COOK INLET TRIBAL COUNCIL, INC. 

JOB DESCRIPTION 

 

 

Job Title:          Director / Sr. Director of Clare Swan Early Learning Center  

Department:     Clare Swan Early Learning Center (CSELC) 

Reports To:       Chief Program Officer 

Supervises:       Manager/Sr Manager, Operations, Mental Health Specialist, Manager/Sr  

                          Manager, Programs 

FLSA Status:      Exempt  

Pay Grade:         E8 (Director), E9 (Sr. Director) 

Job Type:            Full-Time, Regular   

AKBCU: Yes       ICPA: Yes  

 

General Functions: 

The Director or Senior Director of Early Head Start and Integrated Initiatives leads with vision and strategic direction across all early childhood programs at CSELC. These include Early Head Start (center-based and home-based models), the Anchorage School District preschool partnership, kindergarten readiness preschool, the Teacher Apprenticeship pipeline, and trauma-informed care model. This position ensures regulatory compliance, maintains high program quality, fosters community partnerships, and promotes integrated service delivery—aligning all efforts with Head Start Performance Standards and Cook Inlet Tribal Council’s ThriveAbility framework (Strategic Plan). 

 

Duties and Responsibilities: 

• Ensure all programs align with the mission of Cook Inlet Tribal Council, Tribal priorities, Head Start Program Performance Standards, and 477 Plan requirements. 

• Lead strategic planning, program design, and continuous quality improvement for CSELC and provide updates to Policy Council and CITC Board of Directors. 

• Oversee administration, compliance, and fiscal management of grant-funded initiatives, including budgets, contracts, audits, financial reporting, and evaluations to ensure continuous improvement. 

• Ensure data collection is timely and accurate. 

• Monitor goals/objectives and reporting requirements to ensure they are consistently met. 

• Maintain full compliance with licensing, health and safety regulations, and all applicable federal, state, and tribal requirements. 

• Recruit, train, and retain a high-performing workforce—including Teacher Apprentices—with emphasis on professional development, supporting long-term organizational stability. 

• Train staff on trauma-informed practices in partnership with mental health and wellness teams. 

• Cultivate partnerships with tribal, educational, health, and cultural organizations to promote whole-child and whole-family well-being. 

• Represent CITC in statewide and national forums on early childhood education, cultural revitalization, and family engagement. 

• Lead CSELC Advisory Council meetings and build strong relationships with contributing members. 

• Serve as a strategic member of the CITC Leadership Council (CLC). 

• Act as liaison with granting agencies and uphold confidentiality standards. 

• Make sound, informed decisions using effective leadership and conflict resolution strategies. 

• Manage diverse funding sources and business models with fiscal responsibility, ensuring financial, legal, and HR compliance. 

• Demonstrate emotional intelligence, adaptability, integrity, and a solution-focused mindset. 

• Uphold CITC’s mission, values, and ThriveAbility Plan; maintain team morale, professionalism, and collaborative relationships. 

• Support and implement leadership decisions with professionalism. 

 

Job Specifications: 

• Excellent interpersonal skills; ability to work effectively and cooperatively with all levels of management and staff, and affiliated-company employees. 

• Excellent organizational, follow-up, follow-through and detail-oriented skills. 

• Highly developed verbal and written communication skills. 

• Unquestionable personal code of ethics, integrity and confidentiality. 

• Exceptional leadership and systems-thinking skills across diverse funding and program models. 

• Demonstrated ability to lead cross-functional teams and integrate educational, health, cultural, and workforce services. 

• Flexible and adaptable to shifting priorities and needs. 

 

Minimum Qualifications: 

Director, Clare Swan Early Learning Center 

• Bachelor’s degree in early childhood education, Social Work, Public Administration, Education Leadership, or related field. Relevant experience may substitute for education on a year-for-year basis. 

• Five (5) years of progressive leadership experience in early childhood education or social services, including supervisory experience. 

• Demonstrated knowledge of Head Start Performance Standards, Tribal governance, and the unique needs of Alaska Native/American Indian children and families. 

• Valid Alaska driver’s license and to be insurable under CITC’s automotive insurance, which requires a driver to be at least 21 years of age and have had a driver’s license for at least three years. 

• Continued employment is contingent upon the completion of a satisfactory state and federal fingerprint background check. 

 

Senior Director, Clare Swan Early Learning Center 

• Master’s degree in early childhood education, Social Work, Public Administration, Education Leadership, or related field. Relevant experience may substitute for education on a year-for-year basis. 

• Ten (10) years of progressive leadership experience in early childhood education or social services, including supervisory experience. 

• Demonstrated knowledge of Head Start Performance Standards, Tribal governance, and the unique needs of Alaska Native/American Indian children and families. 

• Valid Alaska driver’s license and to be insurable under CITC’s automotive insurance, which requires a driver to be at least 21 years of age and have had a driver’s license for at least three years. 

• Continued employment is contingent upon the completion of a satisfactory state and federal fingerprint background check. 

 

Preferred Qualifications: 

• Advanced/master’s degree and/or professional certifications. 

• Experience managing multi-site, multi-grant early learning programs. 

• Knowledge of trauma-informed care models, Indigenous education practices. 

 

Physical Requirements:  

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job.  

• May require prolonged periods of sitting at a desk and consistently working on a computer with repetitive motion.  

• The need to occasionally move around the office to access filing cabinets, storage cabinets, and office equipment may be necessary. 

• Must be able to lift up to 25 pounds occasionally by utilizing proper lifting techniques and working in a safe manner.