Assistant Administrative Director, Child Development

Background:

For 45 years, Little Tokyo Service Center (LTSC) has provided a safety net of social welfare and community development services to empower people and communities in need.  LTSC provides culturally and linguistically appropriate services to the Japanese American community in the Southland, builds multi-family affordable housing projects to uplift low-income neighborhoods of color throughout Los Angeles, and promotes equitable development and cultural preservation in the Little Tokyo neighborhood.

We are an Equal Opportunity Employer.  We do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, sex, sexual orientation, age, national origin or disability.

Position Summary:

The Assistant Administrative Director, Child Development supports the overall leadership, administration, and operations of LTSC’s Child Development programs. Working closely with the Child Development Administrative Director and program leadership, the Assistant Director helps ensure high-quality services for children and families; effective program operations; fiscal and regulatory compliance; strong administrative systems; and alignment with LTSC’s broader mission and Service Programs portfolio. The Assistant Director will have responsibility for key administrative and program functions and will progressively assume increased responsibility for department leadership, including oversight of budgets, contracts, compliance systems, funder relationships, staff supervision, program planning, and external partnerships. The position also supports collaboration across LTSC’s Service Programs and represents Child Development in policy, advocacy, and community initiatives affecting children, families, and the communities LTSC serves.

Duties & Responsibilities: 

Program Administration & Operations

• Support the overall administration and operations of LTSC’s Child Development programs, including center-based and other early childhood education services.
• Work with the Administrative Director and program leadership to establish and maintain effective administrative systems, policies, procedures, and workflows.
  
• Support implementation of departmental goals, annual work plans, and continuous quality improvement activities.
• Coordinate administrative functions across Child Development programs to promote consistency, efficiency, and compliance.
• Identify operational challenges and opportunities and develop practical solutions in partnership with program leadership and staff.
• Support planning for program growth, new initiatives, partnerships, and other opportunities that advance services for children and families.

Contracts, Compliance & Quality Assurance

• Support compliance with applicable federal, state, local, contractual, licensing, and funder requirements.
• Assist with the administration and monitoring of government contracts, grants, subcontracts, and other funding agreements.
• Maintain systems for monitoring program deliverables, enrollment, attendance, eligibility, reporting requirements, and other performance measures.
• Coordinate preparation for monitoring visits, audits, program reviews, and other compliance activities.
• Support development and implementation of corrective action and quality improvement plans when needed.
• Stay informed of changes in regulations, funding requirements, and administrative guidance affecting Child Development programs.

Fiscal & Resource Management

• Support development and ongoing monitoring of Child Development program budgets in partnership with the Administrative Director, program leadership, and Finance Department.
• Review expenditures, revenue, projections, and budget-to-actual performance and help identify potential fiscal issues.
• Support effective utilization of government contracts, grants, and other program resources.
• Assist with fiscal reporting, contract modifications, budget revisions, and other funder requirements.
• Partner with Development and organizational leadership to identify funding opportunities and support grant proposals, reports, and other resource development activities.

Staff Leadership & Development

• Provide supervision, coaching, and support to assigned staff.
• Attend monthly in-person meetings at Angelina Preschool.
• Continue to execute Culture Reset at Angelina Preschool through promoting a collaborative, accountable, and learning-oriented team culture.
• Support onboarding, training, professional development, and ongoing skill development for Child Development staff.
• Work with program leadership and Human Resources to support effective staffing structures, performance management, and workforce planning.
• Help develop the leadership capacity of supervisors and emerging leaders within the department.

Policy & Advocacy

• Monitor public policy, funding, and regulatory developments affecting early childhood education, children, families, and the communities served by LTSC.
• Work with organizational leadership and community partners to identify policy and systems issues emerging from the experiences of children, families, and frontline staff.
• Support LTSC’s participation in coalitions, advocacy campaigns, public comment opportunities, legislative education, and other efforts to strengthen systems serving children and families.
• Represent LTSC, as appropriate, in meetings with public agencies, elected officials, coalitions, funders, and community partners.
• Strengthen connections between direct service delivery and LTSC’s broader commitment to addressing systemic barriers affecting low-income and immigrant communities.

LTSC Service Programs Collaboration

• Serve as an active partner within LTSC’s broader Service Programs portfolio, strengthening connections between Child Development and other programs serving individuals and families across the lifespan.
• Participate in cross-departmental planning, initiatives, and problem-solving with other Service Programs leaders.
• Identify opportunities for stronger referral pathways and coordinated services for children and families who may benefit from LTSC’s other resources and programs.
• Contribute to managing cross-department grants, including the workforce development initiative.
• Participate in organizational responses to emerging community needs and other cross-program initiatives as assigned.
• Represent Child Development in Service Programs and other organizational leadership meetings as appropriate.
  

Qualifications and Experiences:

• Master’s degree in Education, Early Childhood Education, Public Administration, Nonprofit Management, Social Work, Public Policy, or a related field required.
• 3-5 years of professional experience working in early childhood education, education, human services, nonprofit, or community-based settings. 
• Demonstrated experience or ability to develop expertise in program administration, operations, and organizational systems.
• Experience coordinating projects and managing multiple priorities, deadlines, and stakeholders.
• Demonstrated leadership ability and experience supervising, coaching, mentoring, or supporting the professional development of staff.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, including the ability to translate complex requirements into practical systems and processes.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills and ability to communicate effectively with staff, families, community partners, public agencies, and funders.
• Ability to build relationships and collaborate effectively across programs, departments, and disciplines.
• Ability to work effectively with multicultural and multilingual populations.
• Strong organizational skills, attention to detail, initiative, and ability to manage multiple responsibilities.
• Strong technology skills, including proficiency with spreadsheets, databases, and other administrative systems.
• Commitment to LTSC’s mission, as a community-based nonprofit organization, and to culturally responsive, community-based services.

Preferred Qualifications and Experiences: 

• Experience with or demonstrated ability to learn publicly funded program requirements, regulatory compliance, contracts, and reporting; experience with California publicly funded child development programs.
• Experience with budgets, fiscal monitoring, grants, contracts, or other administrative functions. 
• Interest in public policy and advocacy related to early childhood education, children, families, and community well-being; prior policy or advocacy experience.
• Knowledge of California’s publicly funded early childhood education and care system.
• Experience with California Department of Social Services/Child Care and Development Division programs, Head Start, or other publicly funded early childhood programs.
• Experience with government contracts, grants management, monitoring, or compliance.
• Experience participating in coalitions, community advocacy, systems-change initiatives, or public policy efforts.
• Experience working collaboratively across multiple programs or departments within a complex organization.
• Equivalent education or experience can be substituted for all minimum qualifications, except when legal requirements, such as a license/certification/registration, are required.

Our Service Values and Cultural Practices:

• Values that guide our approach to service: Compassion, Creativity, Justice, Respect, & Responsibility 
  
• Cultural practices: Use open communication, Be accountable, Collaborate together, & Adapt to change

Equal Opportunity Employer Statement: LTSC is an Equal Opportunity Employer and is committed to fostering an inclusive and diverse workplace. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, national origin, disability, marital status, medical condition, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local law.