Program Manager (SC - Early Childhood and Family Services)

City of Oakland · United States

The City of Oakland is an equal opportunity employer that values workforce diversity, inclusion, and equity. Oakland has a long history of activism around issues of justice and equity. Both oppression and this resistance to oppression have shaped the citys historical roots and the lives of its residents to this day. As public servants in one of the most diverse cities in the nation, we strive to develop employees who understand the harm and impacts of systemic inequity to create lasting, meaningful outcomes for everyone. Oakland strives to establish an environment that embraces the richness of culture, community, and individualism of employees.

Why join the City of Oakland Human Services Department?

The City of Oakland is currently recruiting to fill 1 (one) Program Manager (Selective Certification in Early Childhood & Family Services) in the Early Childhood & Family Services Division, within the Oakland Human Services Department.

The Early Childhood & Family Services Division in the Oakland Human Services Department supports Oaklands children and their families by operating and overseeing early learning and family support programs, including Head Start , Early Head Start , and state-licensed early childhood services. Our work is grounded in safe, nurturing, and high-quality learning environments, strong health, and developmental support.

Key initiatives and goals this role will help advance:

• Protect and strengthen Head Start and state funded services: Maintain strong compliance with Head Start Performance Standards and Title 22/Title 5 requirements to keep classrooms open, safe, and fully staffed.
• Expand services responsibly: Help scale programs as new funding supports growth, while ensuring quality and audit-ready stewardship of public funds.
• Improve coordinated service delivery: Strengthen alignment across education, health, and family services so children and families receive integrated supports.
• Build a strong frontline workforce: Support training, professional development, and the systems staff need to deliver consistent, high-quality services.

If you are motivated by public service, want to translate policy into day-to-day practice, and care deeply about equitable outcomes for children and families, this role offers the chance to have a direct impact on the communities in Oakland.

We are looking for someone who:

• Has strong critical thinking and decision-making skills. Someone who can analytically and logically evaluate information, propositions, and claims.

• Manages organizational complexity. Has demonstrated the ability to maneuver through complex political situations and functions within the organization.
• Has the ability to navigate legal regulation and can understand, interpret, and ensure compliance with laws and regulations.
• Is action & results focused. We are looking for someone who has a track record of initiating tasks and focusing on accomplishment.
• Demonstrates adaptability. Responding positively to change and modifying behavior as the situation requires.

What you will typically be responsible for:

• Ensuring that Oakland's early childhood programs, especially Head Start, Early Head Start, and state-licensed services, are operating safely, legally, and delivering high-quality services.
• Translating policy into practice by:
  • keeping classrooms open and staffed
  • safeguarding children through robust health-and-safety systems
  • meeting HSPPS and Title 22 and 5 requirements
  • stewarding public funds with clean audits and timely reports.
• Ensuring frontline staff have the tools, training, and facilities to provide families and children with full, culturally responsive services.
• Ensuring the delivery of outcomes for children and families.
• Protecting the City's licenses and grants.
• Managing stakeholder relationships and alignment.

A few reasons you might love this job:

• You will get to protect and improve early childhood services by keeping programs compliant, safe, and high-quality.
• You will translate policy into real operational results, including staffing stability, continuous quality improvement, and strong audit readiness.
• You will build strong partnerships across staff, families, and community stakeholders while stewarding major public funding and grants.

A few challenges you might face in this job:

• You will keep classrooms staffed and open amid teacher shortages.
• You will manage budgets and grant reporting with audit-level documentation during times of potential budget cuts.
• You will coordinate multiple stakeholders across multiple sites and partners.
• You will handle high-stakes issues like health and safety incidents under tight deadlines.

