Job Summary: Under the direction of the ERSEA Manager, the Head Start Recruitment & Outreach Coordinator is directly responsible for the overall supervision, coordination, and organization of work related to the recruitment of children and families for the Head Start program. The Head Start Recruitment & Outreach Coordinator is directly responsible for ensuring the program complies with the goal of attaining and maintaining full enrollment throughout the program year. Additionally, the Head Start Recruitment & Outreach Coordinator must develop and implement a comprehensive annual recruitment plan in partnership with the ERSEA Manager, Senior Data/Business Intelligence Analyst, Family Services Manager, Head Start Policy Council, and community partners utilizing information from the Community Needs Assessment. 

Scope of Supervision: Head Start Recruitment Specialist (1)

Essential Functions:

Duties and Responsibilities: Develop, implement, manage, and monitor policies, procedures and systems related to the recruitment of children and families to ensure the program reaches and maintains full enrollment throughout the year and maintains a robust waitlist. 

Recruitment Duties:

• Maintain a working knowledge and understanding of Head Start eligibility, including Head Start Performance Standards, program options and requirements, and child care subsidy funding streams (e.g. Child Care Assistance Program, Pathway I and Pathway II scholarships).
• Design informational presentations and training about program services and eligibility requirements to be delivered to community partners and other stakeholders during staff meetings, conferences, workshops, board meetings, and other opportunities as they arise.
• Develop an annual recruitment plan that includes community events, tabling at key community partner locations, canvassing of specific neighborhoods, and other strategies to ensure all program options are fully enrolled and have a robust waitlist of eligible participants. 
• Work collaboratively with the Data Systems Coordinator to ensure data is appropriately entered into ChildPlus and other recruitment tracking platforms, and analyze recruitment data related to continuous program improvement efforts and program goals to ensure data is properly tracked, analyzed, and used in decision-making related to the Self-Assessment.
• Develop and maintain recruitment materials containing guidelines and expectations for staff participating in recruitment activities.
• Monitor all recruitment activities performed by staff and address staff participation concerns with appropriate supervisors. 
• Develop and lead a committee consisting of managers, staff, and parents to annually review and adjust the program’s recruitment plan using data informed decision-making. 
• Present the program recruitment plan to the Head Start Management Team and Policy Council annually. 
• Ensure signage at Head Start sites is accurate for available program options, in good repair, and provides consistent messaging related to recruitment of families. 
• Collaborate with the Family Services Manager and ERSEA Manager to ensure all recruitment strategies are fully implemented by staff in other departments. 
• Train Head Start staff, community partners, and parents on recruitment strategies and efforts for sharing program information and providing consistent messaging about the program.
• Complete enrollment applications and gather necessary paperwork from families to submit to the Enrollment Specialists who will process and determine eligibility for the Head Start Program
• Maintain the security and confidentiality of family and child data

Community Partnership Collaboration Duties:

• Develop and maintain community partnerships to recruit and find eligible children and families.
• Collaborate with CAPRW Agency Marketing staff to create recruitment materials including flyers, brochures, newsletters, social media posts, and other forms of communication that conform to agency branding guidelines. 
• Collaborate with other CAPRW programs to maintain effective data sharing agreements and procedures to support whole family initiatives and participation in all appropriate program offerings.
• Be a positive ambassador for the Head Start program in all settings, both internal and external to the agency. 
• Participate in community outreach activities and committees at the CAPRW agency level to increase whole family activities and outreach efforts.

Management Duties:

• Set and maintain professional standards when supervising the Recruitment Specialist (monitor performance, provide annual performance evaluations, and facilitate goal-setting and staff development)
• Track and manage annual recruitment budget in collaboration with the ERSEA Manager, Head Start Leadership and CAPRW Finance Department. 
• Follow required regulations, procedures and policies of the Community Action Agency and Head Start program.
• Participate in required program and agency-wide training, meetings, and special events.
• Participate in ad hoc assignments, ad hoc agency/program committees, and/or outside agency committees, as requested.
• Provide clear and consistent training and/or consultation, as needed, throughout the program on Head Start standards, policies, and procedures related to Recruitment.
• Establish recruitment goals for staff to measure performance based on recruitment plan expectations. 
• Proactively address staff performance issues, in particular those related to maintaining an appropriate work schedule,  productivity and outcomes, and quality of relationships with community partners.
• Assist in analyzing community needs assessment information and participate in the planning of program design options to meet program goal objectives as well as the annual selection criteria updates based on community assessment and staff/stakeholder input.
• Attend classes, trainings, conferences and workshops that are required as well as those that increase professional development and meet the goals of one’s own professional development plan.
• Other duties as assigned or needed

Safety: Responsible for conducting all duties in a safe manner.

