individualized coaching and QIP support)—ensuring appropriate dosage and intensity based on provider need.
• Lead SPARK QSC’s transition to a community-centered, hub-and-spoke model, directing the alignment of managers, coaches, and specialists to neighborhoods across the city to strengthen local relationships and deepen impact.
• Collaborate with the Shine Leadership Team to set organizational priorities, respond to emerging field needs, and advance Shine’s broader early childhood mission.
• Champion equality across all SPARK QSC operations, service delivery, content development, and hiring; ensure all services are culturally responsive and asset-based.

Quality Support Services Oversight:

• Direct the planning, coordination, and high-quality delivery of all evidence-based quality support services, including instructional coaching, Technical Assistance, professional development, communities of practice, and operational/business supports.
• Oversee the delivery of Tier 3 intensive supports to providers identified with deficiencies, coordinating the resolution of QIPs, CAPs, and Notices of Default in partnership with PHMC and OCF.
• Oversee the coordination of specialized supports including Kindergarten Transition planning, health/safety/nutrition guidance, behavioral/special needs referral, workforce development and trauma-informed practice supports.
• Lead SPARK QSC’s implementation of the Positive Behavior Support (PBS) and trauma-informed training strategy, including city-wide training series, asynchronous learning modules, and follow-up communities of practice.
• Set high-level content standards, approve content development processes, and ensure all PD, training, and resource materials are grounded in adult learning principles and evidence-based best practices.
• Oversee provider readiness supports for pre-qualified PHLpreK providers preparing for seat expansion or reallocation.

City, Intermediary & Stakeholder Partnership:

• Serve as SPARK QSC’s primary point of contact with the City of Philadelphia’s Office of Children and Families (OCF), maintaining a high-frequency, strategic partnership grounded in shared goals and mutual accountability.
• Maintain a structured, high-frequency collaboration with PHMC (PHLpreK Administrative Intermediary) to align on provider deficiency data, monitoring activities, and support referrals.
• Lead engagement with the Philadelphia Early Learning Systems Administrator (PELSA) group, the School District of Philadelphia, ELRC, First Up, Lakeside, DBHIDS, and other early childhood ecosystem partners to reduce duplication, align services, and advance a “no wrong door” approach.
• Oversee the PHL preK Advisory Council and community feedback structures (focus groups, provider convenings, neighborhood-based sessions) to ensure service design is informed by the voice of providers and communities served.
• Manage all subcontractor relationships, including contract development, performance monitoring, and quality assurance.
• Represent SPARK QSC at city, regional, and national meetings, conferences, and stakeholder events as required.

Data, Accountability & Reporting:

• Oversee the maintenance and continuous improvement of SPARK QSC’s Salesforce CRM system, ensuring accurate, real-time tracking of all provider interactions, support referrals, CAPs, QIPs, and service delivery.
• Review provider, caseload, and program performance data on an ongoing basis; use data to drive decisions, identify gaps, and adapt strategies in pursuit of continuous quality improvement.
• Ensure seamless integration and utilization of all PHLpreK data systems, including PELICAN (Keystone STARS), ChildWare (enrollment/attendance), the PD Registry, and PHMC compliance tracking systems.
• Produce timely, accurate, and actionable reports—monthly, quarterly, and annual—for OCF, PHMC, and internal Shine/Acelero leadership; maintain compliance with all contractual reporting requirements.
• Direct the deployment of real-time data dashboards and the Provider Portal to support on-demand data access for City and partner staff.
• Ensure compliance with all document retention policies and secure management of confidential provider and program records.

Qualifications

• Educational Background: Master’s degree required in Early Childhood Education, Public Administration, Human Services, or a related field; Ph.D. preferred.
• Professional Experience: 5–10 years of progressive experience in early