Competencies Required:

• Action & Results Focused (Taking Initiative): Initiating tasks and focusing on accomplishment
• Adaptability: Responding positively to change and modifying behavior as the situation requires
• Building & Maintaining Relationships: Establishing rapport and maintaining mutually productive relationships
• Coaching & Developing Others: Supporting others in stretching and expanding their capabilities
• Critical Thinking: Analytically and logically evaluating information, propositions, and claims
• Decision Making: Choosing optimal courses of action in a timely manner
• Handling & Resolving Conflict: Managing interpersonally strained situations
• Informing: Proactively obtaining and sharing information
• Legal & Regulatory Navigation: Understanding, interpreting, and ensuring compliance with laws and regulations
• Managing Organizational Complexity: Maneuvering through complex political situations and functions within the organization
• Managing Performance: Ensuring superior individual and group performance
• Valuing Diversity: Appreciating the benefits of varied backgrounds and cultures in the workplace

Duties may include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Manage one or more programs in a department; perform short and long range planning and goal setting.
• Direct and participate in the development and interpretation of policies and procedures for programmatic operations, including grant administration.
• Manage program development and administration, program evaluation and compliance, funding sources including grants, and grant proposals and applications; may conduct site visits.
• Participate in the development and administration of the annual budget for the program(s); analyze budget and revenue estimates for compliance with program goals and the Citys budget policies.
• Oversee personnel and fiscal activities and other administrative functions in support of program operations.
• Review and analyze complex reports; review and provide feedback on proposals and applications.
• Direct, supervise, and evaluate assigned staff; provide staff training and development; complete performance appraisals; oversee the selection of new employees.
• Provide staff assistance to advisory bodies, committees, and commissions; facilitate meetings of community organizations, district boards, and other groups relating to the development and implementation of programs.
• Prepare and direct the preparation of City Council agenda materials and staff reports.
• Make public presentations relating to assigned programs; prepare and review written materials for public distribution.
• Negotiate and administer contracts with vendors, service providers, and funding agencies.
• Coordinate the use, implementation, and maintenance of software applications and database systems.
• Direct record maintenance systems.
• Direct and participate in public information projects; respond to Public Records Requests.

This recruitment will produce an Open and Restricted eligible list. The restricted list will be for full-time, permanent part-time, or part-time City and Port of Oakland employees who maintain employment for the duration of the recruitment and pass all stages of the recruitment process.

This is a public contact position. The City highly encourages all bilingual candidates to apply! Some positions may require bilingual skills in Spanish, Cantonese, or Mandarin. Under the authority of Civil Service Rules Section 5.03, if a position requires bilingual language skills, only those candidates who have indicated they are bilingual in the required language(s) will be referred. Bilingual candidates will be required to successfully pass a language proficiency test if selected for hire.

Selective Certification (Early Childhood and Family Services)

This recruitment is being announced in accordance with Section 5.03 of the Civil Service Rules. The eligible list generated from this announcement will only be used to fill Program Manager positions specialized in Early Childhood and Family Services , including full-time and permanent part-time positions, if applicable, and may be used to fill future vacancies with the same Selective Certification.

Any combination of education and experience that is equivalent to the following minimum qualifications may be acceptable.

Education:

Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university in early childhood, developmental therapy, speech therapy, occupational therapy, child and family psychology, social work, public health, nutrition, or education. A master's degree in one of the above fields is desirable.

Experience:

Five (5) years of experience performing progressively responsible and complex program administration duties for an early childhood program in the areas of compliance and licensing, health and safety, enrollment and eligibility, education, or professional development and training, including two (2) years of supervisory experience. Experience must include program development, administration, evaluation, and compliance. Previous experience with grant proposals and applications and securing funding sources for programs is highly desirable.

License or Certificate / Other Requirements:

Individuals who are appointed to this position will be required to maintain a valid California Drivers License throughout the tenure of employment OR demonstrate the ability to travel to various locations in a timely manner as required in the performance of duties.

Additional licensing or certification may be required based upon project needs or requirements, as applicable.

Desirable Qualifications:

• Deep early childhood and Head Start program expertise (HSPPS, Title 5/22, licensing and compliance).
• Strong grant and funding experience.
• Proven supervision and staff development skills.
• Proven ability to manage budgets, contracts, audits, and cross-agency partnerships.
• Passion for Oakland families and children, education, and supporting staff.