Qualifications:

Required Education & Experience:

• Bachelor's degree in nonprofit administration, social work, family studies, human services, project management, marketing, communications or closely related field OR Bachelor's degree in any field plus experience in leading or implementing child/family/client recruitment efforts, grassroots community organizing, volunteer management, or canvassing/recruiting for non-profit services, preferably in a Head Start program
• Experience engaging enthusiastically with community members, families, and partners from a variety of socio-economic and cultural backgrounds
• Understanding of intersectional nature of social justice and equity interpersonally and systemically
• Strong knowledge of Google Suite and Microsoft Office.

Preferred Education & Experience:

• Experience supervising others and working on a team, including organizing, delegating, and implementing projects.
• Two or more years experience leading or implementing child/family/client recruitment efforts, grassroots community organizing, volunteer management, or canvassing/recruiting for non-profit services, preferably in a Head Start program.
• Strong knowledge and understanding of the implementation of comprehensive Head Start services and eligibility requirements.
• Familiarity with Head Start programming and/or with early childhood development and learning as well as family systems, advocacy, and resources available to families experiencing poverty, including child care subsidies.
• Experience developing, implementing, and managing systems, procedures, policies, databases, and other professional documents, especially ChildPlus.
• Experience with data-driven decision-making and outcome-based program evaluation.
• Training experience is beneficial.

General Requirements:

• Must successfully complete a background study and fingerprinting.
• Because of the nature of community outreach and recruitment, a valid driver’s license and access to a reliable vehicle on a daily basis is required.

Abilities and Skills: 

• Ability to communicate in a professional manner, including excellent reading, writing, and interpersonal communication, and use good judgment.
• Ability to analyze problems and data, identify solutions, and implement recommendations in support of goals.
• Ability to work independently and collaboratively with strong organizational and time management skills including capacity to supervise and motivate staff.
• Ability to effectively relate and communicate to people of varying multi-ethnic and socio-economic backgrounds.
• Bilingual skills are preferred.
• To ensure compliance with program requirements, and safety of staff and clients, the ability to communicate effectively in English, both verbally and in writing is required.

Work Knowledge: Must have demonstrated understanding of the lived experiences of families impacted by poverty. Familiarity with Ramsey County, Saint Paul, and metropolitan geography, demographics, communities, and cultures.

Physical Requirements:

• Physically capable of being outside for extended periods of time performing tasks such as canvassing neighborhoods, tabling at events, and engaging with large numbers of people, as well as transporting and assembling equipment consistent with such activities.
• Ability to drive, climb stairs (such as in apartment buildings or neighborhoods without access to ramps or elevators), and perform recruitment activities out in the community.
• Must be able to successfully pass the pre-placement Head Start physical exam.

Mental Requirements: 

• This position requires the ability to handle and prioritize multiple tasks, and the ability to function independently, to lead others and act as a member of a team. 
• Must use reading and writing skills frequently, problem-solving and reasoning skills constantly. Capable of using good judgment. 
• Capable of speaking in front of large groups, small groups, and individuals.

Environmental Requirements: Office environment, training and meetings at various locations within the community, Head Start centers, apartment complexes, community resource/service locations, local businesses, unaccompanied home visits, and outside events/activities. This position requires frequent travel around Ramsey County, including during inclement weather. This position is eligible for remote work up to 10% of the time.

Benefits:  

Department: Head Start  

Hiring Range: $59,176.00 - $74,432.80 Annually

Full Salary Range: $59,176.00 - $89,689.60 Annually

Locations: University Head Start - 450 Syndicate St. N. Saint Paul, MN 55104

Schedule: M-F, 40 Hours/Week, Full Year, Exempt

8:00am-4:30pm (occasional nights & weekends)

Hybrid Capability: This position has 0% -10% hybrid capability.  

Posting Dates : 4/29/2026 - Open until filled

Benefits: Community Action offers excellent benefits including generous 23 days paid time off (PTO) for new employees, 14 paid holidays plus two personal days, health, dental, vision & life insurance, health savings accounts (HSA), flexible saving accounts (FSA), retirement, employee discount programs and so much more!  

Background Checks: Community Action conducts criminal background checks at the time of hire. Not all backgrounds are a barrier to employment.  

Community Action Partnership of Ramsey and Washington Counties is an Equal Opportunity (EEO) Employer. We recruit, select, hire, place, transfer, promote, demote, layoff, discipline, terminate, recall, compensate, and train without regard to race, religion, creed, color, national origin, age, gender, gender identity, sex, sexual orientation, familial status, disability, veteran status, status with regard to public assistance, membership or activity in a local human rights commission, or any other basis protected by applicable laws, directives, and regulations of federal, state, and local governing bodies or agencies. We will provide reasonable accommodation to applicants and employees with disabilities whenever possible.