The Recruitment Process:

The City of Oakland works with a Civil Service system. Applicants apply online, and HR staff reviews their experience, education, and training listed on the application against the minimum qualifications listed for each position.

Candidates who demonstrate that they meet the minimum qualification requirements are then invited to participate in an assessment process (or testing) to measure their knowledge, skills, and abilities in job-related areas.

Candidates who do not demonstrate that they meet the minimum qualification requirements will have an opportunity to request a final review. Candidates must request a final review within 5 business days of being notified that they did not meet the minimum qualifications.

In the final review, candidates may clarify information already provided on their application. No additional work history, education, or certifications will be accepted. Any decisions made during this review process will be final.

For this recruitment, all qualified applicants will be invited to take an online multiple-choice test, (weighted 100%) . You will have 7 days to complete the test once the link is sent to your email. This is tentatively planned to launch during the week of September 7, 2026.

The Competencies tested will be:
Action & Results Focused, Coaching & Developing Others, Critical Thinking, Decision Making, Informing, Legal & Regulatory Navigation
and Valuing Diversity.

who pass each stage in the process will be placed on an eligible list. Some candidates may receive extra points, for example, if you are a Veteran with an honorable discharge, or if you are a current City of Oakland resident. If youre applying to a restricted posting and you are eligible as a current City employee, you may also receive additional points for your City service. Extra points are only applied to passing scores, so if you do not pass every element of the testing process, you cannot use extra points to pass.

The City of Oakland reserves the right to modify the selection process and date of examination as necessary to conform to administrative or business necessity. The information contained in this announcement is subject to change and does not constitute either an expressed or implied contract.

Whats in it for you?

• Work/Life Balance: 37.5-hour work weeks
• 15 paid holidays
• Vacation: 2 weeks per year minimum with the ability to accrue more depending on public sector years of service
• Retirement: CalPERS (California Public Employees Retirement System) with a pension formula of 2.5% @ 55 (for Classic CalPERS members) and 2% @ 62 for new CalPERS members. Classic Employees contribute 8% of pre-tax wages. The City of Oakland does not participate in Social Security
• Health: The City of Oakland pays the full cost of employee and eligible dependent coverage at the Kaiser rate. Other plans include Anthem, Blue Shield, United Health Care, and other HMO and PPO plans
• Dental: Delta Dental full premium for employees and eligible dependents
• Vision: VSP full premium for employees and eligible dependents
• Sick leave: Employees accrue 12 days per year
• Deferred Compensation: 457(b) pre-tax plan and an after-tax ROTH 401(k)plan
• Other benefits include a Flexible Spending Account, Wellness Program, Employee Assistance Program, Tuition Reimbursement, Life Insurance up to $200k & Employee Training.

Applicants are required to submit criminal history information upon request after receiving a conditional offer of employment. If the requested information is not furnished in a timely manner, applicants will not qualify for further consideration and will be removed from the eligible list.

Disaster Service Workers

All employees are designated Disaster Service Workers through state and local law. Employees are required to complete all Disaster Service Worker-related training as assigned and to return to work as ordered in the event of an emergency.

How to Apply

Apply prior to the closing time of the job announcement and allow at least two to three hours to submit your application if you are a new user of the system. APPLICATIONS ARE ACCEPTED ONLINE ONLY. You may apply and view current openings by visiting our employment opportunities webpage at:

you do not have access to a computer, there are computer stations available at any City of Oakland Public Library. There are also workstations at the Human Resources Management Department, 150 Frank H. Ogawa Plaza, 2nd Floor, Oakland, CA 94612. Workstations are available during regular business hours (normally 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.).

Our online application system is provided by GovernmentJobs. If you have problems while applying online, please contact GovernmentJobs Live Applicant Support at (855) 524-5627 between 6:00 AM and 5:00 PM Pacific Time, Monday - Friday. You may also call the City of Oakland Human Resources Management Department during regular business hours at (510) 238-3112 for information; however, we are unable to provide technical support for the online application system. For recruitment-specific questions, please contact Lori Blake, Senior Human Resource Analyst, at lblake@oaklandca.gov.